MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – New details are emerging about how Kira Trevino was killed, after the 30-year-old St. Paul woman’s body was found in the Mississippi following a three-month search.
The Ramsey County attorney’s office released details on the injuries Trevino suffered prior to her death.
Authorities say her naked body was badly decomposed. The medical examiner suggested she was violently killed after her body had numerous injuries, including a head wound, a broken finger, bruising inside her upper lip, and lacerations to her liver.
The Ramsey County attorney’s office said she died at the hands of her husband, 39-year-old Jeffrey Trevino. He has been in custody ever since police found blood spatter in the couple’s bedroom, and Kira’s DNA in the trunk of her car, and in Keller Lake near their home.
For Jay and Marcie Steger, the news that their daughter’s body has been found brought an end to months of searching. But it also brought a new type of heartache to their family.
“I’m happy we can bring her home, but yet I’m sad because of the chain of events of how it happened,” Jay said. “And how the tragedy has affected our family. We know it’s a long road until justice is served.”
Until then, Kira’s family is choosing to remember a young woman with a beautiful smile, who was full of life. They now have some answers, but answers can’t bring their daughter back.
“When I heard the news I just wanted so much to reach out and hug her,” Marcie said. “I couldn’t do that. But she’s in a better place, and we don’t have to worry about where.”
During the autopsy, the medical examiner also found a piece of duct tape in Kira’s hair. Forensic analysis will be done to see if that duct tape matches the duct tape found at Keller Lake Park, where Kira’s DNA was also discovered.
Jeffrey Trevino faces second-degree degree murder charges, but that could change. His trial is set to begin on May 28.
Kira Trevino’s family is planning a trip to the Twin Cities this weekend from Wisconsin to help with the searches for Mandy Matula and Danielle Jelinek.
