Husband on Trial Accused of Murdering Wife After Mall of America Date

Sept. 26, 2013— -- Prosecutors showed a jury video of a taxi pulling up to a house and a Minnesota man walking toward a home alone, just hours after, police allege, a husband murdered his wife at the famous Mall of America, leaving the couple's car in the mall's parking lot.

Jeffrey Trevino, 39, is accused of killing his wife, 30-year-old Kira Steger, after a date night at the mega mall. Steger was last seen alive on Feb. 21, and her body was found in the Mississippi River more than two months later.

Prosecutor Andrew Johnson has told the jury Trevino killed Steger in a jealous rage because she was having an affair and wanted to leave him.

On Wednesday, prosecutors showed footage from a neighbor's surveillance camera of a man walking toward the couple's St. Paul home in the early morning hours, when Steger was reported missing.

Trevino, who faces two counts of second-degree murder, has pleaded not guilty and his attorneys have argued there is no conclusive evidence tying him to the murder.

"The defense throws us for a loop sometimes. But we're really confident the way the prosecution is handling it," the victim's father, Jay, said.

Steger was killed by homicidal violence and she could have been smothered by someone's hand or a pillow, Ramsey County medical examiner Dr. Michael McGee testified Wednesday, according to the Minneapolis Star Tribune.

Trevino and his wife had a date night at the mall Feb. 21. Trevino's attorneys say the couple returned home after dinner to watch a movie. Just before midnight, police say, Steger sent a text message to another man and it was the last time anyone heard from her.

When Trevino reported his wife missing, he told police she'd left the house the morning after their date. In the first four days of the search, investigators say Trevino sent her desperate text messages.

In one of the messages, Trevino wrote, "We are all looking for you, as are police. We are worried beyond words."

A few days later, the couple's Chevy Cobalt was found in a parking lot at Mall of America. Investigators found what appeared to be blood stains in the trunk and blank divorce forms.

Steger's body was found in the Mississippi River May 8.

"Dealing with the loss, I mean, Kira was the one person who kept us all connected. You know, she always put everyone before herself," Kira's mother, Marcie said.