Steven Paul Becker, a 35-year-old white male from Fults, Illinois, died on January 11, 2019, in Waterloo, Illinois. He was born on July 7, 1983, in Belleville, Illinois. Steven was a salesman and maintenance worker at Becker Farm & Industrial Supplies in East St. Louis. He was known for his love of bike riding, four-wheeling, fishing, and spending time with friends.
He was a devoted father to his daughter, Makayla Sauer, and was deeply religious, with a strong love for Jesus and God.
On January 11, 2019, Steven Becker was found unresponsive in the basement of a house located at 107 North Church Street in Waterloo. The Monroe County Coroner's investigation determined that Steven had died from a gunshot wound to the head, with an additional gunshot wound to the leg. The death was ruled a homicide. The police were alerted to the scene by a mutual acquaintance of both Steven Becker and Kyle Roider, the resident of the house where Steven was found.
Kyle Roider, a 30-year-old white male from Waterloo, was arrested later that night at the home of an acquaintance in Millstadt. He was charged with first-degree murder and aggravated battery with a firearm in connection with Steven Becker's death. Roider had a criminal history that included more than 20 misdemeanor arrests and citations in Illinois and Tennessee. He was held in the Monroe County Jail without bail while awaiting trial.
The trial for Kyle Roider began in August 2021. During the trial, Roider testified that he acted in self-defense. After approximately 3.5 hours of deliberation, the jury found Kyle Roider not guilty of both first-degree murder and aggravated battery with a firearm. Roider was subsequently released from jail, having spent over 2.5 years in custody awaiting trial.
The case of Steven Becker's death remains a significant event in the Waterloo community, highlighting the complexities and challenges of the legal system in determining guilt and innocence in cases involving self-defense claims.
