Conspiracy To Kill

A Woman Suspected Of Killing Both Her Husbands Winds Up Dead

(CBS)  Larry Risken was a Navy officer. Earl Bourdeau was a Marine.

Nineteen years apart, they married the same woman: Sonia Rios.
And both military men met the same fate - ambushed and gunned down in the Philippines, in the presence of Sonia's family.

The families of Risken and Bourdeau say they're sure Sonia was the mastermind in both killings.

Then a year after Larry's Risken's murder, Sonia suffered the same fate herself - gunned down in her home, on the south side of Los Angeles. By then, she'd been dubbed, "The Black Widow of Lomita."

Three murders, few answers, and clues that take 48 Hours on our own investigation halfway around the world. What we help dig up - literally - is an amazing story.

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Growing up in Washington State, Sherry Jackson was always close to her big brother, Larry Risken.

"Larry was the clown of the family. He was very well liked, funny… he was like a big kid," she says.

Larry followed his father's footsteps into the Navy, enlisting when he was 20 years old and rising to the rank of Commander.

"He was a loving son and a real patriot and you don't see much of that anymore," says Law Risken. He says his son was a leader - until he met Sonia Rios.

For Larry, it was love at first sight, but his sister thought Sonia, who Jackson describes as "flamboyant" and "very attractive," was trouble. "…something wasn't right," she says.

Sonia was very secretive about her past. All the Riskens knew was a vague story about a previous marriage and a divorce. "I knew absolutely nothing about her background," Jackson says.

"There was always a story-within-a-story probably is the best description of Sonia," according to Henry Hoskins, a bail bondsman and the head of the local Chamber of Commerce who has been friends with Sonia for more than 25 years.

"She had the Corvette that she drove. She was very successful. She was a very successful business woman… I think she came up the hard way," he says of her rags-to-riches story.

Sonia, who owned a thriving beauty salon in Lomita, Calif., grew up poor in the Philippines.

Her home was just down the road from Sangley Point, a U.S. Naval base. Sonia moved to the states in the 1960s. Hoskins says she was always attracted to servicemen.

"She was very, very into the social events of the military, of the Navy," Hoskins says.

After a brief courtship, Larry Risken and Sonia were married in 1990, not once, but in three separate ceremonies. Sherry Jackson says neither she nor her parents were invited to any of them.

Sonia told Larry his family wasn't welcome and it created a rift between him and his family that would last for years.

"It was devastating, because that wasn't Larry," Jackson says. "We were so close and it all changed."

But Sonia and Larry did travel to the Philippines to spend time with her family. On one trip, Larry met Sonia's niece, Quinzy, and nephew, Jetmark.

"Tell me about the Larry that you knew," Van Sant asks Jetmark.

"I called him Papa," he replies. "He is really a good man, and also a father to me."

Larry and Sonia decided to adopt the children, whose family wanted them to have a better life in the United States. Sonia promised to make the adoption happen.

After a long career in the Navy, Larry left active duty in 1995 to become a teacher. "He was a Special Ed teacher for high school students," his sister explains. "The time and love he gave to those children, it was amazing."

Teacher Eileen Stevens worked with Larry at Lawndale High School. "I was struck with how much he cared about what happened to these students after they left his classroom and the school," she says.

Larry's new job was going really well, but his marriage was not. For years, Larry believed Sonia was working to finalize the adoption of Quinzy and Jetmark.

"Year after year would go by, and Sonia would tell him that there was something wrong with the paperwork and then he found out she was sabotaging the whole adoption process," Jackson explains. "He just said, 'I can't believe it. She lied to me all these years.'"

Fed up with Sonia, Larry began seeing his friend, Eileen Stevens. Stevens says "Larry told his wife that he had feelings for me." Sonia flew into a rage.

"Sonia went on the attack, didn't she?" asks Van Sant.

"Attack is a great word for it," Stevens replies. "She told school personnel that her husband was using drugs. She told a parent that Larry and I were abusing her son."

No one believed Sonia's wild accusations, but Larry had enough. He told Sonia their 16-year marriage was over.

Sherry Jackson says she never saw her brother so happy. "It was like this big weight off his shoulders."

Sonia agreed to the divorce, but said they would only separate after Larry's long-planned trip to visit the kids in the Philippines. He would go alone.

"She knew that divorce was never going to happen." Jackson says she was terrified her brother was walking into a trap.

"He called my dad and I before he left. He was very excited to go, very excited to see the kids," she says. "I just had a horrible feeling…something bad was going to happen to him. I'm saying 'Larry don't go to the Philippines.' Something inside me is telling me that my brother is going to be harmed."

[mpabcd]

I dont know if any of you had watch a story aired sometime ago on T.V.about an american man who would fly to Phil. to marry a mail-order-bride,and bring her back in U.S.He then would buy a life Insurance for her of which he is the sole beneficary,and kill her after. Once het got rid of her,he will look for another victim by doing the same thing all over again.Isn't this evil?And yes,he is an american.So,you see, it's not just in the Phil. Evil is all over the world. And I hope God sees all of them and give them the appropriate punishment they all deserve.

[hrlpopeye]

Recently my wife said she seen this story about Sonia Rios Risken, on 48 hours, I went to the internet to see what it is...Strangely, I saw the story about Sonia's married life gone to shambles! I served many yrs in the Navy, I met Sonia in 1990, before she married
Mr Risken, she asked me to marry her..I thought she was kidding because we just met..Although she appeared attractive, and successful..I ended up marrying for Love not Money and Sucess.
She must of been mentally Ill,,To do the things I read about in this Broadcase "Conspiciacy To Kill" epicode, I do feel bad inside about all of what happened..All I can say is May God relieve the pains of the life taken..and Bring Love and Peace

[CoryPI]

another story to share, a friend of mine who is on her early 50's, with 4 baggages and a breast cancer...she meet her loving husband through dating site, the guy fell in love when he meet my friend and found out the truthfullness from her...and love her whole heartedly without doubt. They are happily married.

I asked him why he was divorced with his wife when they have adorable children and God fearing..i pictured, that his wife brought up their children so well. But was shocked with his answer, that he divorced his wife after a long marriage, because his wife is hiring someone to kill him when he inherited millions from his father after the death of his stepmother. His mother died in breast cancer and got married with second wife. But his father died first and later after some years, his step mother died too and left a huge inheritance. By the way, he is the only son. His father and his second wife had no children. He told me that he could not imagined that his wife could do such plan of killing him because of money, because of what he inherited.

He did not told my filipina friend about this, only later after thier marriage. I was only thankful to him when he spent money for the treatment of his filipina wife. I told my filipina friend to be thankful first to God, for sending her angel, using her new found husband. For accepting her for being what she is as a person and that her life is owned now by her husband. I told her to be thankful and be appreciative to her husband, because she had her second life.

They are happily married now and she is a good wife to her husband....her husband is a professor and teaching in grade school.

[CoryPI]

"we are 10 fingers in our hand", sorry for this..it is a typo error...instead, it is..."we have 10 fingers in our hand".

Another typo error.."when they real properties here in Philippines". It is, when they buy real properties here in the Philippines.

Thanks for reading this...God Bless to all!

[CoryPI]

I agree with amydess, i got this link from a cousin-in-laws...he is married to my cousin and they were blessed with 3 adorable children and the eldest was famous in thier school and won the grand champion in the piano...they are happily married. I shared this because not all Filipinas are like Sonia...i knew some of "Pinays" like Sonia too... we called Filipino women as Pinay....but, i also known so many foreigners not only Americans who are also abusive to their filipina wives....I JUST WANTED TO TELL YOU THIS AND SHARE TO ALL OF YOU THAT....we are 10 fingers in our hand....they are not the same sizes, not the same colors....MEANING, ALSO THE PEOPLE AROUND US ARE THE NOT THE SAME! WE all differs in our character, attitude and behavior specially how we grew up!

I am a filipina, living here in the Philippines and I am also a government employee working in City Hall, in the Tax Assessor Department. My father is a retired Police Officer. But I am brought up with my parents to be God fearing and to transparent always! My father serve the government until he retired with dignity and honor, he got medals for serving the Police Department with excellent performance and he is not a police officer just wearing a uniform and being a goons silently!

I shared this, because as what I said...not all the people around us are the same. I can also say that am proud being a filipina and being in the government, working in the government for 20 years, working hard to earn a living and meet both ends at my own sweat without corrupting peoples money. I even help people that is still naive about laws specially in the department am working....specially those foreigners who married filipina and give out some advices when they real properties here in Philippines. I guide them....I have an american friend who married a filipina friend of mine, they meet in a dating site and their marriage was a great one! he even wanted to live here in my hometown because he find it out that our people here are accomodating and hospitable. I am one of his filipino friends here who represented on his side when he married a filipina friend...because he comes here in the Philippines alone.

He had shared to me why he divorced his american wife...because of money, that his ex-american wife is a materialistic person and could not even give priorities to her family.

As i said before...people around us are not the same just like our 10 fingers in our hand...not same size, not same color...but we are all the children of God.

Thanks for reading my comments here!

I am Nia, from the Philippines.

[hrlpopeye]

I read your thoughts and feelings, Nia, USA is a country with so many different cultured from all over the globe. I spent most of my life traveling and living in many places. My believe is certain criminals who do these evil deeds, are Mentally Ill! Believe me there is a member in my own family (who may be classified as evil) I believe they need mental help. Passion killings thru jealousy and love, in certain countries are looked at in leanent manner. As in different locations here in the states. I read the story of Sonia and Earl B, and Larry R, marriages with her! I wish I knew more about them, and more about Sonia past her family, What caused her to alledgely commit these offenses. I read she married her first husband Earl B, in 1963, from 1963, until 1987, It was not mentioned that she hadn't done any wrongs.
24 Years. Is it possible she suffered from a head Injury during her married with Earl B, ....It seems like Dr Jeckle and Mr Hyde, symdrome.
I really don't believe she was evil, something happened some time ago in her Life................................Take care Nina.......H

[amydess]

What a horrible story , I feel bad and sad at the same time to those good gentle men in UNIFORM. Sonia is LUCKY enough to had them in HER life , but she's abusive human being , she just think 'bout her self , she doesnt care even her own SON . What an ANIMAL manner .... I'm a FILIPINA married to American man . I love my HUSBAND and adore him so much ....I hope both Larry and Earl , find peace in the hands of our LORD JESUS CRIST . They have good place in HEAVEN now . R.I.P

[kdmts]

I am absolutlely horrified at the the racism against Filipinos, as I would be intolerant of intolerance against any group. I have been married for six years to a wonderful Filipino man. We have traveled to the Philippines twice. We did have a camera stolen, but what do you expect in a nation whose doctors make in a year what a nurse makes here in a month or less. I met many kind, generous people while there, people who barely had food themselves who would go out of their way to be hospitable.

I hope none of you anti-Philippines people get sick. Good chance your nurse will be from there. I hope you will be able to tolerate his or her kind hands as they feed you or brush your hair or clean you up.

[scarlettm512]

Conspiracy? Wait, I thought you had to be wearing a tin-foil hat to use that word.

[lobc-2009]

djdiva2,

you can download it on iTunes. You can also watch it streaming on this website.

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How can I get a DVD or video tape copy of this show? While trying to finalize the DVD recording I made of last night''''s show (burn the disc), it was erased when my DVD recorder malfunctioned (like when a computer freezes, has to be shut down and restarted resulting in lost data). I would like to purchase a DVD of this show if possible. If anyone has information about how to get a DVD copy of this show, I''''d really appreciate it. Thanks.

[mrahaman-2009]

It''s one person. Please don''t blame a whole nation. I know a lady from same country - married to a White American former military man. She''s a devoted wife and mother to their children. He takes all his clothes to the cleaners and leaves her to hand wash all of hers and their children. He''s very wealthy, but treats her like a slave. She''s given $400 per month to buy groceries, clothes etc., for the children and if something''s needs to be fixed in the house like broken plumbing, she''s expected to fix it with the stipend. Manwhile she''s hanging out clothes outside in the winter. He lied about his age when he met and married her (he''s 20 years older than her not the 7 that he initially told her)... and after 12 years of marriage, she still has nothing -not even a checking acount in her name or joint with him. She''s not allowed to contact her family without him being there and she can oly speak to then in English so he''ll know what they are talking about. Now, are all American men like this? I think not, so let''s blame the individual.. not the entire race or country.

[liezel79]

Big_Jim6

Sorry i mistakenly put your usersname but its for Padstowabbon.got confuse on that.

liezel79

[liezel79]

To:Big_Jim6

Me and my husband watched this program. And i was suprise that it happen where i grow up. I feel ashame for what she did to her husbands. I know police can''t do anything to catch the killer. If you have money it''s easy to do anything. MOved to america 6 years ago and get to know american cultures.

Big_Jim6 you said they are poor so most people have no self-discipline no marale and above all they don''''t respect lives. Not most or all filipinos are poor in Philippines.thats why they act like that. Don''t you see theres SOME americans here which is rich who kill. There is SOME americans who have no self-discipline no marale and above all they don''''t respect lives here too. So don''t say most filipinos are not like americans. We filipinos are like any other country even americans who have bad people. There are some filipinos have bad experience with their american husbands and wifes too. Theres abuse from them (americans) and sometimes they and up with nothing because of money too.

I feel sorry to the families of the victims.But not all of us are like Sonijia and others.

[dr19554808]

Wow! All Filipinos are evil because Sonia was evil? Really? I, too, lived in the Philippines (PI) for a number of years and this is what know; Filipinos & Americans are more alike than they are different. I saw the absolute worst of the PI & the absolute best. But, most of what I saw was neither but instead hardworking, kind, fun-loving, family oriented people struggling everyday to live a good clean decent life, just like most Americans. I''ll say one other thing; If you think you know Filipinos because you were stationed at Clark or Subic, did you ever leave those areas to see the real PI or meet average Filipinos? I wonder what a Filipino would think of Americans if all he saw were outside the gate at Fayetteville, NC or Norfolk, Va back in the day? Yes, Sonia was evil (and good riddance BTW) but she''s not the poster girl for Filipinas. And neither is Aileen Wuornos, an American serial killer who killed seven men in Florida, the post girl for American women.

[love2cook]

I%u2019ve seen all the greed, conniving, manipulating, jealousy, slandering, and the list is countless to describe most Filipinos I%u2019ve encountered all my life and I%u2019ve been hurt by some of them. Living in America for almost 38 years, came here when I was 24 I adopted most American ways. I%u2019m very skeptical whenever I%u2019ll meet a new Filipino here because of all the above traits that they were known for. I bonded well with some Filipinos liked me also a long time residence and we talked of course how some Filipinos here are with no tact and manners. The very first time you met them somewhere.. the first thing they%u2019ll ask where do you work and how much do you make and then followed by some personal and irrelevant questions. When you allowed them to be your friend then the conniving and manipulating starts. Being a Christian I always give everyone a chance to be my friend but, I don%u2019t let them hit my toes, I%u2019ll show them their boundaries.

Proud and glad to say that I%u2019ve been married to an American for 34 years whom I''ve met here after 5 years coming over here in the East Coast from the Philippines. Filipino/Asian guys!" Our married life is built on trust and respect and open communication.

[big_jim6]

I%u2019ve been married to my Filipina wife for nearly 13 years and it has been nothing but wonderful. She is not greedy and does not live a flamboyant lifestyle that some other Filipinas do. In fact she is and has always been a hard working woman who takes care of our home and daughter while putting in a 40-hour work week where she is employed. Yes, she does send some money back to her parents to help pay their monthly utility and medical bills, but we both keep close tabs on what they ask for because we are no the %u201CBank of America%u201D . We jokingly refer to that money as our %u201CFilipino Family Tax%u201D. She also makes her own car payment, cell phone payment, and also pays for any cloths our daughter needs for school and social activities. When we bought our house she used $12,000.00 of her own money to pay for the upgrades she wanted; she did this so I could put the money I had against the down payment. I lived in the Philippines on and off between 1978 and 1991 while in the U.S. Air Force and came to know the ways of the country quit well during that timeframe and knew what to look for when my wife and I were first getting to know each other. We never go to bed angry and have always had the ability to see when we may be doing something to irritate the other and work those issues out before they become problems. Unlike some of you, I guess I have been fortunate with my choice for a wife and companion. As for Earl and Larry, they married a snake.

[padstowabbon]

I tend to agreed with jackSpratzer''s comment. Some people may say that we are racists, it is only because they have been very lucky to meet a good Filipino because there are not that many.

I have lived in the Philippines for more than 10 years, and I can tell u the Philippines is a corrupted, chaotic country, no laws no rules, probably because they are poor so most people have no self-discipline no marale and above all they don''t respect lives. Killing in the Philippines is just a snap of the fingers. I really don''t understand why these 2 americans would agreed to still travel to the Philippines when they are about to divorce their Filipino wife, what on earth are they thinking??? It is really a stupid decision.

My husband has been kidnapped staged by our business partner - a filipino family friend whom we have helped financially, how grateful is that!!! It really disappoints u and opens yours eyes to the evil world.

Policemen in Philippines are goons in uniform, they extort u whenever they can....The justice system is corrupt as everyone can buy their way out if u got the money.

[alphabet44]

I remember Larry and Sonia from my ship in Long Beach. Sonia was always waiting on the pier when our ship came back to port. She seemed really great. You almost never saw a spouse waiting on the pier as she had.

[mai519]

In a way, I wished Sonijia could have stayed alive...only to rot and be tortured in the hole of a jail cell for the rest of her life. Then, I would say that justice was served. I can''t believe she was married for so many years, and would pull something so evil. I feel so horrible for the two innocent men and their families. Sonijia is a witch and I hope she is suffering in hell as I write. There is no way hell does not exist because a witch like Sonijia is not going to just lay 6 feet under.

[djdancediva]

How can I get a DVD or video tape copy of this show? While trying to finalize the DVD recording I made of last night''s show (burn the disc), it was erased when my DVD recorder malfunctioned (like when a computer freezes, has to be shut down and restarted resulting in lost data). I would like to purchase a DVD of this show if possible. If anyone has information about how to get a DVD copy of this show, I''d really appreciate it. Thanks.

[anvsmom]

Thank you, JackSpratzer! My sentiments exactly. I am from the Philippines and has been living here in the US for 18 years...and I didn''t get here by marrying an American serviceman or citizen. My family was sponsored by my aunt who had been here since the 1960s, a hardworking doctor who had paid her dues to be where she is (and I don''t mean geographically) without help from anybody.

As for this tragic case, I feel for the families of Mr Bourdeau and Mr Risken. Nobody---the victims and families---should have to go through such heartache. A bad person is a bad person, no matter the color or social status. I''m almost not surprised that the authorities is seemingly not pursuing Rios'' murder (just based on what was said on the show). I do hope the Risken family will eventually be able to obtain Larry''s remains, even if, sadly, they might never be able to find the people who committed the crime.