An Illinois circuit court judge was discovered shot to death outside his Albion, Illinois residence, leading to first-degree murder charges against his wife, according to law enforcement authorities.
His wife, 44-year-old Megan S. Valentine, is facing charges of first-degree murder, aggravated battery with a firearm, aggravated discharge of a firearm, and aggravated domestic battery in relation to the death of her husband, Illinois Second Judicial Circuit Court Judge Michael J. Valentine.
The Edwards County Sheriff’s Office received a call and arrived at a home located in the 1100 block of County Road 600 in Albion, Illinois, about 270 miles south of Chicago near the Kentucky border, at around 12:14 p.m. on November 5, 2024.
Deputies found Judge Valentine’s body outside the home upon their arrival. Megan Valentine was apprehended at the scene.
Following the incident, the Edwards County Sheriff’s Office requested the Illinois State Police to oversee the investigation. The state police, after a detailed investigation, presented their findings to the Illinois State’s Attorney Appellate Prosecutor’s Office on November 7, resulting in formal charges being filed against Megan Valentine.
Judge Valentine had been on the bench since 2016, having been first elected as a Circuit Judge. He was retained by voters in the Second Circuit in 2022. Prior to his judicial career, he served as Edwards County State’s Attorney for eight years. Originally from Chicago, Valentine pursued a career in law after working as a Chicago EMT.
The Second Judicial Circuit Chief Judge Melissa Morgan released a statement in regard to Valentine’s death, saying, “Judge Valentine was a distinguished jurist who was determined in the pursuit of justice and his compassion and conduct earned him the confidence and respect of the people who appeared before him.”
Currently, Megan Valentine is being detained at the White County Jail in Carmi, Illinois.
Judge Valentine leaves behind his parents, two children, and other family members.
