On November 5, 2024, Illinois Second Judicial Circuit Court Judge Michael J. Valentine was found fatally shot outside his home in Albion, Illinois. The incident occurred at approximately 12:14 p.m. in the 1100 block of County Road 600, where Edwards County Sheriff's Office deputies responded to a wellness check and discovered Judge Valentine's body.
Judge Michael J. Valentine, born on April 14, 1981, in Chicago, Illinois, had a distinguished career in law.
He earned his law degree from Southern Illinois University and served as the State's Attorney in Edwards County for eight years before being elected as a Circuit Judge for the same county. He was also a former Chicago EMT and a member of the Albion Fire Department, as well as a member of the Illinois State Bar Association, the Illinois Judges Association, and a Drug Court Judge.
Following the discovery of Judge Valentine's body, his wife, Megan S. Valentine, 44, was taken into custody by the Edwards County Sheriff's Office. The Illinois State Police took over the investigation at the request of the sheriff's office. After a thorough investigation, Megan Valentine was charged with four felonies: first-degree murder, aggravated battery with a firearm, aggravated discharge of a firearm, and aggravated domestic battery. She is currently being held at the White County Jail.
Judge Valentine was remembered by his colleagues and community for his commitment to justice and his compassionate conduct. Second Judicial Circuit Chief Judge Melissa Morgan described him as a "distinguished jurist who was determined in the pursuit of justice" and noted that his death was "tragic." He will be sorely missed by his family, colleagues, and the community he served.
Visitation for Judge Valentine was held on November 13, 2024, at the House of Prayer in Albion, Illinois, with funeral services scheduled to take place in Orland Park, Illinois, at a later date. He is survived by his parents, Michael J. Valentine Sr. and Marilyn (Jablonowski) Valentine, his children Mia Rose Valentine and Michael Joseph Valentine III, and other family members and friends.
The case against Megan Valentine is ongoing, with no further information available on whether she has entered a plea or retained an attorney to represent her.
