Crime
Megan Valentine arrested and charged for the murder of Edward County Judge Michael Valentine
His wife, 44-year-old Megan S. Valentine, was present at the scene and was immediately taken into custody.
On Election Day, a tragic incident unfolded in southern Illinois as a judge was discovered fatally shot outside his home, leading to the arrest and subsequent charging of his wife.
Illinois State Police reported that deputies from the Edwards County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call at approximately 12:15 p.m. on Tuesday.
The call directed them to a residence on the 1100 block of County Road 600 in Albion.
Upon arrival, officers found Illinois Second Judicial Circuit Court Judge Michael J. Valentine lying deceased outside his home, the victim of a gunshot wound.
His wife, 44-year-old Megan S. Valentine, was present at the scene and was immediately taken into custody.
Given the nature of the case, the Edwards County Sheriff’s Office requested that the Illinois State Police lead the investigation.
By Thursday, the Illinois State’s Attorney Appellate Prosecutor’s Office had filed several charges against Megan Valentine, including first-degree murder, aggravated battery with a firearm, aggravated discharge of a firearm, and aggravated domestic battery.
Megan Valentine is currently being held in the White County Jail, with her first court appearance scheduled for Friday morning.
Authorities have not disclosed a possible motive at this time, and the investigation remains ongoing.
On November 8, 2024, the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office filed a criminal felony charge against Christian Martin, 18, in connection with the October 28 fatal shooting of 15-year-old Nelson Manuel López Correa, who died days later from a gunshot wound to the head.
Following the filing of charges, a felony arrest warrant for Martin was issued on Monday, November 11.
Martin is charged with first-degree intentional homicide with the use of a dangerous weapon. If convicted, he faces a sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole.
According to the criminal complaint, López Correa was with a girl he was dating and another male teen near the 1600 block of W. Forest Home Avenue when Martin, who had previously dated the same girl, approached them.
The complaint states that Martin had spoken to the girl the previous day, but upon seeing her with López Correa, he allegedly initiated a conversation with her.
She reportedly told him she no longer wanted to date him, at which point Martin struck her on the side.
As she and López Correa stood by a bus stop, Martin allegedly shot López Correa from behind, causing the girl to flee to a nearby gas station.
Police recovered surveillance footage from the scene, showing Martin allegedly shooting López Correa and the girl running from the area.
The other male teen who was with López Correa told police he had briefly gone home to check the bus schedule.
As he was returning to the bus stop, he heard a gunshot and saw López Correa fall, at which point Martin had reportedly fled.
In the wake of López Correa’s tragic death, his family is organizing a “Justice for Nelson Manuel López Correa” peaceful march on November 16, 2024, to raise awareness and call for justice.
The gathering will begin at 9:30 a.m. at S. 16 Street and W. Forest Home Avenue. Around 10:40 a.m., participants will march to the Milwaukee Police Department’s District 2 Station at 245 W. Lincoln Avenue in Milwaukee.