Police abused his autistic son to death: verdict after dramatic trial in New York
Michael Valva, a former New York police officer, was found guilty yesterday of the death of his 8-year-old autistic son, who suffered continued abuse while in the custody of his father and stepmother, according to the accusation.
The investigation determined that Valva, 40, forced her son Thomas to sleep in an unheated garage in sub-zero temperatures in January 2020, killing the abused boy at their Long Island home.
It was found guilty of all charges against him, including the highest, second degree murder. I know He faces between 25 years and life in prison when he is sentenced on December 8.advertisement Fox News.
The investigation carried out by the authorities revealed evidence of alleged physical abuse and neglect by Valva and his then-girlfriend, Angela Pollinabetween September 2017 and January 2020, including reports from the East Moriches School District alleging that on numerous occasions Thomas and his brother Anthony they came to school hungry, cold, dirty, or marked with scratches, bruises, and cuts.
“This guilty verdict will not bring back 8-year-old Thomas, who suffered immense cruelty at the hands of his father, the very person who was entrusted to protect, provide and unconditionally love Thomas and his older brother Anthony.” Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney said: “While there is nothing we can do to bring Thomas back, we are pleased with the jury’s decision.”
Valva and Pollina were arrested at the same time and accused of second degree murder and endangering a minor by acting with “depraved indifference to human life.” Both have pleaded “not guilty” and are being tried separately.
Pollina remains in detention and her trial will take place on a date yet to be determined. “It was clear from all the evidence, substantial evidence, that she was the dictator of discipline in that home, that she controlled not only Michael, but that she also had a lover in that home who lived with her,” he said. defense attorney for the police officer, John LoTurco, cited ABC News.
The boy’s death on January 17, 2020 was reportedly the culmination of years of relentless abuse suffered by Thomas and his brothers, including spending hunger, cold and tortureaccording to statements at Valva’s dramatic murder trial in Riverhead.
“I’ll beat them until they bleed” Valva texted Pollina about the children, Assistant Suffolk County District Attorney Laura Newcombe told jurors, according to Newsday. “It’s the only thing that works.”
The latest mistreatment occurred when the then-cop forced the boy to sleep in an unheated garage at his home as the temperature dropped to 19 degrees F (-7C) and then doused him with ice water, causing hypothermia, prosecutors told the jury.
Justyna Zubko Valva, biological mother de Thomas, had denounced the abuse of her three children at the hands of her ex-husband, a police officer and in June 2020 filed a $200 million federal lawsuit. She had lost custody of her three children as well due to Valva’s alleged abuse of power. Three daughters also lived in the home where Thomas died. from Pollina.
The mother alleged in the lawsuit that Long Island courts, school officials and social service agencies failed to protect the boy from his abusive police fatherdespite the many signs before he froze to death.
“Zubko Valva had presented evidence to the court, CPS (child protective services), the police and the children’s lawyers (Family Court) several times that showed the serious physical, mental and sexual abuse of their children by Valva and Pollina,” their plaintiff lawyer said then. Days after Thomas’s death, his mother regained custody of her two surviving children.
Several children died in the last months of 2021 in NYC victims of alleged abuse in their homes. Other cases have also been reported in 2022. If you are a victim or suspect that someone is being mistreated, especially if they are a minor or elderly person:
- Call 911 or 1.888.NYCWELL (1.888.692.9355).
- Send the text message “WELL” a 65173.
- Check information in https://nycwell.cityofnewyork.us/es/
