Illinois judge found dead outside home, wife charged with murder in his fatal shooting

The wife of an Illinois judge has been arrested and accused of fatally shooting her husband, according to Illinois State Police.

Megan Valentine, 44, of Albion, was arrested Tuesday after the body of Illinois Second Judicial Court Judge Michael J. Valentine was found outside a home, according to a police news release.

She was charged with first-degree murder, aggravated discharge of a firearm, aggravated assault with a firearm and aggravated domestic battery, according to court documents filed Thursday in Edwards County.

The Edwards County Sheriff’s Office responded to a home in Albion around 12:14 p.m. Tuesday

“Upon arrival, an ECSO deputy observed the body of Michael Valentine lying outside of the residence,” police said, adding that Megan Valentine was then taken into custody.

Police did not provide further information about why she was accused of murder or what happened leading up to the shooting. The Illinois State Police, which led the investigation into the shooting, presented their findings to the Illinois State Attorney General’s Office on Thursday, after which charges were filed against them.

She is being held in the White County Jail. An attorney for Megan Valentine did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

In a statement, the Second Circuit justices said they were “shocked and deeply saddened” by the death of Michael Valentine.

He has served as second district judge since 2022. He was previously elected district judge in 2016 and also served as prosecutor in Edwards County.

“Judge Valentine was a distinguished jurist who was determined to pursue justice, and his compassion and demeanor earned him the trust and respect of the people who appeared before him,” Valentine’s colleagues said in the statement. “We will miss him dearly.”