Illinois judge shot dead; Wife charged with murder: police

The wife of an Illinois district judge was arrested and charged with murder after her husband was found shot to death outside their home on Tuesday, police said.

Megan Valentine, 44, is accused of shooting Illinois Second Judicial Court Judge Michael J. Valentine, 43, at her home in the 1100 block of County Road 600 in Albion in southeastern Illinois.

Police responded to the home at approximately 12:15 p.m. and an Edwards County Sheriff's Office (ECSO) deputy observed Valentine's body outside the home.

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Megan Valentine was arrested at the home, Illinois State Police said.

She was charged with first-degree murder, aggravated assault with a weapon, aggravated discharge of a weapon and aggravated domestic battery.

She is being held in the White County Jail.

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An Edwards County Sheriff's Office badge on a wall. (Edwards County Sheriff's Office via Facebook)

It is unclear what happened before the shooting and police have not provided any further information.

Judge Valentine earned his law degree from Southern Illinois University and was elected prosecutor in Edwards County, Illinois, where he served for eight years before being elected district judge for Edwards County, according to his obituary on the website from Meredith Funeral Home.

Judge Valentine was also a member of the Illinois State Bar Association and the Illinois Judges Association and a drug court judge.

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Crime scene tape (iStock)

Before becoming an attorney and a member of the Albion Fire Department, Heritage Lodge 356 and Albion Moose Lodge, he served as a paramedic in Chicago.

He leaves behind his parents and two children.

“He was of the Catholic faith. He will be remembered as a good and fair judge who helped many people he served. Above all, he was a loving son and a loving father,” his obituary said. “He also leaves many in his community, colleagues, associates and friends to cherish his memory.