Thomas Valva.Photo: GoFundMeThe former NYPD officer accused of killing his 8-year-old son was convicted Friday on five charges, including second-degree murder.A Suffolk County, New York, jury unanimouslyfound Michael Valva guiltyafter about seven hours of deliberation,The New York Timesreported, following the Jan. 2020death of his son Thomas Valva, who was on the autism spectrum and died of hypothermia after his father forced him to sleep in a freezing garage on a 19 degree night.According to theTimes, Michael, 43, was also convicted on four counts of child endangerment during the conclusion of the six-week trial at Suffolk County Court in Riverhead, Long Island. He willface 15 to 25 years to life in prisonwhen he’s sentenced on Dec. 8, ABC 7 reported.Valva’s attorney John LoTurco tells PEOPLE in a statement: “We are disappointed but understand the jury’s verdict. This case was heartbreaking and tragic and was a tsunami of emotions. The competing narratives between our defense that our client deeply loved his son Thomas despite his obvious parental deficiencies, versus the prosecution’s portrayal that Michael Valva was a highly abusive and depravedly indifferent father, created a dramatic backdrop to the seven-week trial.“Although he notes that they “respect the juror’s decision,” LoTurco plans to file a motion to vacate the verdict on the second-degree murder charge, citing insufficient evidence. He will also file an appeal.Michael Valva and Angela Pollina.AP/ShutterstockThe Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.“What happened in this courtroom does not change the unbelievable tragedy of this case,” said District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney, according to ABC 7.The outlet reported that LoTurco attempted to get his client a lesser charge of criminal negligence and homicide, arguing that his then-fiancée, Angela Pollina, who was also home at the time of Thomas' death, was to blame. He claimed that Michael attempted to save his son’s life.“It was clear from all of the evidence, substantial evidence, that she was the dictator of discipline in that household, that she controlled not only Michael, but she also had a lover in that household that lived with her,” LoTurco said in court, according to ABC 7.Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up forPEOPLE’s free True Crime newsletterfor breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.CBS New York reported that the defense attorney argued that testimony and texts between Michael and Pollina, 45, revealed that shedespised Thomas and his 10-year-old brother Anthonybecause of their autism and how they suffered from incontinence.It was allegedly Pollina’s idea to banish the boys to their unheated garage when they had bathroom accidents, according to CBS' account of the court testimony. TheTimesreported that the couple had forced Thomas and Anthony to sleep in the garage multiple times for months.After one such accident, Michael texted Pollina, “Ok, I’ll beat them up again. Talking don’t work. Maybe a bloody face will,” according to CBS.Additionally, CBS reported thatsurveillance footagefrom their home showed Michael and Pollina hosing the boys off in the backyard on the morning of Thomas' death. “He’s cold. Boo [expletive] hoo,” she could be heard saying after Thomas fell on his face.Pollina was also charged with second-degree murder and child endangerment, to which she pleaded not guilty, according to theTimes. Her trial will take place at a later date.Thomas' mother, Justyna Zubko-Valva, has alsofiled a $200 million civil suitagainst Michael, Pollina and several local officials.
Thomas Valva.Photo: GoFundMe
The former NYPD officer accused of killing his 8-year-old son was convicted Friday on five charges, including second-degree murder.A Suffolk County, New York, jury unanimouslyfound Michael Valva guiltyafter about seven hours of deliberation,The New York Timesreported, following the Jan. 2020death of his son Thomas Valva, who was on the autism spectrum and died of hypothermia after his father forced him to sleep in a freezing garage on a 19 degree night.According to theTimes, Michael, 43, was also convicted on four counts of child endangerment during the conclusion of the six-week trial at Suffolk County Court in Riverhead, Long Island. He willface 15 to 25 years to life in prisonwhen he’s sentenced on Dec. 8, ABC 7 reported.Valva’s attorney John LoTurco tells PEOPLE in a statement: “We are disappointed but understand the jury’s verdict. This case was heartbreaking and tragic and was a tsunami of emotions. The competing narratives between our defense that our client deeply loved his son Thomas despite his obvious parental deficiencies, versus the prosecution’s portrayal that Michael Valva was a highly abusive and depravedly indifferent father, created a dramatic backdrop to the seven-week trial.“Although he notes that they “respect the juror’s decision,” LoTurco plans to file a motion to vacate the verdict on the second-degree murder charge, citing insufficient evidence. He will also file an appeal.Michael Valva and Angela Pollina.AP/ShutterstockThe Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.“What happened in this courtroom does not change the unbelievable tragedy of this case,” said District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney, according to ABC 7.The outlet reported that LoTurco attempted to get his client a lesser charge of criminal negligence and homicide, arguing that his then-fiancée, Angela Pollina, who was also home at the time of Thomas' death, was to blame. He claimed that Michael attempted to save his son’s life.“It was clear from all of the evidence, substantial evidence, that she was the dictator of discipline in that household, that she controlled not only Michael, but she also had a lover in that household that lived with her,” LoTurco said in court, according to ABC 7.Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up forPEOPLE’s free True Crime newsletterfor breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.CBS New York reported that the defense attorney argued that testimony and texts between Michael and Pollina, 45, revealed that shedespised Thomas and his 10-year-old brother Anthonybecause of their autism and how they suffered from incontinence.It was allegedly Pollina’s idea to banish the boys to their unheated garage when they had bathroom accidents, according to CBS' account of the court testimony. TheTimesreported that the couple had forced Thomas and Anthony to sleep in the garage multiple times for months.After one such accident, Michael texted Pollina, “Ok, I’ll beat them up again. Talking don’t work. Maybe a bloody face will,” according to CBS.Additionally, CBS reported thatsurveillance footagefrom their home showed Michael and Pollina hosing the boys off in the backyard on the morning of Thomas' death. “He’s cold. Boo [expletive] hoo,” she could be heard saying after Thomas fell on his face.Pollina was also charged with second-degree murder and child endangerment, to which she pleaded not guilty, according to theTimes. Her trial will take place at a later date.Thomas' mother, Justyna Zubko-Valva, has alsofiled a $200 million civil suitagainst Michael, Pollina and several local officials.
The former NYPD officer accused of killing his 8-year-old son was convicted Friday on five charges, including second-degree murder.
A Suffolk County, New York, jury unanimouslyfound Michael Valva guiltyafter about seven hours of deliberation,The New York Timesreported, following the Jan. 2020death of his son Thomas Valva, who was on the autism spectrum and died of hypothermia after his father forced him to sleep in a freezing garage on a 19 degree night.
According to theTimes, Michael, 43, was also convicted on four counts of child endangerment during the conclusion of the six-week trial at Suffolk County Court in Riverhead, Long Island. He willface 15 to 25 years to life in prisonwhen he’s sentenced on Dec. 8, ABC 7 reported.
Valva’s attorney John LoTurco tells PEOPLE in a statement: “We are disappointed but understand the jury’s verdict. This case was heartbreaking and tragic and was a tsunami of emotions. The competing narratives between our defense that our client deeply loved his son Thomas despite his obvious parental deficiencies, versus the prosecution’s portrayal that Michael Valva was a highly abusive and depravedly indifferent father, created a dramatic backdrop to the seven-week trial.”
Although he notes that they “respect the juror’s decision,” LoTurco plans to file a motion to vacate the verdict on the second-degree murder charge, citing insufficient evidence. He will also file an appeal.
Michael Valva and Angela Pollina.AP/Shutterstock
The Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
“What happened in this courtroom does not change the unbelievable tragedy of this case,” said District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney, according to ABC 7.
The outlet reported that LoTurco attempted to get his client a lesser charge of criminal negligence and homicide, arguing that his then-fiancée, Angela Pollina, who was also home at the time of Thomas' death, was to blame. He claimed that Michael attempted to save his son’s life.
“It was clear from all of the evidence, substantial evidence, that she was the dictator of discipline in that household, that she controlled not only Michael, but she also had a lover in that household that lived with her,” LoTurco said in court, according to ABC 7.
Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up forPEOPLE’s free True Crime newsletterfor breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.
CBS New York reported that the defense attorney argued that testimony and texts between Michael and Pollina, 45, revealed that shedespised Thomas and his 10-year-old brother Anthonybecause of their autism and how they suffered from incontinence.
It was allegedly Pollina’s idea to banish the boys to their unheated garage when they had bathroom accidents, according to CBS' account of the court testimony. TheTimesreported that the couple had forced Thomas and Anthony to sleep in the garage multiple times for months.
After one such accident, Michael texted Pollina, “Ok, I’ll beat them up again. Talking don’t work. Maybe a bloody face will,” according to CBS.
Additionally, CBS reported thatsurveillance footagefrom their home showed Michael and Pollina hosing the boys off in the backyard on the morning of Thomas' death. “He’s cold. Boo [expletive] hoo,” she could be heard saying after Thomas fell on his face.
Pollina was also charged with second-degree murder and child endangerment, to which she pleaded not guilty, according to theTimes. Her trial will take place at a later date.
Thomas' mother, Justyna Zubko-Valva, has alsofiled a $200 million civil suitagainst Michael, Pollina and several local officials.
source: people.com
