A brief pretrial hearing in the first-degree murder case of Megan Valentine took place last Thursday via Zoom, with Valentine appearing by video from the Wayne County Jail.
During the hearing, Prosecutor David Robinson addressed ongoing Illinois State Police crime lab testing of evidence. Judge William Thurston noted that two motions filed by Valentine’s attorney are still pending. The case is scheduled for another pretrial hearing tomorrow (Tuesday, February 3rd).
Megan Valentine is charged with first-degree murder in connection with the November 5, 2024, shooting death of her husband, Edwards County Resident Judge Michael Valentine.
Meanwhile, an investigation continues into allegations that a White County jail correctional officer had unlawful sexual contact with Valentine while she was in custody. Gallatin County State’s Attorney Douglas Dyhrkopp is overseeing the case, with the Illinois State Police handling the investigation. The correctional officer has been suspended, and Valentine was transferred to the Wayne County Jail, where she remains pending her trial.