An ex- policeman has been charged with second degree murder after he forced his eight-year-old son to sleep on the concrete floor of a bitterly cold garage overnight. Michael Valva, a former New York officer, was found guilty of four counts of child endangerment and is now facing a potential maximum 25 years to life sentence in prison.
Below freezing temperatures fell to -6C the night little Thomas Valva was forced to sleep in the garage of his family's Long Island home and the youngster sadly died the following day in January 2020. After a month's worth of testimony, Friday's verdict was announced on the first day of deliberations, the Mirror reports.
The eight year old's death was ruled as a homicide by a medical examiner who found that hypothermia was a leading factor in his death. Prosecutors said that Thomas and his 10 year old brother were both on the autism spectrum and were sometimes made to sleep overnight in the garage by their parent.
Prosecutors also shockingly revealed that the boys had been in the frosty garage for 16 consecutive hours before Thomas died the next day, Newsday reported. They also alleged that cruel, Michael Valva did nothing to aid his son as he watched him die and then went on to lie to police and first responders about what had happened.
The child endangerment counts against Valva stemmed from beating and starving both of his sons. According to US media, the teachers heartbreakingly testified that both of the boys would come to school with visible bruises on their body and would often eat crumbs off the floor as they were starving.
Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney said in a statement: "While there is nothing that we can do to bring Thomas back, we are satisfied with the jury's decision. Michael Valva subjected his sons to horrific abuse, neglect and cruelty.
He will now pay for cutting short the life of a young, innocent, defenceless boy who had a lifetime ahead of him." Valva's ex-fiancee, Angela Pollina, also faces child endangerment and second-degree murder counts and is awaiting trial.
She has taken no responsibility for the horrific treatment of her ex lover's two boys and has pleaded not guilty. During the trial, school officials said they had made complaints to the Child Protective Services hotline regarding the two children as they were worried about their safety at home.
East Moriches Elementary School principal Edward Schneyer reportedly said that they had contacted authorities after being turned away by Michael Valva and Pollina.
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