Southern Illinois judge

ALBION, Ill. -- A 45-year-old woman who faces murder charges in connection to a judge's death in southern Illinois, motioned for a change of venue on Tuesday. Megan S. Valentine faces murder charges, along with other felony charges, after police said her husband Michael Valentine, was shot and killed. According to online court records, a motion for change of place of trial was filed on Tuesday, June 16, 2026. On March 10, 2026, according to online court records, all pending matters will be reset to June 25, in front of Judge Thurston at the Edwards County Courthouse. In November of 2024, the Illinois State Police (ISP) Division of Criminal Investigation Zone 8, arrested Megan S. Valentine of Albion, after Illinois Second Judicial Circuit Court Judge Michael Valentine was found dead. ISP states on November 5, at around 12:14 p.m., a deputy with the Edwards County Sheriff's Office found Michael Valentine's body outside the home after authorities were called to the scene. This was at a home in the 1100-block of County Road 600 in Albion. State police arrested Megan Valentine and said she is the wife of Michael Valentine. She was later taken to the White County Jail. According to online court records, Megan Valentine faces three First Degree Murder charges, and charges of Aggravated Battery with a Firearm, Aggravated Discharge of a Firearm and Aggravated Domestic Battery.