Wife charged with murder after southern Illinois judge found dead

ALBION, Ill. (WSIL) - A 44-year-old woman has been charged with murder in connection to a judge's death in southern Illinois .

The Illinois State Police (ISP) Division of Criminal Investigation Zone 8, arrested Megan S. Valentine, 44 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 taken to the White County Jail.

Megan Valentine is charged with First Degree Murder, Aggravated Battery with a Firearm, Aggravated Discharge of a Firearm and Aggravated Domestic Battery.

Her first appearance in court is on November 8 at 9 a.m.