NYPD Dad Charged In Frigid-Garage Death Of Boy, 8: Cops

CENTER MORICHES, NY — An NYPD officer and father of an 8-year old boy found dead in a Center Moriches driveway has been charged, along with his fiancee, in connection with the child's death from hypothermia after being kept in a frigid garage overnight, police said.

On Friday, Suffolk County homicide detectives arrested two people in connection with the death of Thomas Valva: his father, Michael Valva, 40, and Valva's fiancée, Angela Pollina, 42, of 11 Bittersweet Lane in Center Moriches. Both were charged with second-degree murder, police said.

New details emerged Friday at a press conference by Suffolk County Police Commissioner Geraldine Hart. Thomas Valva officially died of hypothermia, according to the Suffolk County Medical Examiner, Hart said. "We believe that he was kept in the garage overnight preceding his death," Hart said, adding that when he was found, the boy's body temperature was 76 degrees and he had head and facial injuries that did not align with Valva's account of what had happened.

Hart said the belief is that at least two of Valva's children were exposed to abuse including possible starvation and "exposure to extremely frigid temperatures. We are still investigating the extent of the abuse."

Police are still investigating whether other children were also held in the freezing garage — Valva has three boys and three girls — and whether Thomas was kept there longer than one night, Hart said.

Michael Valva conducted CPR on his son in the basement; the garage, which is unheated and unfinished, is attached to the house, Hart said.

Authorities are examining calls to police at the house where the boy was found, Hart said. Some calls related to the custody arrangement during his divorce from the boy's mother, Hart said. And one call was a welfare check, although no one was home and a neighbor told police the family was in Queens, Hart said.

Police are working with the Suffolk County Social Services Department to make sure every avenue is explored, Hart said. "An event of this magnitude, the death of a child, is unimaginable, as parents, as a mother," she said. "We are going to look at every interaction this child had with the system and make sure we investigate every avenue."

When asked if Thomas was "malnourished," Hart said that was being investigated.

Also, she said, authorities are investigating whether he was autistic, something his mother has said, Hart said.

Suffolk County District Attorney Tim Sini made a statement on Friday. "This crime evinces the depravity of these defendants. They evinced no regard for this child's human life." Not only was he forced to sleep in the garage in frigid temperatures, but "they failed to do anything to help him as he died right in front of their eyes," Sini said. "Not only did they fail to render any meaningful aid, they lied to the police, they lied to the EMTs. This is one of the worst crimes I've ever seen. We will make sure that we seek justice in this case."

Sini confirmed that CPS has been involved with the case.

The DA's office has an audio tape made on the morning that the child was found. "I've heard it for myself and I can't describe it with words," Sini said. "The depravity of these defendants is shocking," he said.

Sini said evidence suggests that two of the children living in the home, the two boys on the autism spectrum, were, at times, forced to sleep in the garage.

The DA's audio recording, taken from a home security system, picked up Angela's voice saying "What are you doing?" and Michael Valva then stating, "I"m suffocating him," the DA's office said. Sini's office added that "Angela responded, 'Take your hand off his mouth; there are people around.'"

Detectives began investigating after Seventh Precinct police responded at 9:40 a.m. Jan. 17 to a report of a boy who fell in the driveway of a residence on Bittersweet Lane.

The child was taken to Long Island Community Hospital, where he was declared dead, police said.

According to News12, after the boy was found dead, Valva released a statement through an attorney: "As with any tragedy, our office and Mr. Valva are shocked and saddened to learn of the horrible accident that took the life of young Thomas Valva. We mourn his death with family and friends. Since Thomas' parents are in a divorce we are unable to make any further comments at this time."

A report by CBSlocal.com. said the boy's mother, Justyna Valva, had said that her children were in the custody of their father and that she "worried" about them. “Thomas was this little 8-year-old boy, my baby, who always was joyful, always stands for the truth, play his cars, read books, loved songs,” Justyna Valva said in the report.

On her Twitter account, she has expressed fears that her children were being "severely abused mentally and physically by their father and his woman."

A GoFundMe page was created to pay for the child's funeral expenses, the cbslocal post said: "It is with great sadness that I must bury my 8-year old son," said the page, organized by "Michael Gerard" — his full name was not used in the post. "He passed recently due to a tragic accident. At this time I am not able to handle these unforeseen costs on my own and if there is any help anyone can provide we would greatly appreciate it. In lieu of floral arraignments we ask that a donation be made instead. Thank you for your help and sympathy."

The page had an update on Jan. 21 adding that he and Angela "will be handling the money together and all the funds are going to go towards funeral expenses. Again thank you very much for your generosity and continued support we will try to keep you updated as much as possible."

The GoFundMe page was removed Friday; earlier in the day, many flooded social media platform urging that the page be taken down.

"We removed the campaign and all donors will be refunded in full. The campaign organizer has also been banned from using the GoFundMe platform for any future campaigns," said Meghan Scripture of GoFundMe communications. "Campaigns with misuse are very rare, and we take all complaints very seriously. If a misuse of funds takes place on GoFundMe, donors are protected and their donations are refunded. Our team works with law enforcement to report issues and assists them in investigations. It’s important to know that the platform is backed by the GoFundMe Guarantee, which means funds are guaranteed to go to the right place or donors will get a refund."

The East Moriches School District, where Thomas was a student, released a statement from Superintendent of Schools Dr. Charles Russo: "We continue to extend our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Thomas Valva. Thomas was a tender, loving boy who made tremendous gains during the short time he was a student in East Moriches," the statement said. "While the district legally cannot comment on any specific case, it aggressively reports to the proper authorities child abuse when it is suspected. The district will continue to cooperate with the Suffolk County Police Department as they continue with their investigation."

When asked whether the district could comments about copies of reports from the district circulating on social media regarding Thomas and his brother more than a year ago, a representative of the district said she could not comment.

Both Valva and Pollina are being held without bail, Sini said.