The wife of a southern Illinois judge who was fatally shot earlier this week has been charged in connection with his death, state police said Thursday.
She was arrested Tuesday after Edwards County sheriff's deputies found the body of Second Judicial Circuit Court Judge Michael J. Valentine outside a home in Albion. Albion is about 112 miles northeast of Paducah.
The 44-year-old woman is jailed on charges of first-degree murder, aggravated battery with a firearm, aggravated discharge of a firearm and aggravated domestic battery.
The sheriff's office asked the state police to lead the investigation into Valentine's death. Charges were filed against his wife on Thursday.
Her first court appearance is scheduled for Friday morning.
Valentine was a former Edwards County state's attorney, according to Second Judicial Circuit Chief Judge Melissa Morgan. He was first elected circuit court judge in 2016.
