Suffolk DA to give update on CPS probe after Thomas Valva’s 2020 death
Editor’s note: The video above originally aired on April 11, 2023.
CENTER MORICHES, Long Island (PIX11) – An update in the investigation into Suffolk County’s Child Protective Services after the death of 8-year-old Thomas Valva in 2020 is expected Thursday, according to District Attorney Ray Tierney.
Thomas Valva died of hypothermia while in the care of his father, former NYPD Officer Michael Valva. Michael Valva and his fiance, Angela Pollina, were later convicted of second-degree murder.
Evidence presented by prosecutors during the case showed a pattern of neglect and abuse, raising questions about why the agency did not intervene. Thomas Valva and his then 10-year-old brother were forced to live in a garage, according to prosecutors.
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Video from surveillance cameras installed throughout the house, including the garage, showed the abuse the boys went through, prosecutors said. The boys could be seen huddling on the cement floor for warmth, even when temperatures dipped to below freezing, video showed.
Michael Valva and Pollina attempted to erase the footage after Thomas Valva’s death, according to officials.
Erin Pflaumer is a digital content producer from Long Island who has covered both local and national news since 2018. She joined PIX11 in 2023. See more of her work here.
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