Suffolk County pays $9 million to the mother of an autistic boy frozen to death in his NYPD father’s garage, exposing glaring failures in child protective services that demanded accountability.
Story Snapshot
- Suffolk County settled for $9 million with Justyna Zubko-Valva over the 2020 hypothermia death of her son Thomas.
- Thomas Valva, 8 and autistic, died after his father forced him to sleep in a freezing garage.
- The father’s NYPD background and convictions highlight systemic lapses in protecting vulnerable children.
- Settlement admits county, school, and CPS failures made the tragedy preventable.
Tragic Circumstances of Thomas Valva’s Death
Michael Valva, a former NYPD officer, forced his 8-year-old autistic son Thomas to sleep in a freezing garage in January 2020. Thomas died from hypothermia on January 17. His stepmother, Angela Pollina, participated in the abuse. Court records detail how the boy endured brutal conditions, including punishment for accidents related to his autism. This case shocked Long Island residents and raised questions about how authorities missed clear signs of danger. The garage temperature dropped below 30 degrees Fahrenheit that night.
Convictions Deliver Justice for the Father and Stepmother
In 2022, a Suffolk County jury convicted Michael Valva of second-degree murder. Judge William C. Reilly sentenced him to 25 years to life in prison. Angela Pollina received the identical sentence in 2023 after her conviction. Prosecutors presented evidence of repeated abuse, including forcing the boys to live like dogs in the garage. Valva’s law enforcement background intensified public outrage over his betrayal of protective instincts. These verdicts affirmed the criminal accountability for the parents’ actions.
Valva maintained innocence during sentencing, claiming bias in the trial. Appellate efforts continue, but the convictions stand firm. The case underscored how parental authority twisted into lethality demands unyielding justice.
County Settlement Admits Systemic Failures
Suffolk County agreed to a $9 million settlement with Justyna Zubko-Valva, Thomas’s mother, concluding her federal lawsuit. The suit accused county officials, the school district, and child protective services of failing to protect the boy despite warnings. Justyna reported abuse multiple times, but officials dismissed her concerns amid a custody battle. The settlement signals the county’s acknowledgment that Thomas’s death was preventable through proper intervention. It closes a chapter marred by bureaucratic inaction.
This payout reflects broader frustrations with government agencies prioritizing procedures over child safety. Under President Trump’s leadership, renewed focus on family values and accountability echoes calls to reform child welfare systems. Past leftist policies often entangled families in overreach, but this case demands common-sense protections for vulnerable kids. Limited details on Justyna’s reported reversal leave questions, yet the settlement prioritizes closure for the grieving mother.
