A scathing new grand jury report has shed light on the years of abuse suffered by Thomas Valva, an autistic boy who tragically lost his life due to the negligence of his ex-NYPD cop father and stepmother. The report, sanctioned by Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney, reveals that the secretive child protective system, coupled with New York’s restrictive privacy laws, kept complaints about the ongoing abuse of Thomas hidden from public scrutiny until it was too late.
According to the 75-page report, the Child Protective Services Division of the county’s Department of Social Services deemed the claims of abuse against Thomas as “unfounded” and private, effectively sealing the reports and preventing any intervention. Even after the convictions of Michael Valva and Angela Polina, the grand jury continued to face obstacles in accessing the sealed reports, hindering their investigation into the missed signals and failures in protecting Thomas and his brother.
The report highlights that 11 different reports were made to CPS by trained professionals and mandatory reporters, including educators at Thomas’ elementary school, prior to his tragic death. Despite these reports, no action was taken to help the suffering boys. Thomas, only 8 years old at the time, was left locked in a freezing garage overnight without proper clothing or a blanket, resulting in his death from hypothermia. His older brother, Anthony, miraculously survived the same cruel treatment.
During the trial, prosecutors presented evidence of a pattern of abuse, with educators testifying about the boys’ disheveled appearance, bruises, and severe malnourishment. Valva’s text messages to Polina, expressing his intention to physically harm the boys, further demonstrated the extent of the abuse they endured.
The grand jury’s six-month investigation encountered numerous hurdles due to the state statute and CPS policies, which allowed the materials related to the abuse to remain hidden from public scrutiny, law enforcement, and even the grand jury itself. District Attorney Tierney emphasized the urgent need for changes in the law to ensure accountability and prevent similar tragedies in the future.
The report issued several recommendations, including unsealing CPS reports on suspected child abuse for grand jury or law enforcement investigations and establishing new rules regarding the availability of unfounded findings to investigators. The panel interviewed 27 witnesses during the investigation.
1 Response
While it is undoubtedly tragic that Thomas Valva lost his life due to the negligence of his father and stepmother, it is important to remember that this is an isolated incident and should not be used to generalize about all parents or step-parents. It is unfair to paint all ex-NYPD cops or stepmothers with the same brush based on the actions of a few individuals. The majority of parents and step-parents are loving and caring individuals who prioritize the well-being of their children. It is