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Murder

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Angela Pollina. Photo from SCPD
Co-Defendant Michael Valva previously Sentenced to 25 Years to Life

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced on April 11 that Angela Pollina, 45, was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison after a jury found her guilty last month of Murder in the Second Degree and other related charges, for her role in the death of her stepson, 8-year-old Thomas Valva, who died of hypothermia in 2020 after Thomas and his 10-year-old brother were forced to sleep in an unheated car garage in below-freezing temperatures.

“This case and the trials that ensued were not only heartbreaking, but they were also infuriating,” said District Attorney Tierney. “As I’ve said before, while the story of these two defendants ends here, the pursuit of justice for Thomas and Anthony is not over.”

The evidence at trial established that Pollina consciously disregarded the wellbeing of her stepsons Thomas and Anthony, and that disregard led to Thomas’ death on the morning of January 17, 2020. For months leading up to Thomas’ death, text messages were exchanged between Pollina and her fiancé Michael Valva, 45, the boys’ father, which showed Pollina’s insistence that the boys sleep in the garage of their Center Moriches home and not be allowed to use the bathrooms inside.

At Pollina’s insistence, Thomas and Anthony were forced to sleep in the garage without blankets for months prior to the incident. The night before Thomas died, he and his brother had been in the garage for 16 hours since returning from school and spent the night there with no heat, no bathroom access, no mattress, and no blankets while in 19-degree weather. Because he was freezing to death, the next morning, Thomas had an accident and soiled his pants.

Evidence submitted from a home surveillance camera captured Pollina sitting in the kitchen doing her bills, well aware of Thomas’s condition and doing nothing to help care for him. When one of the other children asked why Thomas couldn’t walk, Pollina replied, “Cause he’s hypothermic, hypothermic means you’re freezing, washing yourself in cold water when it’s freezing outside, you get hypothermic.” The surveillance video also showed she watched Thomas being hosed down in the backyard with cold water, and took the time to reprimand his father for yelling because the neighbors might hear. Two hours later, Thomas was pronounced dead due to hypothermia.

According to his testimony at the trial, Homicide Detective Norberto Flores of the Suffolk County Police Department responded to the hospital and when he asked, “What happened?” Pollina fabricated a story that Thomas was running for the bus when he fell and hit his head.

Thomas and Anthony were living at the home with Pollina, Valva, a third brother, and Pollina’s three daughters since 2017. School employees of the East Moriches School District where Thomas and Anthony were enrolled, testified at trial that Thomas and Anthony appeared thin, ate food off the floor, took food from other children, and pulled half eaten food from the garbage. In addition, witnesses testified they would arrive at the school so soiled, that school employees could smell urine and feces on them.

During the defense case, Pollina took the stand and admitted she deleted footage taken from the home’s surveillance camera and that she did not realize that exiling the brothers to the freezing garage for months was wrong until after Thomas was pronounced dead at the hospital. She admitted that the way she disciplined the boys was “evil,” but claimed it was the boys’ father who caused Thomas’ death.

On March 10, 2023, Pollina was convicted after a jury trial heard before Supreme Court Justice, the Honorable Timothy P. Mazzei, for the crimes of Murder in the Second Degree, a Class A felony, and four counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child, a Class A misdemeanor. On April 11, 2023, Pollina was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison. She was represented by Matthew Touhy, Esq.

On November 4, 2022, Pollina’s co-defendant and former fiancé Michael Valva, was found guilty of Murder in the Second Degree, a Class A felony, and four counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child, a Class A misdemeanor. He is now serving 25 years to life in prison.

 

 

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Stock photo

Following an investigation by Homicide Squad detectives, Jose Martinez-Vazquez and Tiffany Diaz-Cabrera were arrested in Port Jefferson Station on March 5, for the alleged murder of Benjamin Flores-Mendez, who was found dead on the Greenway Trail, near Clifton Place, in Port Jefferson Station on June 17, 2021.

Martinez-Vazquez was arrested at the corner of Crystal Brook Hollow Road and Hallock Avenue at 2 p.m. Diaz-Cabrera was arrested on Crystal Brook Hollow Road at 9:18 p.m. Martinez-Vazquez, 24, and Diaz-Cabrera, 20, both of Port Jefferson Station, have each been charged with Murder 2nd Degree.

Below is the first update and the original release:

Suffolk County Police Homicide Squad detectives are investigating the stabbing death of a man that
occurred on a trail in Port Jefferson Station on June 17. The body of Benjamin Flores-Mendez, 39, of Port Jefferson Station was found on Greenway Trail, near Clifton Place, at approximately 1 a.m. The victim, who was stabbed, was pronounced dead at the scene.

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File photo

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney on Feb. 17 announced the arrest of Candelario Cordova, 53, of Huntington Station, who allegedly stabbed his friend to death, and then slashed and stabbed his friend’s wife when she tried to intervene.

“This defendant allegedly murdered his friend and was savagely attacking his friend’s wife when she tried to save her husband’s life,” said District Attorney Tierney. “Our thoughts are with the Cisneros family as we prosecute this defendant for this horrendous crime.”

According to the investigation, on February 16, the wife of Roque Cisneros, 58, looked out of the front window of her Huntington Station home and saw her husband sitting in the front passenger seat of an SUV. Cordova, a family friend of nearly 20 years, and who was seated in the driver’s seat of the SUV, appeared to be trying to get Cisneros out of the vehicle. When Cisneros’ wife saw Cordova suddenly pull away with her husband still in the SUV, she jumped in her car and followed them.

Cordova stopped his SUV around the corner on Oakwood Road, jumped out, opened the trunk, and retrieved a long knife. Cordova then opened the passenger side of the SUV and began stabbing Cisneros repeatedly in the neck and body. Cisnero’s wife attempted to stop the attack by grabbing Cordova, who then began slashing and stabbing her. Several passing motorists stopped and intervened, ultimately subduing Cordova until members of the Suffolk County Police Department arrived. The knife used during the attack was recovered at the scene.

Cisneros was pronounced dead at the scene. Cisnero’s wife was transported to Huntington Hospital where she was treated for her stab wounds. It is unknown at this time what Cordova’s motive was in killing Cisneros On February 17, Cordova was charged with Murder in the Second Degree, a Class A felony. He pleaded not guilty, was remanded, and is due back in court on March 6, 2023.

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Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney today announced On Jan. 13 that JILLIAN KOLSCH, JAHSHAWN STRICKLAND,  JONRAY PEREZ, and KAYLA ALVARENGA are each indicted for Murder in the Second Degree, arising out of their participation in a botched home invasion robbery which resulted in the fatal shooting of Louis Lombardo in 2021.

“These defendants allegedly conspired to commit a violent armed robbery, and needlessly took the life of an occupant in the home in the process,” said District Attorney Tierney. “Now, they will have to answer for this senseless killing.”

According to the investigation, on October 27, 2021, KOLSCH, STRICKLAND, PEREZ, ALVARENGA and another individual conspired to commit a robbery during a marijuana deal. The alleged plan was for STRICKLAND and another individual to set up a dealer by pretending to buy marijuana from him, and for ALVARENGA and PEREZ to then rob the seller of his marijuana and money.

Playing their part in the alleged plan that night, STRICKLAND and the 2 other individual went to the garage of the dealer’s Huntington Station house, pretending that they were there to purchase marijuana. ALVARENGA and PEREZ, both armed with guns, then approached the home’s garage while KOLSCH waited in the car as the getaway driver. Finding the garage door locked, ALVARENGA and PEREZ yelled to the occupants, demanding that they open the door and threatening them with violence if it was not opened.

One of the defendants then fired a shot through the closed garage door. The bullet struck and killed Lombardo, 28, of Dix Hills, a friend of the dealer who was in the garage at the time. The evidence includes video surveillance recovered from both the interior and exterior of the garage.

KOLSCH, 20, of Smithtown, is charged with Murder in the Second Degree, a Class A felony, two counts of Robbery in the First Degree, a Class B felony; and one count of Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree, a Class E felony. She was arraigned January 12, 2023, before Supreme Court Justice, the Honorable Timothy P. Mazzei and was remanded without bail.

ALVARENGA, 20, of Deer Park, is charged with Murder in the Second Degree, a Class A felony; two counts of Robbery in the First Degree, a Class B felony; two counts of Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree, a Class E felony; and two counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Fourth Degree, a Class A misdemeanor. She was arraigned before County Court Judge, the Honorable Anthony S. Senft, Jr., on January 6, 2023, and was remanded without bail.

STRICKLAND, 17, of Bay Shore, is charged with Murder in the Second Degree, a Class A felony; two counts of Robbery in the First Degree, a Class B felony; and two counts of Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree, a Class E felony. He was arraigned before County Court Judge, the Honorable Anthony S. Senft, Jr., on January 9, 2023, and was remanded without bail.

PEREZ, 17, of Babylon, is charged with Murder in the Second Degree, a Class A felony, two counts of Robbery in the First Degree, a Class B felony, one count of Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree, a Class E felony; and one count of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Fourth Degree, a Class A misdemeanor. He was arraigned before County Court Judge, the Honorable Anthony S. Senft, Jr., on January 9, 2023, and was remanded without bail.

Criminal complaints and indictments are merely accusatory instruments. Defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. No one is above the law.

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Suffolk County police car. File photo

Suffolk County Police arrested a Brooklyn man on Nov. 16 for allegedly stabbing his mother to death in her Deer Park home. First Precinct officers were called to a house on 23rd St. at approximately 7:05 a.m. after a 911 caller reported a dispute at the location. When officers arrived, they discovered Olga Cardona-Hernandez, 54, stabbed to death. Her son, Gabriel Cabral-Cardona, was arrested at the scene. Cabral-Cardona, 33, of 659 Grand Blvd., was charged with Murder 2nd Degree. He was transported to a local hospital for treatment of minor injuries sustained during the incident.

A criminal charge is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

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Suffolk County Police Homicide Squad detectives are investigating a shooting that killed a man in Huntington Station on Aug. 2.

Byron Martinez was shot at the threshold of his residence, located at 212 5th Ave., after he answered a knock at the door at approximately 1:15 a.m.  Martinez, 23, was pronounced dead at the scene by a physician assistant from the Office of the Suffolk County Medical Examiner.

Detectives are asking anyone with information on the shooting to call the Homicide Squad at 631-852-6392 or Crime Stoppers at 800-220-TIPS.

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Michael Owen was charged with with Murder 2nd Degree. Photo from NCPD

A St. James man was arrested for allegedly murdering his estranged wife.

Kelly Owen, 27, who was pregnant, was found dead in her South Farmingdale home Jan. 15, according to Nassau County Police Department. On Jan. 29, St. James resident Michael Owen was arrested and charged with Murder 2nd Degree.
The medical examiner’s office determined the cause of death to be asphyxiation.

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Kenneth Regan, of Centereach, has been charged with murder on a New Jersey interstate.
Photo from Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office

Centereach man Kenneth Regan, 21, was charged with alleged murder, attempted murder and various weapon offenses in New Jersey last Thursday after a week-long investigation by that state’s detectives. He was charged alongside an Eastport man, Douglas Coudrey.

New Jersey State Police said they responded to a 911 call Jan. 18 at around 12:15 a.m. reporting shots fired on Interstate 80 West in Lodi, New Jersey. Responding police said they found a vehicle in the middle lane with the driver, 27-year-old Luis Perez of the Bronx in the driver seat with gun shots to his neck and chest. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Two other passengers, also of the Bronx, were in the car, and one is in critical but stable condition and the other was uninjured.

The investigation brought investigators to Coudrey’s Eastport residence, and when police tried to stop Coudrey, Regan and a third male in their vehicle, the alleged perpetrators fled, crashed into a fence and were subsequently arrested. Police later found a .22 caliber rifle modified to be used as a submachine gun and a sawed-off shotgun.

Both men were charged in New Jersey. Suffolk County police and the district attorney’s office were said to have aided in the investigation and apprehension of the alleged perpetrators.

Attorney information for both men was not available.

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It’s as if we are living in a James Bond movie but with one small difference: These events are real. A Saudi journalist walked into his country’s embassy in Turkey, we learn, and never came out. He entered at 1:14 p.m. Oct. 2, around the time he had been instructed to come, to pick up papers that would enable him to wed his Turkish fiancée. The wedding was scheduled for the next day. She was waiting outside in the car for him to re-emerge. There is video of him entering the building but none of him leaving. She waits outside but in vain. She does not see him again.

The journalist, we continue to learn, is Jamal Khashoggi, a dissident in his country and critic of the royal family who felt sufficiently at risk to leave and move to the United States. He lived in Virginia and was a Saudi contributor to the Washington Post, for which he said he could write freely. Khashoggi was good friends with the Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

In addition to the video at the Saudi Consulate, there are further videos of two Saudi charter planes landing at the Istanbul airport the preceding night and that same day. Those disembarking were 15 men, all apparently known to the Turkish officials as members of Saudi intelligence. One was identified as an autopsy specialist who carried a bone saw. They all came to the embassy. Late in the afternoon, all reboarded the planes and returned to Saudi Arabia.

Turkish authorities claim to have video and audio showing that Khashoggi was killed in his country’s embassy and his body dismembered. To date, they have not shown the evidence, claiming they do not want to expose intelligence sources. Until now the Saudi government has denied any knowledge or connection with the events in the embassy but has in the last couple of days changed its story. As a result, it now suggests that the journalist was accidentally killed while being interrogated.

Aside from the morbid fascination with these events, why should we in the United States care? We are directly involved because Khashoggi, though still a Saudi Arabian citizen, lived here and was a well-known columnist. Further, Saudi Arabia is a fulcrum of President Donald Trump’s Mideast policy, both in the context of any Israeli-Palestinian peace plan, in the Middle East wars and also in our effort to diminish the influence of Iran. In addition, the Saudis buy billions of dollars of military arms from us and play a major role in the supply chain of oil. The president’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, is known to have cultivated a close relationship with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who is effectively controlling the government. In the past, members of the Bush family too, while in office, were closely tied to the Saudi royals.

Now prominent members of Congress are urging Trump to impose economic sanctions on Saudi Arabia. Trump is caught between all of the previously given reasons not to alienate the Saudi government, and the outrage and disgust of world leaders at a possible grisly murder that is assumed to have been authorized by “MBS” — how the crown prince is known. Revulsion is plain to see as some corporate leaders have withdrawn from a global economic conference, the Future Investment Initiative — known as “Davos in the Desert” — that is scheduled in Riyadh for next week. The conference is seen as something of a prestigious triumph for MBS.

So far, Trump has offered the suggestion that “rogue killers” may be responsible for the possible murder, even as he threatened “severe punishment” if the Saudi royal family were found to be involved. Steve Mnuchin, the Treasury secretary, is still slated to participate in the conference. A decision on his going is expected by Friday.

So what will carry the day here, humanitarian or political concerns? Will the world move on, forgetting a single journalist in the interests of Machiavellian gain? Or will there be an honest, vigorous investigation as this morality tale plays out across the globe?

Stay tuned.

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File photo by Victoria Espinoza

A dispute inside a Port Jefferson Station pool hall resulted in the shooting death of a 27-year-old man July 22.

Suffolk County Police Homicide detectives are investigating a fatal shooting that occurred inside Billiards DBM, located at 1604 Main Street in Port Jefferson Station at about 8:30 p.m. Sunday night, according to police.

Following an altercation, Albert Luis Lopez Rodriguez was shot inside the hall, police said. Rodriguez, 27, of Selden was pronounced dead at the scene by a physician assistant from the Office of the Suffolk County Medical Examiner.

The investigation is ongoing. Detectives are asking anyone with information about the incident to call the Homicide Squad at 631-852-6392 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-220-TIPS.

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