GUILTY VERDICT AFTER 3-WEEK MURDER TRIAL - 4 February 2026

DELHI - Delaware County District Attorney Shawn J. Smith announced that Justin T. Valk, 49, of Davenport was found guilty of Murder in the Second Degree, a Class A-II Felony and several other felony charges on January 23, 2026, by a jury of his peers in Delaware County Court.

In a trial lasting three weeks, the jury found, beyond any reasonable doubt, that Justin Valk recklessly caused the death of his wife, Stephanie Valk, under circumstances evincing a depraved indifference to the value of human life. The jury heard testimony that in August of 2022, Justin Valk injected his wife Stephanie Valk with multiple doses of Methamphetamine and Fentanyl over a 24-hour period, while the couple were alone in their Davenport home. 

Evidence showed that the victim became severely sick because of these drug injections- to the point where she was unable to speak or even stand on her own.  The jury saw several videos, recorded by Justin Valk himself, which documented Stephanie’s 20 plus hour struggle to breathe and attempt to stay alive while she was on the floor going through severe seizures and convulsions.  In the videos, Valk can be seen and heard mocking and belittling Stephanie’s physical peril and refusing her labored cries for help. Evidence also showed that the defendant turned away first responders when a New York State Police Investigator arrived at the home on an unrelated matter. Valk told the Investigator that his wife was “fine” and sleeping in a bedroom before he showed the investigator to the door. 

Additional evidence showed that the state of the defendant’s marriage had deteriorated to the point that he was seeking a divorce. The defendant had also been engaging in an affair with another woman- one of his wife’s friends- prior to the murder. 

In addition to the top count of Murder in the Second Degree, the jury also found Valk guilty of Assault in the First Degree, a Class B Violent Felony, Reckless Endangerment in the First Degree, a Class D Felony, two counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree with Intent to Sell (fentanyl & heroin), both Class B Felonies, and one count of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 5th Degree with Intent to Sell, (methamphetamine), a Class D Felony. The drug charges stem from narcotics that the State Police recovered while executing a search warrant at the murder scene. 

Sentencing in this matter is set for March 25, 2026. Sentencing will be in the Court’s discretion, but Murder in the Second Degree carries a maximum sentence of 25 years to life in state prison.  The B Felony drug convictions carry the potential of a consecutive state prison sentence of up to 9 years. 

District Attorney Shawn Smith tried the case and was assisted in court throughout the trial by Assistant District Attorney Denise Kerrigan and Paralegal Kelsey Cole.  Albany Defense Attorney Kevin O’Brien represented the defendant, and the Honorable Gary A. Rosa presided over the trial.  

District Attorney Smith commended the work of the New York State Police, particularly retired Investigators Mathew Burkert and Jennifer Hahl, along with Investigator Michael Little for their excellent investigation into this extremely egregious case. Smith also thanked the staff at Safe Against Violence for the support they provided to the victim’s family throughout this process. 

Smith stated, “This is a truly despicable case. Not only did the defendant cause the death of his wife, but he also took pleasure in her pain while he video recorded her suffering for approximately 20 hours before she became non-responsive.”  

Smith further stated, “There is no way that I can bring Stephanie back, but I hope that this conviction and the accompanying mandatory life sentence will bring some sense of justice and closure to Stephanie’s family and loved ones.  I appreciate the time and attention that each of the jurors gave to this case. My office will continue to work with law enforcement to ensure that every criminal defendant is held accountable for their criminal actions.”