In 2017, New York Police Department officer Valerie Cincinelli met John DiRubba, a single father, while her marriage to Isaiah Carvalho was crumbling. Despite their age difference—John was over 50 and Valerie in her 30s—they began a secret affair, meeting discreetly in hotels. Over time, the couple dreamed of building a family together.

Valerie introduced John to her two children under the alias "Mary" to prevent her children's father from finding out. She also met John's 14-year-old daughter. However, Valerie kept their relationship hidden, claiming she was "very afraid of her husband." She told John that Isaiah was abusive, constantly insulted her, was always glued to video games, and neglected the children.

Valerie Cincinelli worked for the New York Police Department since 2007. Photo: NYP

Valerie Cincinelli worked for the New York Police Department since 2007. Photo: NYP

One day, John drove to Valerie's home and was surprised to see Isaiah's car parked in the driveway. Over the phone, Valerie told John to park one block away and "watch the show." Soon after, John saw a police car stop in front of the house, and Isaiah was led away in handcuffs, accused of slapping Valerie's hand, causing her phone to drop. Isaiah pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct and moved out, despite previously denying all abuse allegations. He suspected Valerie was having an affair, but his family stated he did not want a divorce.

"I'll blow your head off"

Valerie and John's relationship deepened, but issues arose. Valerie seemed to dislike John's daughter. "She would often say things like, 'Why are you taking your daughter to the mall to buy things for her, but not for me and my children?'. At the time, I didn't know how to react," John recalled. John described Valerie's moods as a "rollercoaster," wonderful when happy, but capable of changing completely the next day.

After nearly one year together, John received a text message from his daughter. When Valerie asked who he was texting, John lied, saying it was an email notification to avoid an argument. Valerie then pulled out a gun, pointed it directly at John's face, and said, "If you ever lie to me again, I'll blow your head off." John reported the incident to the police, leading to Valerie's gun being confiscated and her reassignment during the investigation. At this point, Valerie had lost both men: John ended their relationship, and Isaiah was initiating divorce proceedings.

Tormented by guilt, John contacted Isaiah to confess the affair and apologize. Meeting at a restaurant, John learned that Isaiah was not the monster Valerie had described; he simply wanted to save his family from divorce. In March 2018, John broke off contact with Valerie and obtained a restraining order after her continuous calls. When Valerie violated the order, John reported her to the police, leading to criminal charges. However, looking into his ex-lover's eyes in the courtroom, he softened and told the judge he had lied in court. The charges against Valerie were dropped.

The conspiracy and the trap

In 2018, Valerie and John reconciled and lived with Valerie's son, but she still refused to accept John's daughter. To appease Valerie, John arranged for his daughter to live with a friend and hired a professional tattoo artist to cover up his daughter's name tattoo. Meanwhile, Valerie and Isaiah's divorce became increasingly contentious due to a child custody dispute. The police officer found a solution to her problems, telling John, "We have to get rid of him... maybe you know someone who can help with this." According to John, Valerie also wanted to eliminate his daughter so they would only need to raise her children.

John stated he never considered killing his daughter or Isaiah, but to calm Valerie, he pretended to know a hitman who could carry out both assassinations for 7,000 USD. Valerie subsequently withdrew money from the bank. For John, this was the last straw. He reported Valerie to the FBI and agreed to become an informant for the agency. The FBI asked John to secretly record conversations with Valerie to verify his statements. With an "Oscar-worthy performance," John cooperated with Valerie's plan, even getting matching "Till Death" tattoos.

In the recordings, Valerie suggested the hitman stage a botched robbery for Isaiah and a car accident for John's teenage daughter. The FBI then staged the "murder" with Isaiah's help. During the sting operation, police created a fake crime scene, making it appear as though Isaiah had been shot in his car at a marina, and photographed it. Detectives then arrived at Valerie's home, where John was also present, to inform her that "Isaiah had been murdered."

The FBI staged a fake crime scene with the help of Isaiah Carvalho. Photo: Inside Edition

The FBI staged a fake crime scene with the help of Isaiah Carvalho. Photo: Inside Edition

"Are you kidding me? This can't be real," Valerie sobbed in distress in a video recorded by a body camera worn by an officer. After law enforcement left, Valerie discussed alibis and how to destroy evidence with John; these conversations were recorded by John's hidden device. Crucially, the "dead" photo of Isaiah, sent by the "hitman" (an undercover FBI agent) to John as proof the mission was complete, served as key evidence. That was when the FBI raided the house and arrested Valerie.

Blame game and sentencing

In May 2019, Valerie was charged with two counts of murder-for-hire and one count of obstruction of justice. She denied all allegations. "I will be acquitted, because I didn't do it," Valerie told the media while handcuffed. She resigned from the New York Police Department after 12 years of service. Valerie's defense attorney blamed John, accusing him of provoking his girlfriend to make controversial statements in the FBI recordings. The attorney argued that Valerie was merely fantasizing about killing her ex-husband and John's daughter, never believing it would become reality. He added that Valerie became "out of control," partly due to medication she was taking after shoulder surgery. According to the attorney, the prosecution lacked incriminating evidence because no money was ever exchanged to hire a hitman. The 7,000 USD John mentioned as payment for the hitman was actually a loan Valerie gave her boyfriend to invest in gold.

Valerie Cincinelli being escorted from court in New York, 2021. Photo: NYP

Valerie Cincinelli being escorted from court in New York, 2021. Photo: NYP

In April 2021, Valerie reached a plea agreement with prosecutors, and the murder-for-hire charges were dropped. She pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice and was sentenced to four years in prison. At her sentencing in October 2021, Valerie apologized: "I cannot believe I allowed myself to fall into such a dark abyss." After completing her sentence, Valerie was released in October 2022. Isaiah expressed gratitude for John contacting the FBI: "If he hadn't, who knows if I would still be alive today?"