How Could You? Hall of Shame-Marion and Valencia Stevens
This will be an archive of heinous actions by those involved in child welfare, foster care and adoption. We forewarn you that these are deeply disturbing stories that may involve sex abuse, murder, kidnapping and other horrendous actions.
From Midway, Georgia, Liberty County commissioner and foster parent, Marion Stevens, 75, and his wife Valencia, 63, “were arrested March 28 and each charged with two felony counts of first-degree cruelty to children, causing excessive physical or mental pain, in connection with two children in their foster care.”
They “are facing felony child abuse charges, and documents obtained by WTOC reveal a prior report of alleged abuse involving the same guardian dating back more than two years.”
“According to the warrants, Marion Stevens “did maliciously cause cruel or excessive physical or mental pain by whipping” a boy in his foster care “with a white extension cord numerous times, which as a result have left permanent scars and marks on a large portion of his body.””
“A second warrant against Marion Stevens makes the same allegation involving a girl also in the foster home.
Two additional warrants make identical allegations against Valencia Stevens in connection with both children.
The warrants allege the abuse occurred between May 1, 2025, and March 28, 2026, a span of nearly a year.
The night a child went missing
According to an LCSO incident report, the events leading to the arrests began the evening of March 27. Valencia Stevens reported at 9:53 a.m. on March 28 that she had not seen the boy since approximately 4:30 p.m. the previous day. LCSO issued a missing child alert.
Around 1:45 p.m. that day, three adults in a neighborhood more than a mile away contacted law enforcement after finding the boy looking in their windows and knocking on their door. The boy told them he was homeless, had no family and asked for a place to stay.
A deputy returned the boy to the Stevens home, where EMS evaluated him for scratches and injuries he said were sustained from falling in the woods.
Both Marion and Valencia Stevens were arrested March 28 and bonded out the following day, each posting $4,600. Chief Magistrate Judge Michael McGirt ordered them to have no contact with the children.
A prior report of alleged abuse
WTOC also obtained a Liberty County Sheriff’s Office family violence report from January 2024, more than two years before the current charges.
According to that report, a school counselor contacted law enforcement on Jan. 25, 2024, after a boy in Valencia Stevens’ foster care arrived at school with two bruises on his face. The boy told the counselor he had been hit in the face with a rope by his guardian, Valencia Stevens.
Valencia Stevens denied the allegation, telling deputies she had no knowledge of how the boy sustained the bruises. No arrest was made. The case was cleared as unfounded.
However, the school counselor filed a report with the Georgia Division of Family and Children Services. WTOC has requested records from DFCS to determine what action, if any, was taken following that report.
What officials are saying
District Attorney Billy Joe Nelson said he cannot comment because the case is active.
Commissioner Stevens declined to comment, also citing the active investigation. Stevens confirmed that Valencia Stevens is not his wife but declined to clarify their relationship.
WTOC has requested additional records from LCSO, the Liberty County Magistrate Court, the Atlantic Judicial Circuit Superior Court, and DFCS related to this case.
Political implications
Stevens has held the District 1 seat since 1999. He faces three challengers in the May 19 nonpartisan primary: fellow Democrats Larry Baker, Walthourville’s former mayor, and Stanley Brown, former Midway councilman. Republican Joseph “Michael” Cook will face the Democratic primary winner in the Nov. 3 general election.
A court date has not been set in the criminal case.
Marion Stevens and Valencia Stevens are considered innocent until proven guilty.”
[WTOC 4/23/26 by Augostina Mallous]
REFORM Puzzle Piece
Recent Comments