Parents Of James McGrath Say They Will 'Never' Forgive Ahead Of Murder Trial: Report

SHELTON, CT — The parents of James McGrath, a 17-year-old Fairfield College Preparatory School student who was fatally stabbed outside a house party in Shelton in May 2022, said this month they will never forgive the teen accused of killing their son, according to a new report.

In a recent interview with the Connecticut Post, McGrath's parents, Kevin and Margaret, said they will never be able to forgive Raul Eliah Valle, 19, a Milford teen who has been charged with murder. They also noted the pain of losing their son is still raw over three years later.

According to CT Post, the first day of testimony in the murder trial of Valle is scheduled to take place Tuesday at Superior Court in Milford. McGrath's parents plan to attend the trial. (The full Connecticut Post story can be read here.)

According to an arrest warrant application, McGrath, a Shelton resident, was stabbed outside a house party with over 50 teens in attendance on Laurel Glen Drive late on May 14, 2022.

Valle, who was 16 at the time of his arrest and a student at St. Joseph High School in Trumbull, is accused of fatally stabbing McGrath. He was arrested days after the incident and later released after posting a $2 million bond.

He has been charged with murder, as well as two counts of first-degree assault and one count of second-degree assault, according to the state's judicial database.

In November 2023, Valle rejected a plea deal that would have called for him to serve 40 years in prison and did not make a counter-offer. At that time, his lawyer told the media his client is innocent and wanted a trial.

A wrongful death lawsuit was filed against Valle and other defendants by Kevin McGrath, acting as administrator of his son's estate, in May 2024.

See also: Family Of James McGrath Files Lawsuit Against Milford Teen, Parents

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After McGrath's death, his parents and sister, Rosie, established The Jimmy McGrath Foundation in his honor as a way of promoting mental and physical wellness for local youths while "instilling in them a profound appreciation for the value of a human life," according to the organization's website.

The third annual Jimmy McGrath Foundation Golf Tournament was held Monday at Smith Richardson Golf Club in Fairfield, according to the website.