Ex-Marine in recovery is Broward's first homicide victim of 2013

Ex-Marine in recovery is Broward's first homicide victim of 2013
By Tonya Alanez
Sun Sentinel
January 2, 2013

FORT LAUDERDALE
A softball-loving ex-Marine in recovery at a halfway house was the victim of Broward County's first homicide of 2013.

Christopher Valli, 46, was shot to death in his apartment at Third Step Recovery, 907 NW Fourth St., about 1:45 p.m. New Year's Day. No arrests have been made.

Valli had been at Third Step less than a month, going there on a referral after completing a 28-day recovery program, said Valli's mother, Karen, 74, of Margate.

"We didn't know what a horrible place it was until it was too late," Karen Valli said.

"Third Step is supposed to be a place of safety for people in recovery."

Third Step did not return calls seeking comment.

"He's bipolar, has PTSD and he medicates with street drugs," Karen Valli said. "But I would really like someone to see him as something other than a recovering addict. There was much more to Chris than that."
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