Meanwhile, in the courtroom, Chavez and family gathered to pray a Hail Mary until Serna grabbed Chavez by the arm to escort him through a crowded pathway of supporters and family members. Following the not-guilty verdict, Chavez fileda federal lawsuit against Aaron Jones, a detective with the Valencia County Sheriffs Department at the time of Teras death. Levi Chavez is the Husband of Tera, and he was a police officer with the Albuquerque Police Department. But I didnt see them, she said, adding later that she also didnt see any items that looked like they had belonged to Tera. Episode Website More Episodes 2019 NBC News Top Podcasts In True Crime See All In August 2013, Chavez was acquitted of the murder charges. Upon announcing the verdict, the family of Levi Chavez, including his current wife Albuquerque detective Heather Chavez, let out gasps and wept. It appears that his wife, now known as Heather Chavez, is a detective with the Farmington Police Department. "I'm going to go to church, pray my Rosary and thank my Virgin Mary," Chavez said as he was crowded by reporters. Levi has undergraduate degrees from UNM and CNM, as well as a law degree from the UNM School of Law. His ex-wife, Kellie May Xiong Chauvin, who was crowned Mrs. Minnesota in 2019, legally separated from Chauvin on May 28, 2020 - just three days after a viral bystander video showed her husband . The lawsuit against Jones was dismissed in 2018. On the morning of Oct. 22, 2007, Levi said he came home in Los Lunas and found his wife dead in bed from a gunshot to her mouth. After the two reviewed numerous pages of Verizon records showing calls made to and from both Teras and Levis cellphones, as well as cellphone tower records, Serna declared that the records supported his clients story about where he had been the weekend of Teras death. The morning of 22 October 2007, he returned to the couple's home in Los Lunas, NM where he . Tera, a four-year-old girl, died in August 2017 when her car seat was too full of pillows and blankets while she was strapped into it. rules the death self-inflicted The medical examiner ruled Tera's death a suicide. By abqjournal. A A. Levi Chavez, an ex-New Mexico police officer, was acquitted Tuesday in the 2007 murder of his estranged wife, but could still face a wrongful death civil lawsuit. After investigations revealed secrets involving an unhappy marriage, tangled love affairs, and a web of lies, it was Levi who came under the microscope for Teras alleged murder and the subsequent cover-up. Levi was initially charged with murdering his wife with his police issued Glock and making it appear as a suicide. Where does medical cannabis go from here? After more than 10 hours of deliberations, a jury acquitted Levi Chavez . They also werent allowed to watch video of that deposition. 'I took her for granted.'. For Tera Chavez, Levi was her high school sweetheart, husband, and the entire world. I knew Id be acquitted. That case is scheduled to be heard in state District Court in Bernalillo County and has been on hold while the criminal trial was held. Levi Chavez Now: Where Is Tera Chavezs Husband Today? He told the 911 operator, Please tell them to hurry! and said shed committed suicide, PEOPLE reported. Thats when she married Levi Chavez and took his last name, according to testimony she gave this morning at the end of the third week in her husbands murder trial. Levi Chavez was acquitted in that case, but many people are raising concerns about whether his presence in the next class of law students . YouTubeLevi Chavezs second wife Heather testifying during the trial. Prosecutor Bryan McKay, who told jurors during closing arguments that Chavez used his department-issued gun to commit "cold-blooded, calculated, planned-out murder," declined to comment after the verdict. Jones was one of the first officers on the scene and a lead detective on the case. They werent told that tens of instances in which Levi Chavezs attorneys asserted his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination had been excised from the deposition. Join Facebook to connect with Levi Chavez and others you may know. After more than 10 hours of deliberations, a jury acquitted Levi Chavez, 32, of murdering of his wife, 26-year-old Tera Chavez, in 2007 and trying to make the hairdresser's death look like a suicide. Levi was born on October 9, 1925 in Ojo Feliz, New Mexico to Jose and Hilaria Chavez. The investigation took many years, with a search warrant served at Levi Chavezs home in August 2009, by which time the case was deemed a homicide. By that time, though, their marriage was already crumbling apart as Levi was having affairs with several women, many of whom he worked with on the police force. Chavez was eventually charged with first-degree murder and obstructing justice, responding to which he entered a not guilty plea and, to date, asserts his innocence. For weeks, the murder trial captivated parts of central New Mexico as residents were fixated in barber shops, diners and grocery stores. BERNALILLO Its impossible to say based on cellphone records where Levi Chavez was for 15 hours near the end of the three-day period during which prosecutors say he killed his wife in 2007, according to a cellphone company analyst who testified Thursday in the former APD officers murder trial. But, in the end, after two days of deliberation, because of a lack of physical evidence linking him to Teras death, or something that even concretely proved that it was a homicide, Levi, who was facing life in prison, was acquitted of all charges. Following all this, the investigating officers on this case thought that they finally found a motive; Levi killed his wife because he didnt want to get caught engaging in illegal activities and wanted to pursue other relationships without worries. Farm Heroes Saga, the #4 Game on iTunes. COVID-19 has impacted how we provide prioritized street outreach, emergency housing, and permanent supportive housing services to people experiencing homelessness. Acquitted: Levi Chavez, center, a former Albuquerque police officer, leaves the court after his month-long trial, Grief: Theresa and Joseph Cordova, parents of Tera Chavez, leave the Sandoval County Judicial Complex, saying 'justice has not been served'. In court today, she said the calls were work related, and Keener did not press her for specifics. New Mexico, 2007: Tera Chavez, a police officer's wife, is found shot dead in the mouth of an apparent suicide. Heather Chavez also testified that she never met or spoke to Tera Chavez. According to the prosecution, she was on the verge of filing a complaint against him for fraudulent activity. Her family said they knew there was trouble in the relationship and they had heard Levi Chavez was cheating on his wife, Alibi reported. Previous Post . She was my secret-bank. They also said hed had other affairs, including with some of the neighbors and other Albuquerque police officers. He told the operator she killed herself and that he hadnt said anything because He thought she needed time.. Valencia County sheriffs initially ruled the death as a suicide due to the "close proximity of the gun to the body. Levi Chavez alleged malicious prosecution, malicious abuse of process, defamation, and outrageous conduct, according to court documents. Witnesses also described a workplace where interoffice romance was rampant and said both Levi and Tera Chavez had affairs with members of the police force. All Rights Reserved. Her father, Joseph Cordova, said she loved flowers and drew some all over the house. Heavy reached out to the university for more information about his admittance but did not immediately hear back. During his testimony last week, Chavez frequently broke down and had to take breaks when he recounted his ill treatment of his late wife throughout their marriage. Homeowner finds gruesome animal skeleton hidden behind cupboard for 30 years - so can you guess what it is? Your email is safe with us, we dont spam. Social Media Influencer Set on Fire & Killed by Ex-Husband, Family Says. Levi Chavez, an Albuquerque police officer, called 911 on the morning of October 22, 2007, to report that hed come home to find his wife dead of a gunshot wound from his service weapon. BERNALILLO, N.M. The monthlong criminal trial and all its salacious stories of law officer affairs and a blundering investigation are over, but a civil trial looms for a former Albuquerque policeman acquitted of killing his depressed wife with his department-issued gun. For instance, detectives said that the night before the young mothers death, Levi Chavez was at his girlfriends house, according to PEOPLE. Chavez discovered his wife dead, with a gunshot wound to the mouth upon returning home on October 22, 2007. Powered by. Subscribe now to access decluttered news, chosen by you. According to several local coverages, the news of his admission to the university inspired mixed reactions from alumni and other students. However, as Dateline NBC explored on its episode The Officers Wife, investigators had questions about her death, especially as the gun used was Levi Chavezs department-issued firearm. However, the case took a shocking turn after some disturbing facts came to the surface. Social Media Influencer Set on Fire & Killed by Ex-Husband, Family Says. In 2018, the case was dismissed due to missing information and incorrect information that was cited as reasons to dismiss the case. Tera Chavez died on 22nd October 2007 at Los Lunas, New Mexico, United States, she was 26 years old during her time of death and according to the report she died from a gunshot wound from her husband's service weapon. The call did not go to voicemail. or debate this issue live on our message boards. Murdaugh is heckled as he leaves court, Alex Murdaugh unanimously found GUILTY of murder of wife and son, Pavement where disabled woman gestured at cyclist before fatal crash, Missing hiker buried under snow forces arm out to wave to helicopter, Insane moment river of rocks falls onto Malibu Canyon in CA, Fleet-footed cop chases an offender riding a scooter, Two Russian tanks annihilated with bombs by Ukrainian armed forces, Isabel Oakeshott clashes with Nick Robinson over Hancock texts. It appears that his wife, now known as Heather Chavez, is a detective with the Farmington Police Department. [1] [2] Levi was initially charged with murdering his wife with his police issued Glock and making it appear as a suicide. Based on the information provided on their website, Levi is now serving as the Emergency Housing Director at their Westside Emergency Housing Center. In the trial's final days, Chavez took the stand and acknowledged having a string of mistresses, searching a website on how to kill someone with martial arts moves, and ignoring his wife's calls for help. Levi was ultimately cleared of all charges. ACTION 7 NEWS REPORTER LAUREN ZAKALIK IS LIVE OUTSIDE COURT TO EXPLAIN. Bernalillo County deputy involved in rollover crash in Northeast A Bernalillo County deputy was reportedly A Bernalillo County deputy was reportedly not injured after their vehicle rolled in a two-vehicle crash Saturday morning in Northeast Albuquerque. [3], The night prior to the death of his wife Tera, Levi had spent the night at his girlfriend's house. ABOUT A MONTH AFTER THAT LEVI BOUGHT HER A DIAMOND RING. Levi Chavez is a former police officer in Albuquerque, New Mexico, who was charged with the 2007 death of his 26-year-old wife, Tera Chavez. Bernalillo County deputy involved in rollover crash in Northeast Albuquerque, Where does medical cannabis go from here? The two met twice thereafter to have sex before Levi Chavez called 911 to say his wife had shot herself in the head. I did. I didnt speak with her.. Levi Chavez, right, a former Albuquerque police officer, gets a congratulatory hug from his attorney David Serna on Tuesday, July 16, 2013, in Bernalillo, N.M., after a jury acquitted him of murder and tampering with evidence charges in the 2007 death of his estranged wife, Tera Chavez. Do not sell or share my personal information. Annalise died after being pushed off the roof in December 2009. He will face a much higher judge upon his death and he wont have a slick as ownsh*t jew loyah to bamboozle the jury. After more than 10 hours of deliberations, a jury acquitted Levi Chavez, 32, of murdering of his wife, 26-year-old Tera Chavez, in 2007 and trying to make the hairdresser's death look like. It appears that his wife, now known as Heather Chavez, is a detective with the Farmington Police Department. Levi Chavez claimed he returned to their Los Lunas, New Mexico, home on Oct. 22, 2007, to find his wife's dead body in bed after taking a bullet right into the 26-year-old's mouth. The OTHER side of the law: Former Albuquerque police officer Levi Chavez seen here in his mugshot after allegedly murdering his wife. The problem here was that his girlfriend couldnt remember exactly when Levi came to her place or when he left. Published: Friday, June 28th, 2013 at 12:05AMUpdated: Friday, June 28th, 2013 at 2:03PM. Copyright 2022 by Fashionuer. After more than 10 hours of deliberations, a jury acquitted Chavez, 32, of murdering his depressed wife, 26-year-old Tera Chavez, in 2007 and trying to make the hairdresser's . Reportedly, he is married to APD Detective Heather, who was also present throughout the trial. "What did I tell you?" Serna told Chavez. Mr. Levi Chavez was born and raised in New Mexico and has a military and law enforcement background. On Jan. 15, 2008, Heather Chavez gave an interview to then-Detective Aaron Jones, who was investigating Teras death for the Valencia County Sheriffs Office. webvtt in day 14 of the levi chavez trial, his current wife, a-p-d officer heather chavez takes the stand. Over the next several months, detectives began digging into Levi Chavezs story and the investigation eventually deemed her death a homicide. He finally went on trial for the allegations brought against him in 2013, a full two years after the charges were first brought. Levi started working for Heading Home in 2015. . According to reports, he is now the husband of APD Detective Heather. Although her parents said they were shocked at the news, they turned it around to a positive. The teenager and her baby continued to live at the Cordova family home for two years, her mother Theresa Cordova said. AP Photo/Albuquerque Journal, Adolphe Pierre-Louis, Colombia wants to deport "cocaine hippos" to stop them from multiplying, Alex Murdaugh found guilty of murders of wife and son. The upcoming episode of Dateline Unforgettable will premiere at 8.00 pm ET on Tuesday, June 14, 2022. . Former APD officer Levi Chavez is accused of killing his wife Tera. Levi Chavezs current wife takes the stand, Current wife insists she never spoke with Tera Chavez, WEBVTT IN DAY 14 OF THE LEVI CHAVEZ TRIAL, HIS CURRENT WIFE, A-P-D OFFICER HEATHER CHAVEZ TAKES THE STAND. However, things began turning around for the mother of two when she began making plans to leave her husband and open a salon of her own, her family said. His profile states: Mr. Levi Chavez was born and raised in New Mexico and has a military and law enforcement background. Please logout and login again. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. But Keener pointed to more phone records that showed a call from Teras phone to Heathers on Sept. 29, 2007. During the gap, Keener asked, You have no idea where the cellphone of Mr. Chavez was?. They married in July 2008, just a few days after Hindis divorce from another Albuquerque police officer was finalized. He was accused of murdering his wife by the victim's family and one of the detectives working the case and was ultimately acquitted of all charges in 2013 after being found not guilty by a jury. Levi has undergraduate degrees from UNM and CNM, as well as a law degree from the UNM School of Law. Im innocent. "What did I tell you?" Earlier Thursday, the fourth of Levi Chavezs many paramours to testify in the murder trial took the stand. According to her testimony, Heather Chavez was in Chicago with her parents the weekend Tera died. "He's got several plans in the works," Serna said. Some of the affairs were with female APD officers.[4]. The official synopsis of the episode says. This type of work affords great meaning to his life, as he and his team provide emergency housing to hundreds of our communitys most vulnerable individuals each night. Levi Chavez is a former Albuquerque, NM Police Officer who was charged with the 2007 death of his 26yearold wife, Tera Chavez. ", As the murder case gained more attention from the media and public, Chavez and the Albuquerque Police Department became the targets of heavy scrutiny. As week three of the Levi Chavez murder trial wound down prosecutors started playing up another possible motive for him to kill his wife Tera. We raised Andrea as a family., The young couple married in 2000 even though their relationship was already facing some problems, her brothers said. Chavez was placed on leave at the police department where he worked and eventually, on April 7, 2011, he was arrested and charged with his wifes murder, KOAT reported. Levi Chavez came back the following week and did exactly that. Josh Mankiewicz reports. After a few years there, they moved back to Los Lunas, and Levi got a job as a police officer with the Albuquerque Police Department. 'This was a made up pile of lies from the beginning and it took the jury approximately 10 hours to find that out.'. Check arrest records, resumes and CV, photos and videos, news, social media profiles, publications, places of employment, work history and public records . Levi started working for Heading Home in 2015. Detective Aaron Jones with the Valencia County Sheriffs Office said he found Tera Chavezs diary, which detailed her despair and, in more recent times, her hopes for the future and her decision to leave her husband. Katrina Garley testified that she met Levi Chavez when he walked into the Verizon cellphone store in Los Lunas to buy a phone in early October 2007. Sie knnen Ihre Einstellungen jederzeit ndern, indem Sie auf unseren Websites und Apps auf den Link Datenschutz-Dashboard klicken. Following a couple of years of preparation, he applied to be a lawyer and was accepted into the University of New Mexico Law School, entering class of 2016, where he apparently specialized in criminal law. Chavez alleged malicious prosecution, malicious abuse of process, defamation, and outrageous conduct, court documents show. With the departure of our son, Jorge Levi Chavez, to eternity, I write that he was not a son from the womb but from the. They allege the former officer killed his wife to keep her from disclosing an alleged staged theft of a truck for insurance money. Accused: Prosecutors have depicted Levi Chavez as a philanderer whose marriage was crumbling, and say he killed his wife after she found out he had staged the theft of his pickup truck to collect the insurance proceeds. Some extra notes, quotes, news and notes from the Lobos Friday night basketball game in Fort Collins, Colorado. Bei der Nutzung unserer Websites und Apps verwenden wir, unsere Websites und Apps fr Sie bereitzustellen, Nutzer zu authentifizieren, Sicherheitsmanahmen anzuwenden und Spam und Missbrauch zu verhindern, und, Ihre Nutzung unserer Websites und Apps zu messen, personalisierte Werbung und Inhalte auf der Grundlage von Interessenprofilen anzuzeigen, die Effektivitt von personalisierten Anzeigen und Inhalten zu messen, sowie, unsere Produkte und Dienstleistungen zu entwickeln und zu verbessern. Some of the evidence in the civil case, like testimony from an insurance investigator about the fake theft allegations, was barred in murder trial. As soon as this grand jury indictment came out, Levi was fired from the Albuquerque Police Department, from where he had been on administrative leave for over a year. Keener pressed Heather Chavez on a statement she made during her deposition that her sexual relationship began in a car. The case made national headlines in 2013 as more details came to light . In July 2013, Levi Chavez was found not guilty of first-degree murder. The Valencia County District Attorney stated Chavez violated the . In August 2013, Chavez was acquitted of the murder charges. Witnesses also described a workplace where interoffice romance was rampant and said both Levi and Tera Chavez had affairs with members of the police force. "Please tell them to hurry!" the 26-year-old can be heard saying. Her husband, Albuquerque Police Department officer Levi Chavez, was the one who discovered her body and called 911, claiming that it looked like his wife had shot herself with his department-issued weapon. [1] At least 12 dead after winter storm slams South, Midwest, The Saturday Six: Dental device controversy, scientist's bug find and more, Indonesia fuel depot fire kills 18; more than a dozen missing, 3 children killed, 2 others wounded at Texas home, Man charged for alleged involvement in 2 transformer explosions, Nikki Haley slams potential GOP contenders, and Trump and George W. Bush, Duo of 81-year-old women plan to see the world in 80 days, Tom Sizemore, actor known for "Saving Private Ryan" and "Heat," dies at 61, Alex Murdaugh trial: What to know about the double murder case. Levi's Obituary On July 9, 2021, we lost our father, Levi Chavez, Levi passed away at the awesome age of 95. She grew up in Los Lunas, a small village south of Alburquerque. John Fetterman Wife: Who Is Gisele Barreto Fetterman. [1] [2] Levi was initially charged with murdering his wife with his police issued Glock and making it appear as a suicide. She didnt leave them., When she was just 15 years old, Tera met Levi Chavez and became pregnant with his child, Alibi reported. While Levi Chavez has maintained his innocence and that his wife committed suicide, her family has remained firm in their belief that she was killed, Alibi reported. Breaking News: Levi Chavez found NOT GUILTY of all charges in the death of Tera Chavez in 2007. For weeks, the murder trial captivated parts of central New Mexico as residents were fixated in barber shops, diners and grocery stores. READ NEXT: Social Media Influencer Set on Fire & Killed by Ex-Husband, Family Says. Chavez found his estranged wife Tera dead of a gunshot wound in the living room of their home in 2007. The records also show that following the end of the shift at midnight, the phone was in the far Northeast Heights, near the home of a fellow APD officer with whom Chavez was having an affair. He has full custody of his two children, according to Tera's parents Joseph and Theresa Cordova. After gaining back his freedom, Levi Chavez decided that he wanted to change his career but still be in the justice system. View contact information: phones, addresses, emails and networks. Three weeks after Teras death, Levi Chavez was having sex with another woman in the home near Los Lunas from which authorities had removed Tera Chavezs body, according to the mistresss testimony. state calls heather chavez : IT DIDN'T TAKE LONG FOR THE PROSECUTION TO JUMP RIGHT INTO THE PERSONAL DETAILS OF APD DETECTIVE HEATHER HINDI'S BLOSSOMING RELATIONSHIP WITH RECENT WIDOWER LEVI CHAVEZ IN 2007.' Chavez was tried in 2013 for murder and tampering with evidence in the death of his wife Tera Chavez. Hearst Television participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. Levi Chavez has maintained that his wife's death was an act of suicide. This individual treats the department as his own private brothel, and while he runs amok, nobody does anything or says anything. Discover Lynn Murdaugh Goette Real Image & Current Location, Create Your Perfect Print With Blue And White Peel And Stick Wallpaper. 'Justice was not served,' Joseph Cordova, the father of Tera Chavez, said after listening to the verdict with his wife. Levi Chavez, an Albuquerque police officer, called 911 on the morning of October 22, 2007, to report that he'd come home to find his wife dead of a gunshot wound from his service weapon. Right. Part of the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group, Plunged into the limelight: Camilla 'wants her five teenage grandchildren to take centre stage at Charles's coronation alongside the King's Royal heirs - performing a role previously given to Duchesses as the new Queen is anointed with holy oil', Newspaper comic strip Dilbert gets canceled after its creator is branded racist for warning white people to 'get the f**k away' from black people - before doubling down on his beliefs.
