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. action 7 . August 7, 2015. detailing just how quickly their relationship developed once tera chavez died. Dated Nov. 14, 2007, it was from a fellow APD officer whose name, at the time, was Heather Hindi. Thats also where she was working on Oct. 8, 2007, the first time she met Levi Chavez face-to-face, according to her testimony. In the 6-week-long court hearing, there were testimonies from police officers, pathologists, the women Levi had affairs with, as well as Teras family. Levi has undergraduate degrees from UNM and CNM, as well as a law degree from the UNM School of Law. Tera Chavezs mother, Theresa Cordova, said her daughter was an artist, according to a feature on Chavezs life in Alibi. But on direct examination by Bryan McKay, senior trial attorney for the 13th Judicial District Attorneys Office, Garley testified that she also went to the home the Chavezes had shared at 11 Ash Place on the weekend of Nov. 11 and 12, 2007. M.E. 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. Would love your thoughts, please comment. 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. Levi Chavez and Tera Chavez. I told you guys that from the beginning. 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. 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'. 2023 by Fashionuer. One day, [the kids] are going to be of age, and theyre going to want to know, her father told Alibi. Your login session has expired. Not among them was APD officer Steve Hindi, to whom Heather was married at the time. He pulled up the call history for the officer on his patrol computer and found it was a car assigned to Levi . She testified this morning that she is currently assigned to the APD Crimes Against Children Unit. He also told her she should have more information., I listened, Heather Chavez said about the interview. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. BERNALILLOTwenty-four days after Levi Chavez called 911 to say his wife had shot herself in the head, a text message popped up on his cellphone suggesting that a new marriage wasn't far off.. 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. But the disgraced former. The interview between Levi Chavez and former Valencia County Sheriff's Detective Aaron Jones was recorded shortly after deputies found Tera Chavez at the couple's home, dead from a gunshot . At first, because of how the crime scene looked, Teras death was ruled a suicide. Social Media Influencer Set on Fire & Killed by Ex-Husband, Family Says. Joseph Cordova, Teras father, told the outlet, The culture which we grew up in, his family was from law enforcement. But, the disgraced former officer insisted that he did not kill his wife. Detective Jones, who suspected that Levi Chavez had murdered his wife eighteen to twenty hours before he . Levi Chavez's current wife takes the stand, Current wife insists she never spoke with Tera Chavez. 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. Jorge was born on August 28, 1961 in Santiago Atitlan, Guatemala. 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 . 'This was a made up pile of lies from the beginning and it took the jury approximately 10 hours to find that out.'. "If we had a smoking gun, I would say it was the unseated magazine," said Arthur Ortiz, a longtime New Mexico lawman,. Heres what you need to know about Tera Chavezs death: Levi Chavez said he came home on October 22, 2007, and found his wife dead from a gunshot wound from his service weapon, PEOPLE wrote. However, nearly four years after Tera took her last breath, Levi was charged with first-degree premeditated murder and tampering with evidence. July 31, 2015 - Former APD officer Levi Chavez has been admitted to the UNM Law School. After Chavez left the store, Garley sent him a text message on his newly purchased phone to tell him he had nice eyes, she said from the witness stand. The Officer's Wife Dateline NBC True Crime Requires subscription and macOS 11.4 or higher When police officer Levi Chavez finds his wife, Tera, shot to death in their home, an investigation into her murder begins as buried secrets are revealed. Levi Chavez was working at the Albuquerque Animal Welfare Department when he was arrested in 2011, but it wasnt until two years later, in 2013, that he stood trial for the charges against him. webvtt in day 14 of the levi chavez trial, his current wife, a-p-d officer heather chavez takes the stand. Breaking News: Levi Chavez found NOT GUILTY of all charges in the death of Tera Chavez in 2007. 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. 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THE TEXTS DIDN'T STOP THERE ANOTHER, ABOUT A MONTH LATER, FROM HEATHER TO LEVI SAYING HE WAS HER REASON TO EXIST. or debate this issue live on our message boards. The trial for a man accused of killing his wife while he was an Albuquerque cop and then trying to cover it up started Monday. Asked if he would try to get his old job back with the Albuquerque Police Department, Chavez blurted out a date but declined to say what that date meant. 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. In August 2013, Chavez was acquitted of the murder charges. Valencia County sheriffs initially ruled the death as a suicide due to the "close proximity of the gun to the body. Levi was engaged to Heather Hindi two months after Tera died and married a few months later, according to PEOPLE. He had come to the CACU office to schedule a time to shadow Heather, according to her testimony, meaning she would show him the ropes of detective work in the unit. The OTHER side of the law: Former Albuquerque police officer Levi Chavez seen here in his mugshot after allegedly murdering his wife. 'I'm very embarrassed about it,' Chavez said, then later added. New Mexico, 2007: Tera Chavez, a police officer's wife, is found shot dead in the mouth of an apparent suicide. Levi Chavez alleged malicious prosecution, malicious abuse of process, defamation, and outrageous conduct, according to court documents. 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. But I didnt see them, she said, adding later that she also didnt see any items that looked like they had belonged to Tera. The exchange led to several objections from Levi Chavezs lawyer, David Serna, and eventually devolved into a full-blown shouting match between Serna and Keener. Facebook gives people the power to. Cinemaholic reports that Chavez was accepted at the University of New Mexico Law School and began studying for his degree in 2016, where he specialized in criminal law. Levi Chavez Found 43 people in New Mexico, Arizona and 24 other states. Levi Chavez came back the following week and did exactly that. Chavez could spend the rest of his life in prison if convicted on charges that he killed Tera Chavez, 26, in the couples home near Los Lunas and tried to make it look like a suicide. Police officers, pathologists, the women Levi had relationships with, and Tera's family all testified throughout the 6-week-long court case. The official synopsis of the episode says. The murder trial of Chavezs wife lasted over two years, according to KOAT. or debate this issue live on our message boards. . 'Guilt doesn't even begin to describe it.'. The two had gotten engaged just two months after Tera Chavezs death and prosecutors asked questions about how quickly Levi Chavez had moved on. Published: Friday, June 28th, 2013 at 12:05AMUpdated: Friday, June 28th, 2013 at 2:03PM. Right. 'I'm going to go to church, pray my Rosary and thank my Virgin Mary,' Chavez said as he was crowded by reporters. Some of the evidence in the civil case, like testimony from an insurance investigator about the fake theft allegations, was barred in murder trial. The city of Albuquerque already has paid Tera's family $230,000 to settle claims against it and its police department in the civil case. [3], The night prior to the death of his wife Tera, Levi had spent the night at his girlfriend's house. He was acquitted of her murder on Tuesday, The less-than-perfect crime: Tera Chavez was killed when her husband allegedly shot her in the mouth and tried to make it look like a suicide. LIVE IN SANDOVAL COUNTY LZ KOAT ACTION 7 NEWS.. COUNT ON KOAT-DOT-COM FOR. We always thought, Hell take care of her.'. The following article appeared on page C1 of the Friday, June 28, 2013, edition of the Albuquerque Journal. After being pronounced not guilty by a jury in 2013, Levi sought to become a lawyer after a couple of years of training and was admitted into the University of New Mexico Law School, where he reportedly concentrated on criminal law. Levi found Tera shot dead in their. Over the next several months, detectives began digging into Levi Chavezs story and the investigation eventually deemed her death a homicide. THE DEFENSE REVEALED TERA CALLED AT LEAST EIGHT NUMBERS ON THAT LIST-- INCLUDING HEATHER IN SEPTEMBER 2007. State District Judge George Eichwald ruled that one nude photograph would be available only to the jury that it wouldnt be shown in open court and that the lawyers could ask questions of witnesses about the videos without getting into the details.. 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. But on that night in October, Levi, a police officer with the Albuquerque Police Department, called 911 to report that he'd found his wife dead in their home. 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. Levi Chavez has full custody of his two children, according to Teras parents Joseph and Theresa Cordova, Alibi reported. Following the verdict, emotional family members of Tera Chavez were quickly escorted out of Sandoval District Court, the result of an edict from state District Judge George Eichwald who sought to ease tensions between the two families. This individual treats the department as his own private brothel, and while he runs amok, nobody does anything or says anything. Her relationship with Chavez started when he was still married to Marisabel. [1] [2] Levi was initially charged with murdering his wife with his police issued Glock and making it appear as a suicide. The murder trial eventually took place in the summer of 2013 and lasted a total of 21 days of testimony and two days of deliberation, KOAT wrote. The problem here was that his girlfriend couldnt remember exactly when Levi came to her place or when he left. It appears that Chavez is now working for a non-profit organization called Heading Home that gives emergency housing and permanent housing support to people who are homeless in New Mexico, according to their website. Serna on Thursday spent two and a half hours cross-examining Citizen. In March 2020, Nob Hill mainstay Zinc Wine Bar & Bistro closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. John Fetterman Wife: Who Is Gisele Barreto Fetterman. Chavez alleged malicious prosecution, malicious abuse of process, defamation, and outrageous conduct, court documents show. I didnt answer the call, Heather Chavez said. No comments have so far been submitted. The records show roughly the same pattern for Oct. 20: Levi Chavezs cellphone was on the West Side during the hours of the swing shift, then in the Heights shortly thereafter. Annalise died after being pushed off the roof in December 2009. The entire world around Levi Chavez came trembling down when one fine October morning in 2007, he returned to his New Mexico home to find his wife Tera Chavez dead after taking a bullet to the mouth. It appears that his wife, now known as Heather Chavez, is a detective with the Farmington Police Department. 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. You could pretty much put her through the wringer, and shed still love you like it never happened. The police re-opened their investigation in March of 2010 and charged Levi with her death on April 20, 2011. The two met twice thereafter to have sex before Levi Chavez called 911 to say his wife had shot herself in the head. This week I spotted my very sweet friend's husband on a dating app and what I did next will leave most of you outraged, writes JANA HOCKING, Billionaire financier Thomas H. 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Reportedly, he is married to APD Detective Heather, who was also present throughout the trial. Chavez was accused of killing his hairdresser wife, Tera, with his police-issued handgun and making it look like a suicide in October 2007. Dr. I didnt do anything wrong, KOAT reported. Read More: Where Are Tera Chavezs Parents Now? Chavez discovered his wife dead, with a gunshot wound to the mouth upon returning home on October 22, 2007. One key talking point during the investigation into Tera Chavezs death and the murder trial was how quickly Levi Chavez appeared to have moved on. Levi Chavez. did you ever go to the address on ash place? The pair met when they were just teenagers starting high school, and soon, they got into a serious relationship. And did you have intimate relations at 11 ash place in 07? Upon returning home in mid-November not even a month after Tera's murder, that officer saw a car parked around the corner from his house. BERNALILLOTwenty-four days after Levi Chavez called 911 to say his wife had shot herself in the head, a text message popped up on his cellphone suggesting that a new marriage wasnt far off. Her Albuquerque police officer husband found her and called 911. BREAKING: Former APD officer Levi Chavez back in jail: A Valencia County judge has sent Levi Chavez back to jail after a hearing on Wednesday. Levi started working for Heading Home in 2015. Some extra notes, quotes, news and notes from the Lobos Friday night basketball game in Fort Collins, Colorado. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. Chavez still faces a wrongful death lawsuit from the family of Tera Chavez. Some of the evidence in the civil case, like testimony from an insurance investigator about the fake theft allegations, was barred in murder trial. Chavez called 911 to report the alleged suicide around 9 p.m. on Oct. 21, 2007. Powered by. A former Albuquerque police officer has been acquitted of murder in the death of his wife after a trial that contained a series of salacious revelations about his extramarital affairs with. On July 5, 2008, half of the desire she expressed in the text came true. Tera Chavez was just 26 years old when she was found dead of a gunshot wound on October 22, 2007. News of his admittance to the university was met with some concern from alumni and other students, New Mexico PBS reported. COVID-19 has impacted how we provide prioritized street outreach, emergency housing, and permanent supportive housing services to people experiencing homelessness. View contact information: phones, addresses, emails and networks. Upon announcing the verdict, the family of Levi Chavez, including his current wife Albuquerque detective Heather Chavez, let out gasps and wept. It took two years following Chavezs arrest for the trial to move forward due to delays from civil trials, motion hearings and the trial having to move venues, according to KOAT. Chavez of course denies the incident. "I'm going to go to church, pray my Rosary and thank my Virgin Mary," Chavez said as he was crowded by reporters. Current wife insists she never spoke with Tera Chavez Recommended Stories CinemaBlend Viral TikTok Shows Off Moment JLo's Face Filter Fails And Some Of Her Wrinkles Are Exposed Jennifer Lopez. "Please tell them to hurry!" the 26-year-old can be heard saying in his 911 call, PEOPLE reported. In 2000, they tied the knot and moved to Virginia, where Levi was working as a Coast Guard. Dateline: Unforgettable's upcoming episode, in a re-broadcast, will cover the story of Tera Chavez's tragic death while also narrating the heated and controversial trial of her cop husband, Levi Chavez. Dr. Chavez works in Albuquerque, NM and 1 other location and specializes in Obstetrics & Gynecology. ", As the murder case gained more attention from the media and public, Chavez and the Albuquerque Police Department became the targets of heavy scrutiny. According to reports, he is now the husband of APD Detective Heather. Subscribe now to access decluttered news, chosen by you. According to reports, an Albuquerque, New Mexico police officer Levi Chaves was suspected of shooting and murdering his 26-year-old wife, Tera Chavez, with his issued service gun after. The former officer, clenching a Rosary, immediately embraced his attorney, David Serna. The former police officer, graduating with a law degree, serves in a non-profit company known as Heading Home and assists the organization in its fight against homelessness in Albuquerque, New Mexico. She loved hard. Critics, supporters offer differing opinions on program's future in New Mexico, University of New Mexico Hospital launching health care listening tour, Zinc Wine Bar & Bistro to reopen after three years. Aug 19, 2008 . Hindi said on the stand that shed never met Tera Chavez, but she went to her funeral and helped move her things out of the family home after her death, footage from the trial shows. Under often-contentious cross-examination by Assistant District Attorney Anne Keener that bordered on combative, Heather Chavez conceded that October 2007 wasnt the first time she had ever spoken to Levi Chavez. Throughout the trial, Levi Chavez steadfastly asserted his innocence and continues to do so. Josh Mankiewicz reports Friday, November . Freed: Levi Chavez, right, a former Albuquerque police officer, gets a hug from his wife Heather Chavez after being acquitted of his first wife's murder, Relief: Chavez hugs his attorney David Serna in Sandoval District Court in Bernalillo, New Mexico on Tuesday. At the age of just 15, Tera became pregnant with their first child, Andrea, and although she stayed with her parents raising the baby for the next few years, Levi was with her whenever possible. Levi and Tera Chavez were high school sweethearts who married young and were raising two children together. 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. By abqjournal. 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. Levi Chavez has maintained that his wife's death was an act of suicide. The sexual relationship? 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. "What did I tell you?" Serna told Chavez. His profile states: Mr. Levi Chavez was born and raised in New Mexico and has a military and law enforcement background. The case made national news when Officer Chavez's sexual history became known, including affairs with fellow police officers, and that he spent the night before his wife was killed with his current girlfriend. A Bernalillo County deputy was reportedly not injured after their vehicle rolled in a two-vehicle, Trying to figure out where the medical cannabis program stands now is up for debate, Hospital CEO Kate Becker says 'we really want to hear from our community about what.