[1] [2] Levi was initially charged with murdering his wife with his police issued Glock and making it appear as a suicide. 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 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. Heather Chavez said she hadnt remembered those calls when she gave a deposition in a civil wrongful death lawsuit filed by Teras family against Levi. A few years later, the family of four moved back to New Mexico, where Levi Chavez became a police officer with the Alburquerque Police Department and Tera Chavez started going to barber college. Levi's Obituary On July 9, 2021, we lost our father, Levi Chavez, Levi passed away at the awesome age of 95. In July 2013, Levi Chavez was found not guilty of first-degree murder. Levi has undergraduate degrees from UNM and CNM, as well as a law degree from the UNM School of Law. 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. She testified this morning that she is currently assigned to the APD Crimes Against Children Unit. Powered by. 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. 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. In October of 2007, Tera, a mother of two, allegedly shot and killed herself at the couple's home while their children were at a family member's house. Would love your thoughts, please comment. The lawsuit against Jones was dismissed in 2018. Reportedly, he is married to APD Detective Heather, who was also present throughout the trial. At first, her death was believed to be a suicide, but an investigation turned up some information about Levi Chavezs life that made them look deeper into the case. July 17, 2013 / 10:40 AM 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. She loved strong., READ NEXT: Social Media Influencer Set on Fire & Killed by Ex-Husband, Family Says, Tera Chavezs Death: Levi Chavez Was Charged With Murdering His Wife, Please review our privacy policy here: https://heavy.com/privacy-policy/, Copyright 2023 Heavy, Inc. All rights reserved. In 2018, the case was dismissed due to missing information and incorrect information that was cited as reasons to dismiss the case. Chavez found his estranged wife Tera dead of a gunshot wound in the living room of their home in 2007. 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. Chavez discovered his wife dead, with a gunshot wound to the mouth upon returning home on October 22, 2007. Levi Chavez maintained his innocence throughout the trial, and he maintains his innocence even today. Read More: Where Are Tera Chavezs Parents Now? It appears that his wife, now known as Heather Chavez, is a detective with the Farmington Police Department. A month after Tera Chavezs death, her husband was placed on leave at the Albuquerque Police Department as the investigation into her death continued, KOAT reported. End of November, end of November, December BUT IT WAS EVEN EARLIER THAN THAT-- JUST THREE WEEKS AFTER LEVI'S WIFE TERA DIED HINDI SENT HIM A TEXT READING "MMM DETECTIVE CHAVEZ WITH HOMICIDE." Right. 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. They also said hed had other affairs, including with some of the neighbors and other Albuquerque police officers. According to the prosecution, she was on the verge of filing a complaint against him for fraudulent activity. Strict, but in a good way, he said. 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 . 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, 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. 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. In August 2013, Chavez was acquitted of the murder charges. Sie knnen Ihre Einstellungen jederzeit ndern, indem Sie auf unseren Websites und Apps auf den Link Datenschutz-Dashboard klicken. 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. Their additional three locations remain open. Her room was the best room in the house to walk into because it smelled so good.. Chavez told jurors that he found his wife dead from a gunshot wound and thought it was God's way of punishing him. Levi Chavez is the Husband of Tera, and he was a police officer with the Albuquerque Police Department. 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. 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 called 911 to report the alleged suicide around 9 p.m. on Oct. 21, 2007. She knew every single secret about me no matter what. Chavez also had a younger brother, Aaron. Hindi, along with other women Levi Chavez had been involved with, testified during the trial about their affairs, Star Tribune reported. She was my secret-bank. INVESTIGATION - Death of APD Officer's Wife Investigated INVESTIGATION - Death of APD Officer's Wife Investigated. 'I'm going to go to church, pray my Rosary and thank my Virgin Mary,' Chavez said as he was crowded by reporters. Jorge was born on August 28, 1961 in Santiago Atitlan, Guatemala. The former officer, clenching a Rosary, immediately embraced his attorney, David Serna. She had a twin brother, named Josh, who said, She was my lifeline. Mr. Levi Chavez was born and raised in New Mexico and has a military and law enforcement background. He told reporters that he wasnt surprised at all and that throughout the whole process, he knew he would be cleared. Later on, when Tera passed away, he claimed that the only reason he hadnt left his wife was because of their two children. Now her parents speak to News 13. State District Judge George P. Eichwald instructed the two to Quit arguing back and forth like kids.. This time, Levi Chavez said he is the one who has been wronged. action 7 . Episode Website More Episodes 2019 NBC News Top Podcasts In True Crime See All 2023 by Fashionuer. Manage the news you want to see, read exclusive content and explore other subscriber benefits. 'I took her for granted.'. YouTubeLevi Chavezs second wife Heather testifying during the trial. The pair met when they were just teenagers starting high school, and soon, they got into a serious relationship. Levi Chavez. [1] [2] Levi was initially charged with murdering his wife with his police issued Glock and making it appear as a suicide. 'There never was a case against Levi Chavez,'Serna said. Serna will begin his cross-examination of Heather Chavez this afternoon. "What did I tell you?" Serna told Chavez. Jones showed Heather Chavez crime scene photos from Teras death scene and told her people were worried about her. 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. "Please tell them to hurry!" the 26-year-old can be heard saying in his 911 call, PEOPLE reported. 'What did I tell you?' 2013 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. Dr. Not among them was APD officer Steve Hindi, to whom Heather was married at the time. Levi Chavez is a former Albuquerque, NM Police Officer who was charged with the 2007 death of his 26yearold wife, Tera Chavez. 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. Police officers, pathologists, the women Levi had relationships with, and Tera's family all testified throughout the 6-week-long court case. / CBS News. Check arrest records, resumes and CV, photos and videos, news, social media profiles, publications, places of employment, work history and public records . Levi found Tera shot dead in their. In an indictment filed in April 2011 that charges Levi Chavez with first-degree murder and evidence tampering, prosecutors say he killed Tera in the couples home near Los Lunas on Oct. 19, 20 or 21, 2007. Some extra notes, quotes, news and notes from the Lobos Friday night basketball game in Fort Collins, Colorado. The Valencia County District Attorney stated Chavez violated the . Chavez claimed that his wife committed suicide because of his many affairs. 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 Jan. 15, 2008, Heather Chavez gave an interview to then-Detective Aaron Jones, who was investigating Teras death for the Valencia County Sheriffs Office. [1] New Mexico, 2007: Tera Chavez, a police officer's wife, is found shot dead in the mouth of an apparent suicide. 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. Your email is safe with us, we dont spam. Levi said. They allege the former officer killed his wife to keep her from disclosing an alleged staged theft of a truck for insurance money. 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. 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. Some of the evidence in the civil case, like testimony from an insurance investigator about the fake theft allegations, was barred in murder trial. 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. A Comprehensive Review of Edubirdies Academic Writing Service. 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 . Social Media Influencer Set on Fire & Killed by Ex-Husband, Family Says. or debate this issue live on our message boards. The case made national headlines in 2013 as more details came to light . 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. Levi Chavez maintained his innocence throughout the trial, and he maintains his innocence even today. After Garleys testimony, Serna and Keener argued for more than 45 minutes outside the presence of the jury about which of the cellphone data examined by an FBI analyst should be shown to the jury. ABOUT A MONTH AFTER THAT LEVI BOUGHT HER A DIAMOND RING. Please review our privacy policy here: https://heavy.com/privacy-policy/, Copyright 2023 Heavy, Inc. All rights reserved. I didnt do anything wrong.. The donut shop has announced it has closed its South Valley and Northeast Heights locations. 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. 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. View contact information: phones, addresses, emails and networks. Indeed, the records appeared to show that Levi Chavezs cellphone was in Valencia County early on Oct. 19 and that he was on Albuquerques West Side, where he was working a swing shift for APD, later that day. During his trial, he was found not guilty of first-degree murder and was acquitted of the charges. Klicken Sie auf Alle ablehnen, wenn Sie nicht mchten, dass wir und unsere Partner Cookies und personenbezogene Daten fr diese zustzlichen Zwecke verwenden. 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. 2023, Hearst Television Inc. on behalf of KOAT-TV. 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. 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. His profile states: Mr. Levi Chavez was born and raised in New Mexico and has a military and law enforcement background. Learn how and when to remove this template message, "Levi Chavez, ex-police officer, not guilty of murdering wife", "Levi Chavez relinquishes police certification", "Extramarital affairs take center stage in ex-cop murder trial", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Levi_Chavez&oldid=1082952788, Articles needing additional references from March 2021, All articles needing additional references, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Former police officer, Attorney at Law, www.levichavezlaw.com, This page was last edited on 16 April 2022, at 03:25. Instead, only the audio position of the recording was played in court. 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. The Harwood Museum of Art's exhibition 'Outriders: Legacy of the Black Cowboy' explores this history through archival photographs and contemporary art. 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. "What did I tell you?" Email addresses are used solely for verification and to speed the verification process for repeat questioners. Levi started working for Heading Home in 2015. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Upon announcing the verdict, the family of Levi Chavez, including his current wife Albuquerque detective Heather Chavez, let out gasps and wept. On the night of Oct. 21, 2007, the lives of one couple from Los Lunas, New Mexico were changed forever. Josh Mankiewicz reports. Former APD officer Levi Chavez is accused of killing his wife Tera. . 'Guilt doesn't even begin to describe it.'. The other half of Heather Chavezs wish never came to pass. Joseph Cordova, Teras father, told the outlet, The culture which we grew up in, his family was from law enforcement. The murder trial of Chavezs wife lasted over two years, according to KOAT. Season 2 Episode 2 of Dateline: Unforgettable is scheduled to air on Tuesday, June 14, 2022, at 8.00 pm ET on Oxygen, with Josh Mankiewicz reporting on the story. I did. I didnt speak with her.. Levi Chavez Was Charged With His Wife's Murder Years Later & His New Wife & Mistresses Testified As mentioned, Levi Chavez was charged with her murder in April 2011, but it took another. 'To say I blamed myself is an understatement,' he said. ", As the murder case gained more attention from the media and public, Chavez and the Albuquerque Police Department became the targets of heavy scrutiny. Levi Chavez alleged malicious prosecution, malicious abuse of process, defamation, and outrageous conduct, according to court documents. Levi was engaged to Heather Hindi two months after Tera died and married a few months later, according to PEOPLE. ACTION 7 NEWS REPORTER LAUREN ZAKALIK IS LIVE OUTSIDE COURT TO EXPLAIN. 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. Chavez alleged malicious prosecution, malicious abuse of process, defamation, and outrageous conduct, court documents show. Serna told Chavez. NBCs Dateline: The Officers Wife examines the mind-boggling case of Tera Chavezs passing, who was found shot to death on October 21, 2007, on her bed, in the home that she shared with her Albuquerque Police Department officer husband, Levi Chavez. She attended Teras funeral, according to her testimony, as did many other APD officers. Weitere Informationen ber die Verwendung Ihrer personenbezogenen Daten finden Sie in unserer Datenschutzerklrung und unserer Cookie-Richtlinie. He finally went on trial for the allegations brought against him in 2013, a full two years after the charges were first brought. 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. Serna said he doubted that Chavez would want to return to the state's largest police department. New Mexico and ABQ News, Sports, Business and more, By Jeff Proctor / Journal Staff Writer It appears that his wife, now known as Heather Chavez, is a detective with the Farmington Police Department. And really, these female cops, Regina Sanchez, Heather whatever her name is, and SRO officer horrible Debra Romero have the audacity to say "I didn't know" 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. Upon announcing the verdict, the family of Levi Chavez, including his current wife Albuquerque detective Heather Chavez, let out gasps and wept. Tera Chavezs mother, Theresa Cordova, said her daughter was an artist, according to a feature on Chavezs life in Alibi. THEY WERE MARRIED JULY 2008, DAYS AFTER SHE FINALIZED HER DIVORCE WITH ANOTHER APD OFFICER. Her twin brother described her as a strong woman and a loving mother. 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. Subscribe now to access decluttered news, chosen by you. Levi Chavez and Tera Chavez. John Fetterman Wife: Who Is Gisele Barreto Fetterman. Payton Gendron: Why Payton Gendron Got Arrested? Chavez was accused of killing his hairdresser wife, Tera, with his police-issued handgun and making it look like a suicide in October 2007. 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. 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. In 2000, they tied the knot and moved to Virginia, where Levi was working as a Coast Guard. Levi Chavez, a 26-year-old officer with the Albuquerque, New Mexico Police Department, at nine o'clock on the night of October 21, 2007, called 911 to report that his wife had committed suicide with his department-issued Glock 9 pistol.
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