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. Dated Nov. 14, 2007, it was from a fellow APD officer whose name, at the time, was Heather Hindi. "I'm going to go to church, pray my Rosary and thank my Virgin Mary," Chavez said as he was crowded by reporters. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Levi Chavez. Chavez of course denies the incident. "There never was a case against Levi Chavez," Serna said. Subscribe now to access decluttered news, chosen by you. The former officer, clenching a Rosary, immediately embraced his attorney, David Serna. 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. 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. However, after several suspicions, connections, and autopsy reports were drawn, investigators and the victim's family accused the officer of allegedly shooting and murdering Tera Chavez in the bed of their Los Lunas home. 'What did I tell you?' Mr. Levi Chavez was born and raised in New Mexico and has a military and law enforcement background. Some of the evidence in the civil case, like testimony from an insurance investigator about the fake theft allegations, was barred in murder trial. For instance, detectives said that the night before the young mothers death, Levi Chavez was at his girlfriends house, according to PEOPLE. Im innocent. 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. 'This was a made up pile of lies from the beginning and it took the jury approximately 10 hours to find that out.'. This time, Levi Chavez said he is the one who has been wronged. 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. 'I don't feel like speaking for his future.'. In July 2013, after a month-long trial, the verdict from the jury came in: not guilty. 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. 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. I didnt do anything wrong.. 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. 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. 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. Copyright 2022 by Fashionuer. On redirect examination, Assistant District Attorney Anne Keener asked only one question. 'There never was a case against Levi Chavez,'Serna said. I knew Id be acquitted. . 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. 'He's got several plans in the works,' Serna said. He has full custody of his two children, according to Teras parents Joseph and Theresa Cordova. 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. M.E. Trying to figure out where the medical cannabis program stands now is up for debate one side saying the program is expected to University of New Mexico Hospital launching health care listening Hospital CEO Kate Becker says 'we really want to hear from our community about what their health needs are' in order to prioritize resources. Levi Chavez was charged with the murder of his wife, Tera, but he has maintained his innocence and said she committed suicide. Chavezs bio states that hes the emergency housing director at the Westside Emergency Housing Center. Now her parents speak to News 13. Nov 21, 2007. So where is Levi Chavez now? I didnt answer the call, Heather Chavez said. However, the case took a shocking turn after some disturbing facts came to the surface. 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. Right. 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. Some extra notes, quotes, news and notes from the Lobos Friday night basketball game in Fort Collins, Colorado. 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. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. Levi Chavez's current wife takes the stand, Current wife insists she never spoke with Tera Chavez. THEY WERE MARRIED JULY 2008, DAYS AFTER SHE FINALIZED HER DIVORCE WITH ANOTHER APD OFFICER. 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. Keener pressed Heather Chavez on a statement she made during her deposition that her sexual relationship began in a car. On July 5, 2008, half of the desire she expressed in the text came true. Serna said he doubted that Chavez would want to return to the state's largest police department. 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. Levi Chavez's current wife, Heather Chavez, took the stand Friday.She detailed the development of the pair's relationship following the death of Levi Chavez's former wife, Tera. In December 2013, it was made public that Chavez had relinquished his police officer certification. rules the death self-inflicted The medical examiner ruled Tera's death a suicide. 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. 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. KRQE News 13 has learned former Albuquerque Police officer Levi Chavez, who was fired after he was charged with the murder of his wife, could soon be working closely with the city as part of a non- or debate this issue live on our message boards. Alicia Castro is the former Argentine Ambassador to Venezuela and current Argentine Ambassador in the United Kingdom. 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. Episode Website More Episodes 2019 NBC News Top Podcasts In True Crime See All 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. 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. 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. Current CACU detective, and Levi's wife, Heather Chavez, was married to another officer in 2007. 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. In August 2013, Chavez was acquitted of the murder charges. The latest breaking updates, delivered straight to your email inbox. The two exchanged seven telephone calls on May 12 of that year, according to cellphone records that investigators found under a mattress Tera Chavezs body was lying on. Some of the evidence in the civil case, like testimony from an insurance investigator about the fake theft allegations, was barred in murder trial. did you ever go to the address on ash place? Farm Heroes Saga, the #4 Game on iTunes. In July 2013, Levi Chavez was found not guilty of first-degree murder. July 31, 2015 - Former APD officer Levi Chavez has been admitted to the UNM Law School. Jones showed Heather Chavez crime scene photos from Teras death scene and told her people were worried about her. During the gap, Keener asked, You have no idea where the cellphone of Mr. Chavez was?. 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. ACTION 7 NEWS REPORTER LAUREN ZAKALIK IS LIVE OUTSIDE COURT TO EXPLAIN. Join Facebook to connect with Levi Chavez and others you may know. They also said hed had other affairs, including with some of the neighbors and other Albuquerque police officers. The other half of Heather Chavezs wish never came to pass. 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. Tera Chavezs parents say the entire legal process has been difficult because they want to continue to be in their grandchildrens lives but they also want Teras kids to know she didnt commit suicide. 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. Throughout the trial, Levi Chavez steadfastly asserted his innocence and continues to do so. You could pretty much put her through the wringer, and shed still love you like it never happened. He also told her she should have more information., I listened, Heather Chavez said about the interview. pic.twitter.com/O5xOecrgtD, HeadingHomeNM (@HeadingHomeNM) June 1, 2020. Serna will begin his cross-examination of Heather Chavez this afternoon. 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 is the Husband of Tera, and he was a police officer with the Albuquerque Police Department. If the scores of text messages, call logs, pictures of Teras children and photos of her kitties were going to be admitted as evidence, Serna argued, so, too, should the naked pictures and videos. 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. Chavez is a former Albuquerque Police Department officer, accused of killing his wife at their Los Lunas home in 2007. She knew every single secret about me no matter what. Chavez also had a younger brother, Aaron. Levi was ultimately cleared of all charges. 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Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Read More: Where Are Tera Chavezs Parents Now? The tawdry details spilled in the trial and the questions it raised about the practices of the Albuquerque Police Department have further tarnished the agency, which is under investigation by the U.S. Justice Department over a series of police shootings. In 2000, they tied the knot and moved to Virginia, where Levi was working as a Coast Guard. READ NEXT: Social Media Influencer Set on Fire & Killed by Ex-Husband, Family Says. According to reports, he is now the husband of APD Detective Heather. 'I'm going to go to church, pray my Rosary and thank my Virgin Mary,' Chavez said as he was crowded by reporters. Check arrest records, resumes and CV, photos and videos, news, social media profiles, publications, places of employment, work history and public records . 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. But, the disgraced former officer insisted that he did not kill his wife. [1] [2] Levi was initially charged with murdering his wife with his police issued Glock and making it appear as a suicide. 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. Tera Chavez. 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. Facebook Be the first one to comment on this story. 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. 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. 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 . We are no longer accepting comments on this article. The official synopsis of the episode says. 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. 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. Not among them was APD officer Steve Hindi, to whom Heather was married at the time. Chavez called 911 to report the alleged suicide around 9 p.m. on Oct. 21, 2007. LIVE IN SANDOVAL COUNTY LZ KOAT ACTION 7 NEWS.. COUNT ON KOAT-DOT-COM FOR. He immediately called the police, who, looking at the crime scene, ruled it suicide. Levi has undergraduate degrees from UNM and CNM, as well as a law degree from the UNM School of Law. 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. 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. Weitere Informationen ber die Verwendung Ihrer personenbezogenen Daten finden Sie in unserer Datenschutzerklrung und unserer Cookie-Richtlinie. Levi Chavez, 32, was accused of killing his hairdresser wife with his police-issued handgun and making it look like a suicide amid a crumbling marriage that included a love triangle at her hair . 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. 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. But I didnt see them, she said, adding later that she also didnt see any items that looked like they had belonged to Tera. 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. 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 tawdry details spilled in the trial and the questions it raised about the practices of the Albuquerque Police Department have further tarnished the agency, which is under investigation by the U.S. Justice Department over a series of police shootings. Chavez found his estranged wife Tera dead of a gunshot wound in the living room of their home in 2007. Wenn Sie Ihre Auswahl anpassen mchten, klicken Sie auf Datenschutzeinstellungen verwalten. Dr. Chavez works in Albuquerque, NM and 1 other location and specializes in Obstetrics & Gynecology. Where is he today? 'I took her for granted.'. "Please tell them to hurry!" the 26-year-old can be heard saying in his 911 call, PEOPLE reported. / CBS News. Chavez still faces a wrongful death lawsuit from the family of Tera Chavez. 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. Heather Chavez also testified that she never met or spoke to Tera Chavez. Upon announcing the verdict, the family of Levi Chavez, including his current wife Albuquerque detective Heather Chavez, let out gasps and wept. A summary is at Levi Chavez, Ex-Police Officer, Not Guilty Of Murdering Wife. According to several local coverages, the news of his admission to the university inspired mixed reactions from alumni and other students. 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. Facebook gives people the power to. Based on the information provided on their website, Levi is now serving as the Emergency Housing Director at their Westside Emergency Housing Center. Powered by. Serna said his client was a victim of an overly aggressive former detective and "lies" from local media outlets, although none reported Serna ever requesting for a retraction or correction from any stories since 2007. WE ALSO LEARNED FRIDAY THAT HEATHER-WENT TO TERA CHAVEZ'S FUNERAL. when did the romantic relationship start? They allege the former officer killed his wife to keep her from disclosing an alleged staged theft of a truck for insurance money. Levi Chavez is a former Albuquerque, NM Police Officer who was charged with the 2007 death of his 26yearold wife, Tera Chavez. Josh Mankiewicz reports Friday, November . 'To say I blamed myself is an understatement,' he said. Previous Post ", As the murder case gained more attention from the media and public, Chavez and the Albuquerque Police Department became the targets of heavy scrutiny. 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. 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. action 7 . Levi Chavez Now: Where Is Tera Chavezs Husband Today? 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. COVID-19 has impacted how we provide prioritized street outreach, emergency housing, and permanent supportive housing services to people experiencing homelessness. That treatment included sexual relationships with four different women and constant breakups that began with way back when the couple were high school students. 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. A Comprehensive Review of Edubirdies Academic Writing Service. Chavez told jurors that he found his wife dead from a gunshot wound and thought it was God's way of punishing him. The two had gotten engaged just two months after Tera Chavezs death and prosecutors asked questions about how quickly Levi Chavez had moved on. 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. Breaking News: Levi Chavez found NOT GUILTY of all charges in the death of Tera Chavez in 2007. Levi found Tera shot dead in their. Bernalillo County deputy involved in rollover crash in Northeast Albuquerque, Where does medical cannabis go from here? Now that he has graduated, instead of being a practicing attorney, Levi works at a non-profit organization called Heading Home, which spearheads the campaign to eradicate homelessness in Albuquerque, New Mexico. 'I'm very embarrassed about it,' Chavez said, then later added. The problem here was that his girlfriend couldnt remember exactly when Levi came to her place or when he left. Her room was the best room in the house to walk into because it smelled so good.. The following article appeared on page C1 of the Friday, June 28, 2013, edition of the Albuquerque Journal. She was my secret-bank. The trial revealed a crumbling marriage that was. 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. Prosecutors had sought to keep from jurors what Serna described in explicit detail as sexual photographs and videos Tera had taken of herself and sent to Levi. 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. 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. 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. The morning of October 22, 2007, he allegedly returned to the couple's home in Los Lunas, New Mexico, where he discovered the body of his wife. The Dateline NBC episode 'The Officer's Wife' investigates the 2007 death of 26-year-old Tera Chavez, wife of Albuquerque police officer Levi Chavez. 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. We always thought, Hell take care of her.'. Japanese models have always been admired for their skills as well as their beauty. Chavez was tried in 2013 for murder and tampering with evidence in the death of his wife Tera Chavez. THE TEXTS DIDN'T STOP THERE ANOTHER, ABOUT A MONTH LATER, FROM HEATHER TO LEVI SAYING HE WAS HER REASON TO EXIST. Later on, when Tera passed away, he claimed that the only reason he hadnt left his wife was because of their two children. Chavez was acquitted of the first-degree murder charge and told reporters outside the courtroom, Im not surprised at all. Levi started working for Heading Home in 2015. 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. DETAILING JUST HOW QUICKLY THEIR RELATIONSHIP DEVELOPED ONCE TERA CHAVEZ DIED. Serna said his client was a victim of an overly aggressive former detective and 'lies' from local media outlets, although none reported Serna ever requesting for a retraction or correction from any stories since 2007. That wouldve been after she moved out of the home she shared with Steve Hindi, according to her testimony. Serna on Thursday spent two and a half hours cross-examining Citizen. 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 initially charged with murdering his wife with his police issued Glock and making it appear as a suicide. She attended Teras funeral, according to her testimony, as did many other APD officers. He has full custody of his two children, according to Tera's parents Joseph and Theresa Cordova. 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" Chavez alleged malicious prosecution, malicious abuse of process, defamation, and outrageous conduct, court documents show. Then, on April 7, 2011, the police officer was charged with Tera Chavezs murder, arrested and fired from his job with the police department, KOAT wrote. During his trial, he was found not guilty of first-degree murder and was acquitted of the charges. 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 investigators reportedly presumed that he attempted to cover up the crime as a suicide. 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. View the profiles of people named Levi Chavez.