"I'm going to go to church, pray my Rosary and thank my Virgin Mary," Chavez said as he was crowded by reporters. I didnt speak with her.. In 2018, the case was dismissed due to missing information and incorrect information that was cited as reasons to dismiss the case. 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's current wife takes the stand, Current wife insists she never spoke with Tera Chavez. 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. Levi was engaged to Heather Hindi two months after Tera died and married a few months later, according to PEOPLE. 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. Chavez was tried in 2013 for murder and tampering with evidence in the death of his wife Tera Chavez. Earlier Thursday, the fourth of Levi Chavezs many paramours to testify in the murder trial took the stand. Manage the news you want to see, read exclusive content and explore other subscriber benefits. Serna told Chavez. 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. Facebook Levi Chavez maintained his innocence throughout the trial, and he maintains his innocence even today. Her father, Joseph Cordova, said she loved flowers and drew some all over the house. 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. Joseph Cordova, Teras father, told the outlet, The culture which we grew up in, his family was from law enforcement. . Please logout and login again. Levi Chavez. Serna will begin his cross-examination of Heather Chavez this afternoon. He is suing the detective who first launched the investigation into the 2007 death of Levi's wife, Tera Chavez. 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. 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. Social Media Influencer Set on Fire & Killed by Ex-Husband, Family Says. Thats also where she was working on Oct. 8, 2007, the first time she met Levi Chavez face-to-face, according to her testimony. I told you guys that from the beginning. That wouldve been after she moved out of the home she shared with Steve Hindi, according to her testimony. Levi had spent the night at his current girlfriend's house. The former officer, clenching a Rosary, immediately embraced his attorney, David Serna. She was my secret-bank. Tera Chavez moved to Virginia to be with her husband after graduating, as hed been posted there with the Coast Guard and the young woman was soon pregnant again with their second child, Alibi reported. Breaking News: Levi Chavez found NOT GUILTY of all charges in the death of Tera Chavez in 2007. 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. Social Media Influencer Set on Fire & Killed by Ex-Husband, Family Says. 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. Currently, the Maxwell Museum is displaying 'Conversing with the Land: Native North American Baskets of the Maxwell Museum Collections,' through Jan. 10, 2024. I did WE ALSO LEARNED TODAY THAT UNDERNEATH THE MATTRESS ON WHICH TERA CHAVEZ WAS FOUND DEAD WAS A CALL LOG FROM LEVI'S CELL PHONE. Serna told Chavez. 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. 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. did you ever go to the address on ash place? So where is Levi Chavez now? Some of the evidence in the civil case, like testimony from an insurance investigator about the fake theft allegations, was barred in murder trial. 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. On redirect examination, Assistant District Attorney Anne Keener asked only one question. 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. 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. Published: 09:01 EST, 17 July 2013 | Updated: 09:01 EST, 17 July 2013. 'He took one more breath and that's it': Mother describes Ex-marine father murdered wife and 17-month-old son before Pennsylvania woman gets life for stabbing her fianc to Isabel Oakeshott receives 'menacing' message from Matt Hancock, Dozens stuck in car park as staff refuses to open gate for woman, Incredible footage of Ukrainian soldiers fighting Russians in Bakhmut, Pro-Ukrainian drone lands on Russian spy planes exposing location, 'Buster is next!' But the prosecutors had alleged that he . Powered by WordPress.com VIP. He told the 911 operator, Please tell them to hurry! and said shed committed suicide, PEOPLE reported. Email addresses are used solely for verification and to speed the verification process for repeat questioners. 'To say I blamed myself is an understatement,' he said. THEY WERE MARRIED JULY 2008, DAYS AFTER SHE FINALIZED HER DIVORCE WITH ANOTHER APD OFFICER. 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. Klicken Sie auf Alle ablehnen, wenn Sie nicht mchten, dass wir und unsere Partner Cookies und personenbezogene Daten fr diese zustzlichen Zwecke verwenden. "I don't feel like speaking for his future.". Her family said they knew there was trouble in the relationship and they had heard Levi Chavez was cheating on his wife, Alibi reported. Through witness testimony, the public learned that Chavez had been having a number of affairs while married to Tera Chavez. The two met twice thereafter to have sex before Levi Chavez called 911 to say his wife had shot herself in the head. Im innocent. 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. Her relationship with Chavez started when he was still married to Marisabel. Not among them was APD officer Steve Hindi, to whom Heather was married at the time. Subscribe now to access decluttered news, chosen by you. Chavez found his estranged wife Tera dead of a gunshot wound in the living room of their home in 2007. 'Justice was not served,' Joseph Cordova, the father of Tera Chavez, said after listening to the verdict with his wife. Josh Mankiewicz reports Friday, November . After gaining back his freedom, Levi Chavez decided that he wanted to change his career but still be in the justice system. Please review our privacy policy here: https://heavy.com/privacy-policy/, Copyright 2023 Heavy, Inc. All rights reserved. According to her testimony, Heather Chavez was in Chicago with her parents the weekend Tera died. However, nearly four years after Tera took her last breath, Levi was charged with first-degree premeditated murder and tampering with evidence. 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. Levi found Tera shot dead in their. Jones also told her that Levi Chavez had numerous affairs while he was married to Tera, but according to Keeners characterization of Heather Chavezs previous statements, she wasnt interested. The upcoming episode of Dateline Unforgettable will premiere at 8.00 pm ET on Tuesday, June 14, 2022. Levi has undergraduate degrees from UNM and CNM, as well as a law degree from the UNM School of Law. Prosecutors allege that Levi Chavez shot Tera Chavez, 26, once in the mouth with his APD-issued Glock 9 mm pistol and tried to make it look like a suicide. It appears that his wife, now known as Heather Chavez, is a detective with the Farmington Police Department. Levi Chavez has full custody of his two children, according to Teras parents Joseph and Theresa Cordova, Alibi reported. 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. Levi Chavez, 32, admitted to 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. LIVE IN SANDOVAL COUNTY LZ KOAT ACTION 7 NEWS.. COUNT ON KOAT-DOT-COM FOR. New Mexico, 2007: Tera Chavez, a police officer's wife, is found shot dead in the mouth of an apparent suicide. Levi Chavez Now: Where Is Tera Chavezs Husband Today? Their additional three locations remain open. 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. Strict, but in a good way, he said. In his profile, it says: During the investigations into Tera Chavezs murder and during Levi Chavezs trial, one key talking point was how quickly he appeared to move on. 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. The call did not go to voicemail. Her husband Levi Chavez, a police officer with the Albuquerque Police Department, was the one who called 911 and told them shed committed suicide. I knew Id be acquitted. 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. Josh Mankiewicz reports. On July 5, 2008, half of the desire she expressed in the text came true. We always thought, Hell take care of her.'. In court today, she said the calls were work related, and Keener did not press her for specifics. Levi Chavez was charged with the murder of his wife, Tera, but he has maintained his innocence and said she committed suicide. [3], The night prior to the death of his wife Tera, Levi had spent the night at his girlfriend's house. "Please tell them to hurry!" the 26-year-old can be heard saying. Your email is safe with us, we dont spam. Keener pressed Heather Chavez on a statement she made during her deposition that her sexual relationship began in a car. Levi Chavez maintained his innocence throughout the trial, and he maintains his innocence even today. 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- Published: Friday, June 28th, 2013 at 12:05AMUpdated: Friday, June 28th, 2013 at 2:03PM. 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. He also told her she should have more information., I listened, Heather Chavez said about the interview. I told you guys that from the beginning. There is no confirmation on whether she is still a part of the Albuquerque Police Department. 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. According to several local coverages, the news of his admission to the university inspired mixed reactions from alumni and other students. That treatment included sexual relationships with four different women and constant breakups that began with way back when the couple were high school students. For weeks, the murder trial captivated parts of central New Mexico as residents were fixated in barber shops, diners and grocery stores. when did the romantic relationship start? I didnt do anything wrong.. The lawsuit against Jones was dismissed in 2018. 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. According to reports, he is now the husband of APD Detective Heather. 'I'm very embarrassed about it,' Chavez said, then later added. Levi Chavez is a former Albuquerque, NM Police Officer who was charged with the 2007 death of his 26yearold wife, Tera Chavez. Levi Chavez was acquitted in that case, but many people are raising concerns about whether his presence in the next class of law students . He. You could pretty much put her through the wringer, and shed still love you like it never happened. 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. It was hailed as a new era when designers finally recognised 'real women' but they have once again been sidelined by stick-thin models, Taking the Mickey! Levi also asserted that when Tera apparently killed herself, he was away, spending the weekend at one of his girlfriends apartment. 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. I didnt answer the call, Heather Chavez said. 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. Im innocent. 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. 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. Tera Chavez was found dead of a gunshot wound and while her death was initially ruled a suicide, her husband was eventually charged with her murder. Levi was initially charged with murdering his wife with his police issued Glock and making it appear as a suicide. Heather Chavez also testified that she never met or spoke to Tera Chavez. Homeowner finds gruesome animal skeleton hidden behind cupboard for 30 years - so can you guess what it is? John Fetterman Wife: Who Is Gisele Barreto Fetterman. The official synopsis of the episode says. "This was a made up pile of lies from the beginning and it took the jury approximately 10 hours to find that out. 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. 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. Chavez still faces a wrongful death lawsuit from the family of Tera Chavez. 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. 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. Levi was ultimately cleared of all charges. During his trial, he was found not guilty of first-degree murder and was acquitted of the charges. ACTION 7 NEWS REPORTER LAUREN ZAKALIK IS LIVE OUTSIDE COURT TO EXPLAIN. She attended Teras funeral, according to her testimony, as did many other APD officers. 'He's got several plans in the works,' Serna said. Powered by. 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. Do not sell or share my personal information. Levi and Tera Chavez were high school sweethearts who married young and were raising two children together. They married in July 2008, just a few days after Hindis divorce from another Albuquerque police officer was finalized. 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. Levi Chavez eventually filed a federal lawsuit against Aaron Jones, who was a detective with the Valencia County Sheriffs Department at the time of Teras death and was one of the first on the scene. or debate this issue live on our message boards. Levi said. 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. The OTHER side of the law: Former Albuquerque police officer Levi Chavez seen here in his mugshot after allegedly murdering 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. 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. Current CACU detective, and Levi's wife, Heather Chavez, was married to another officer in 2007. 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. Her husband Levi is suspected soon after because of suspicious circumstantial evidence, but there is no confession, eyewitness or 'smoking gun' forensic evidence. 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. Bernalillo County deputy involved in rollover crash in Northeast Albuquerque, Where does medical cannabis go from here? 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. She knew every single secret about me no matter what. Chavez also had a younger brother, Aaron. [1] [2] Levi was initially charged with murdering his wife with his police issued Glock and making it appear as a suicide. 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. 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. 'I took her for granted.'. He finally went on trial for the allegations brought against him in 2013, a full two years after the charges were first brought. The lawsuit against Jones was dismissed in 2018. The court also heard that Hindi had been texting Levi Chavez just three weeks after his wifes death and suggesting that the two get married. Annalise died after being pushed off the roof in December 2009. 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. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. 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. However, the case took a shocking turn after some disturbing facts came to the surface. Detective Jones, who suspected that Levi Chavez had murdered his wife eighteen to twenty hours before he . Comparing Online Sportsbook Welcome Bonuses. Much of the trial centered on allegations that Albuquerque police officers who responded to the Chavez home in nearby Los Lunas removed and even flushed key evidence down a toilet. 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. The police re-opened their investigation in March of 2010 and charged Levi with her death on April 20, 2011. COVID-19 has impacted how we provide prioritized street outreach, emergency housing, and permanent supportive housing services to people experiencing homelessness. Yet, with no proof of the former, he couldnt be charged or arrested for fraud. ", First published on July 17, 2013 / 10:40 AM. 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. I wasnt worried.. 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. 'I'm going to go to church, pray my Rosary and thank my Virgin Mary,' Chavez said as he was crowded by reporters. She had a twin brother, named Josh, who said, She was my lifeline. READ NEXT: Social Media Influencer Set on Fire & Killed by Ex-Husband, Family Says. ROYALE, LESS THAN ONE MONTH AFTER TERA CHAVEZ DIED-THEN A-P-D DETECTIVE HEATHER HINDI WAS ALREADY TEXTING LEVI ABOUT HER NAME BECOMING HEATHER CHAVEZ INDICATING SHE WANTED TO MARRY HIM. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. She liked to draw, and she liked to write poetry, she recalled. Check arrest records, resumes and CV, photos and videos, news, social media profiles, publications, places of employment, work history and public records . Levi has undergraduate degrees from UNM and CNM, as well as a law degree from the UNM School of Law. She didnt leave them., When she was just 15 years old, Tera met Levi Chavez and became pregnant with his child, Alibi reported. Thats the past, Heather Chavez said in court today. 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. 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. 'I don't feel like speaking for his future.'. 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. 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. But I didnt see them, she said, adding later that she also didnt see any items that looked like they had belonged to Tera. 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. 'There never was a case against Levi Chavez,'Serna said. Upon announcing the verdict, the family of Levi Chavez, including his current wife Albuquerque detective Heather Chavez, let out gasps and wept. She testified this morning that she is currently assigned to the APD Crimes Against Children Unit. This time, Levi Chavez said he is the one who has been wronged. Where does medical cannabis go from here? INVESTIGATION - ABQjournal Metro: Death Now Called Suspicious INVESTIGATION - ABQjournal Metro: Death Now Called Suspicious. In July 2013, after a month-long trial, the verdict from the jury came in: not guilty. 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. And did you have intimate relations at 11 ash place in 07? 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.' Police officer Levi Chavez called 911 in 2007 to report that hed come home to find his wife deceased of a headshot wound. M.E. Levi started working for Heading Home in 2015. you were talking about yourself, and you were talking about possibly marrying him bc his name was chavez, and you wanted to go to homicide. Although the case initially looked like a suicide, investigators dug up evidence and theories that proved otherwise. The other half of Heather Chavezs wish never came to pass. It appears that his wife, now known as Heather Chavez, is a detective with the Farmington Police Department. 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.
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