The investigation took many years, with a search warrant served at Levi Chavezs home in August 2009, by which time the case was deemed a homicide. But the disgraced former. It appears that his wife, now known as Heather Chavez, is a detective with the Farmington Police Department. This time, Levi Chavez said he is the one who has been wronged. Nov 21, 2007. Please enter valid email address to continue. [1] [2] Levi was initially charged with murdering his wife with his police issued Glock and making it appear as a suicide. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. 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. Chavez alleged malicious prosecution, malicious abuse of process, defamation, and outrageous conduct, court documents show. A Comprehensive Review of Edubirdies Academic Writing Service. 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. Japanese models have always been admired for their skills as well as their beauty. DETAILING JUST HOW QUICKLY THEIR RELATIONSHIP DEVELOPED ONCE TERA CHAVEZ DIED. They also werent allowed to watch video of that deposition. The latest breaking updates, delivered straight to your email inbox. 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. 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. He has full custody of his two children, according to Tera's parents Joseph and Theresa Cordova. July 31, 2015 - Former APD officer Levi Chavez has been admitted to the UNM Law School. "What did I tell you?" Serna told Chavez. Tera Chavez had been looking for a business space to rent for her salon and had an appointment to meet a landlord just two days after the day she died, Alibi wrote. Email addresses are used solely for verification and to speed the verification process for repeat questioners. View the profiles of people named Levi Chavez. Serna on Thursday spent two and a half hours cross-examining Citizen. Annalise died after being pushed off the roof in December 2009. Levi Chavez was acquitted in that case, but many people are raising concerns about whether his presence in the next class of law students . 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. Previous Post 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 finally went on trial for the allegations brought against him in 2013, a full two years after the charges were first brought. 'There never was a case against Levi Chavez,'Serna said. YouTubeLevi Chavezs second wife Heather testifying during the trial. Episode Website More Episodes 2019 NBC News Top Podcasts In True Crime See All While there isn't an official wife, the second of Hugo Chavez's four children, 29 year-old Maria Gabriela, plays the role of First Lady of the . She was an indoor girl, kind of girly. Levi has undergraduate degrees from UNM and CNM, as well as a law degree from the UNM School of Law. 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. 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. Levi Chavez is the Husband of Tera, and he was a police officer with the Albuquerque Police Department. Levi and Tera Chavez were high school sweethearts who married young and were raising two children together. The two had gotten engaged just two months after Tera Chavezs death and prosecutors asked questions about how quickly Levi Chavez had moved on. Former APD officer Levi Chavez is accused of killing his wife Tera. Josh Mankiewicz reports. 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. According to her testimony, Heather Chavez was in Chicago with her parents the weekend Tera died. 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. She testified this morning that she is currently assigned to the APD Crimes Against Children Unit. Published: Friday, June 28th, 2013 at 12:05AMUpdated: Friday, June 28th, 2013 at 2:03PM. Would love your thoughts, please comment. Chavez called 911 to report the alleged suicide around 9 p.m. on Oct. 21, 2007. Im not guilty. However, Chavez said his wife's death later helped him reform his philandering ways and he later married another police officer two months after his wife's death. In all likelihood, Chavezs cellphone was turned off between 12:27 a.m. and 3:32 p.m. on Oct. 21, 2007, said Jody Citizen, a senior analyst for the Verizon Wireless companys legal department. By abqjournal. I didnt do anything wrong.. 'This was a made up pile of lies from the beginning and it took the jury approximately 10 hours to find that out.'. 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. Josh Mankiewicz reports. 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 upcoming episode of Dateline Unforgettable will premiere at 8.00 pm ET on Tuesday, June 14, 2022. Would love your thoughts, please comment. Chavez found his estranged wife Tera dead of a gunshot wound in the living room of their home in 2007. 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. Also in court this morning, jurors heard a heavily redacted recording of the deposition Levi Chavez gave in the civil case. Levi was initially charged with murdering his wife with his police issued Glock and making it appear as a suicide. 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. However, the case took a shocking turn after some disturbing facts came to the surface. He told the operator she killed herself and that he hadnt said anything because He thought she needed time.. Theyve long been appreciated for their Sign up for our daily newsletter and get the best of fashionuer in your in-box. 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. Levi was engaged to Heather Hindi two months after Tera died and married a few months later, according to PEOPLE. Wenn Sie Ihre Auswahl anpassen mchten, klicken Sie auf Datenschutzeinstellungen verwalten. Levi Chavez came back the following week and did exactly that. 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 didnt answer the call, Heather Chavez said. Facebook gives people the power to. In August 2013, Chavez was acquitted of the murder charges. THEY WERE MARRIED JULY 2008, DAYS AFTER SHE FINALIZED HER DIVORCE WITH ANOTHER APD OFFICER. Current CACU detective, and Levi's wife, Heather Chavez, was married to another officer in 2007. Read More: Where Are Tera Chavezs Parents Now? 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. 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. M.E. Levi has undergraduate degrees from UNM and CNM, as well as a law degree from the UNM School of Law. The former officer, clenching a Rosary, immediately embraced his attorney, David Serna. It looks like Chavez is now working for a nonprofit that provides emergency and permanent housing to homeless individuals. Serna told Chavez. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. 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. He told reporters that he wasnt surprised at all and that throughout the whole process, he knew he would be cleared. Your login session has expired. Social Media Influencer Set on Fire & Killed by Ex-Husband, Family Says. 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. "Please tell them to hurry!" the 26-year-old can be heard saying. Dr. But the prosecutors had alleged that he . Josh Mankiewicz reports Friday, November . 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. He will face a much higher judge upon his death and he wont have a slick as ownsh*t jew loyah to bamboozle the jury. The Valencia County District Attorney stated Chavez violated the . Her father, Joseph Cordova, said she loved flowers and drew some all over the house. 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. "He's got several plans in the works," Serna said. She had a twin brother, named Josh, who said, She was my lifeline. 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. Levi was ultimately cleared of all charges. 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. 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. 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. Farm Heroes Saga, the #4 Game on iTunes. Dated Nov. 14, 2007, it was from a fellow APD officer whose name, at the time, was Heather Hindi. 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. The Officer's Wife 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. 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, according to Cinemaholic. 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." For Tera Chavez, Levi was her high school sweetheart, husband, and the entire world. Her husband Levi Chavez, a police officer with the Albuquerque Police Department, was the one who called 911 and told them shed committed suicide. 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. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. I told you guys that from the beginning. 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. Levi also asserted that when Tera apparently killed herself, he was away, spending the weekend at one of his girlfriends apartment. 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. . 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. Manage the news you want to see, read exclusive content and explore other subscriber benefits. Levi Chavez's current wife takes the stand, Current wife insists she never spoke with Tera Chavez. Right. [1] No comments have so far been submitted. 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 . I did. Guitarist Ottmar Liebert bringing his unique blend of music Ottmar Liebert and his band Luna Negra will perform with the New Mexico Philharmonic at Popejoy Hall on Saturday, March 11. They married in July 2008, just a few days after Hindis divorce from another Albuquerque police officer was finalized. or debate this issue live on our message boards. 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. August 7, 2015. He told the 911 operator, Please tell them to hurry! and said shed committed suicide, PEOPLE reported. Her family said they knew there was trouble in the relationship and they had heard Levi Chavez was cheating on his wife, Alibi reported. Levi had spent the night at his current girlfriend's house. According to reports, he is now the husband of APD Detective Heather. Join Facebook to connect with Levi Chavez and others you may know. ", As the murder case gained more attention from the media and public, Chavez and the Albuquerque Police Department became the targets of heavy scrutiny. In July 2013, after a month-long trial, the verdict from the jury came in: not guilty. 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. Breaking News: Levi Chavez found NOT GUILTY of all charges in the death of Tera Chavez in 2007. "If we had a smoking gun, I would say it was the unseated magazine," said Arthur Ortiz, a longtime New Mexico lawman,. Investigators eventually deemed her death to be suspicious and Levi Chavez became the primary suspect, especially after he remarried less than seven months following his first wifes death. "What did I tell you?" She grew up in Los Lunas, a small village south of Alburquerque. Within two months of her death, he was engaged to a former colleague at the Albuquerque Police Department, Heather Hindi, and they were married a few months later, PEOPLE wrote. 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. did you ever go to the address on ash place? 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. 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. Serna will begin his cross-examination of Heather Chavez this afternoon. 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 . 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. Im not guilty. Her room was the best room in the house to walk into because it smelled so good.. Chavez was acquitted of the first-degree murder charge and told reporters outside the courtroom, Im not surprised at all. 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. Alicia Castro is the former Argentine Ambassador to Venezuela and current Argentine Ambassador in the United Kingdom. Chavez discovered his wife dead, with a gunshot wound to the mouth upon returning home on October 22, 2007. "Justice was not served," Joseph Cordova, the father of Tera Chavez, said after listening to the verdict with his wife. 'I'm going to go to church, pray my Rosary and thank my Virgin Mary,' Chavez said as he was crowded by reporters. After more than 10 hours of deliberations, a jury acquitted Levi Chavez . 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'. 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. Levi Chavez testified during his trial that he had a series of mistresses but reiterated that he did not kill his wife. However, nearly four years after Tera took her last breath, Levi was charged with first-degree premeditated murder and tampering with evidence. 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. Levi Chavez is a former Albuquerque, NM Police Officer who was charged with the 2007 death of his 26yearold wife, Tera Chavez. 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. 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. Police officers, pathologists, the women Levi had relationships with, and Tera's family all testified throughout the 6-week-long court case. Chavezs bio states that hes the emergency housing director at the Westside Emergency Housing Center. 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. Facebook Chavez still faces a wrongful death lawsuit from the family of Tera Chavez. 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. Their additional three locations remain open. 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. COVID-19 has impacted how we provide prioritized street outreach, emergency housing, and permanent supportive housing services to people experiencing homelessness. The problem here was that his girlfriend couldnt remember exactly when Levi came to her place or when he left. Levi started working for Heading Home in 2015. The call did not go to voicemail. Hindi, along with other women Levi Chavez had been involved with, testified during the trial about their affairs, Star Tribune reported. In July 2013, Levi Chavez was found not guilty of first-degree murder. Be the first one to comment on this story. Not among them was APD officer Steve Hindi, to whom Heather was married at the time. I knew Id be acquitted. 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. Heavy reached out to the university for more information about his admittance but did not immediately hear back. 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.. 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. Where is he today? Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Klicken Sie auf Alle ablehnen, wenn Sie nicht mchten, dass wir und unsere Partner Cookies und personenbezogene Daten fr diese zustzlichen Zwecke verwenden. Levi Chavez and Tera Chavez. The murder trial of Chavezs wife lasted over two years, according to KOAT. She said she knew Tera had died and Levi Chavez told her the couples two children were home that weekend. Thats when she married Levi Chavez and took his last name, according to testimony she gave this morning at the end of the third week in her husbands murder trial. But, the disgraced former officer insisted that he did not kill his wife. 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. Heather Chavezs statement in court today was that the couple only kissed in the car. 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. Copyright 2022 by Fashionuer. Levi Chavez has full custody of his two children, according to Teras parents Joseph and Theresa Cordova, Alibi reported. Strict, but in a good way, he said. View contact information: phones, addresses, emails and networks. Serna told Chavez. 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. 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. In August 2013, Chavez was acquitted of the murder charges. Her twin brother described her as a strong woman and a loving mother. Mr. Levi Chavez was born and raised in New Mexico and has a military and law enforcement background. 'To say I blamed myself is an understatement,' he said. 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. After gaining back his freedom, Levi Chavez decided that he wanted to change his career but still be in the justice system. Levi Chavez maintained his innocence throughout the trial, and he maintains his innocence even today. Audrina Patridge Niece: What Happened To Sadie Raine Loza? John Fetterman Wife: Who Is Gisele Barreto Fetterman. 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. Levi was born on October 9, 1925 in Ojo Feliz, New Mexico to Jose and Hilaria Chavez. Social Media Influencer Set on Fire & Killed by Ex-Husband, Family Says. 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 . In August 2013, Chavez was acquitted of the murder charges. He told reporters, Im not surprised at all. According to their website, Levi holds the title of Emergency Housing Director at their Westside Emergency Housing Center. 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.