"Please tell them to hurry!" the 26-year-old can be heard saying in his 911 call, PEOPLE reported. 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. 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. Copyright 2022 by Fashionuer. She testified this morning that she is currently assigned to the APD Crimes Against Children Unit. Chavez was eventually charged with first-degree murder and obstructing justice, responding to which he entered a not guilty plea and, to date, asserts his innocence. 'Justice was not served,' Joseph Cordova, the father of Tera Chavez, said after listening to the verdict with his wife. Levi started working for Heading Home in 2015. Hindi said on the stand that shed never met Tera Chavez, but she went to her funeral and helped move her things out of the family home after her death, footage from the trial shows. READ NEXT: Social Media Influencer Set on Fire & Killed by Ex-Husband, Family Says. 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. Social Media Influencer Set on Fire & Killed by Ex-Husband, Family Says. But the prosecutors had alleged that he . 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. "He's got several plans in the works," Serna said. 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 . Levi Chavez came back the following week and did exactly that. Chavez was acquitted of the first-degree murder charge and told reporters outside the courtroom, Im not surprised at all. Woke professor who opposes charter schools sent her sons to Manhattan's $60,000-a-year Dalton Prep: Denies hypocrisy and blames ex-husband, Defense says evidence is consistent with suicide, Cops at Albuquerque Police Department accused of tampering with evidence. Email addresses are used solely for verification and to speed the verification process for repeat questioners. Please review our privacy policy here: https://heavy.com/privacy-policy/, Copyright 2023 Heavy, Inc. All rights reserved. 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." [1] [2] Levi was initially charged with murdering his wife with his police issued Glock and making it appear as a suicide. "If we had a smoking gun, I would say it was the unseated magazine," said Arthur Ortiz, a longtime New Mexico lawman,. 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 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. 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. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. The other half of Heather Chavezs wish never came to pass. Chavez told jurors that he found his wife dead from a gunshot wound and thought it was God's way of punishing him. Dateline: The Officer's Wife - Truth, Justice, and All-American According to the prosecution, she was on the verge of filing a complaint against him for fraudulent activity. They also said hed had other affairs, including with some of the neighbors and other Albuquerque police officers. 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. Your email is safe with us, we dont spam. Heather Chavezs statement in court today was that the couple only kissed in the car. 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. 'I'm very embarrassed about it,' Chavez said, then later added. Check arrest records, resumes and CV, photos and videos, news, social media profiles, publications, places of employment, work history and public records . "What did I tell you?" Serna told Chavez. He pulled up the call history for the officer on his patrol computer and found it was a car assigned to Levi . 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. Discover Lynn Murdaugh Goette Real Image & Current Location, Create Your Perfect Print With Blue And White Peel And Stick Wallpaper. Tera Chavez's Death: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know | Heavy.com Chavez alleged malicious prosecution, malicious abuse of process, defamation, and outrageous conduct, court documents show. Jim Fisher True Crime: The Levi Chavez Murder Case - Blogger Levi was engaged to Heather Hindi two months after Tera died and married a few months later, according to PEOPLE. Join Facebook to connect with Levi Chavez and others you may know. The lawsuit against Jones was dismissed in 2018. I didnt answer the call, Heather Chavez said. did you ever go to the address on ash place? 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. Levi Chavez and Tera Chavez. But, the disgraced former officer insisted that he did not kill his wife. . 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. 'There never was a case against Levi Chavez,'Serna said. Thats the past, Heather Chavez said in court today. Levi Chavez has full custody of his two children, according to Teras parents Joseph and Theresa Cordova, Alibi reported. Do not sell or share my personal information. Levi said. Through witness testimony, the public learned that Chavez had been having a number of affairs while married to Tera Chavez. New Mexico, 2007: Tera Chavez, a police officer's wife, is found shot dead in the mouth of an apparent suicide. Thats also where she was working on Oct. 8, 2007, the first time she met Levi Chavez face-to-face, according to her testimony. In July 2013, after a month-long trial, the verdict from the jury came in: not guilty. It appears that his wife, now known as Heather Chavez, is a detective with the Farmington Police Department. 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. 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. "This was a made up pile of lies from the beginning and it took the jury approximately 10 hours to find that out. 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. This individual treats the department as his own private brothel, and while he runs amok, nobody does anything or says anything. Previous Post THE DEFENSE REVEALED TERA CALLED AT LEAST EIGHT NUMBERS ON THAT LIST-- INCLUDING HEATHER IN SEPTEMBER 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. Bei der Nutzung unserer Websites und Apps verwenden wir, unsere Websites und Apps fr Sie bereitzustellen, Nutzer zu authentifizieren, Sicherheitsmanahmen anzuwenden und Spam und Missbrauch zu verhindern, und, Ihre Nutzung unserer Websites und Apps zu messen, personalisierte Werbung und Inhalte auf der Grundlage von Interessenprofilen anzuzeigen, die Effektivitt von personalisierten Anzeigen und Inhalten zu messen, sowie, unsere Produkte und Dienstleistungen zu entwickeln und zu verbessern. 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. 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. Nov 21, 2007. August 7, 2015. They allege the former officer killed his wife to keep her from disclosing an alleged staged theft of a truck for insurance money. 2023, Hearst Television Inc. on behalf of KOAT-TV. 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. "Dateline NBC" The Officer's Wife (TV Episode 2013) - IMDb For weeks, the murder trial captivated parts of central New Mexico as residents were fixated in barber shops, diners and grocery stores. We always thought, Hell take care of her.'. 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 . 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. 'He's got several plans in the works,' Serna said. He told the operator she killed herself and that he hadnt said anything because He thought she needed time.. Levi Chavez maintained his innocence throughout the trial, and he maintains his innocence even today. 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. or debate this issue live on our message boards. Levi Chavez was acquitted in that case, but many people are raising concerns about whether his presence in the next class of law students . Subscribe now to access decluttered news, chosen by you. The police re-opened their investigation in March of 2010 and charged Levi with her death on April 20, 2011. Over the next several months, detectives began digging into Levi Chavezs story and the investigation eventually deemed her death a homicide. Levi Chavez is the Husband of Tera, and he was a police officer with the Albuquerque Police Department. The Valencia County District Attorney stated Chavez violated the . The OTHER side of the law: Former Albuquerque police officer Levi Chavez seen here in his mugshot after allegedly murdering his wife. Levi Chavez Verdict In New Mexico 'Casanova Cop' Case Delivered Levi started working for Heading Home in 2015. 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 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. 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. Josh Mankiewicz reports Friday, November . 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. 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. 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. 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. Be the first one to comment on this story. For weeks, the murder trial captivated parts of central New Mexico as residents were fixated in barber shops, diners and grocery stores. I told you guys that from the beginning. I wasnt worried.. Reportedly, he is married to APD Detective Heather, who was also present throughout the trial. 'What did I tell you?' Right. View the profiles of people named Levi Chavez. 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. Jorge Chavez Obituary (1961 - 2021) - Midland, TX - Midland Reporter Former APD officer Levi Chavez is accused of killing his wife Tera. 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. 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. Levi Chavez Found 43 people in New Mexico, Arizona and 24 other states. She loved hard. heather chavez albuquerque police 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. Valencia County sheriffs initially ruled the death as a suicide due to the "close proximity of the gun to the body. '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!' Josh Mankiewicz reports. 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. But Keener pointed to more phone records that showed a call from Teras phone to Heathers on Sept. 29, 2007. 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. Chavez was tried in 2013 for murder and tampering with evidence in the death of his wife Tera Chavez. He immediately called the police, who, looking at the crime scene, ruled it suicide. She said she knew Tera had died and Levi Chavez told her the couples two children were home that weekend. Derek Chauvin's personal history: About his ex-wife, stepchildren, past Dr. Chavez works in Albuquerque, NM and 1 other location and specializes in Obstetrics & Gynecology. They also werent allowed to watch video of that deposition. Later on, when Tera passed away, he claimed that the only reason he hadnt left his wife was because of their two children. The two met twice thereafter to have sex before Levi Chavez called 911 to say his wife had shot herself in the head. Cleared of Wife's Murder, Cop Sues Sheriff - Courthouse News Service 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. 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. Chavez found his estranged wife Tera dead of a gunshot wound in the living room of their home in 2007. 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. 'I took her for granted.'. Now her parents speak to News 13. The lawsuit against Jones was dismissed in 2018. Chavez still faces a wrongful death lawsuit from the family of Tera Chavez. He is suing the detective who first launched the investigation into the 2007 death of Levi's wife, Tera Chavez. 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. 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. Ex-New Mexico Cop Levi Chavez Acquitted of Wife's Murder - Newsmax action 7 . Chavez was accused of killing his hairdresser wife, Tera, with his police-issued handgun and making it look like a suicide in October 2007. DETAILING JUST HOW QUICKLY THEIR RELATIONSHIP DEVELOPED ONCE TERA CHAVEZ DIED. Please enter valid email address to continue. 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. He and his defense attorney, David Serna, maintain that Tera shot herself with Levis Glock 9 mm. Im not guilty. Levi was ultimately cleared of all charges. Im not guilty. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. There is no confirmation on whether she is still a part of the Albuquerque Police Department. 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 - Wikiwand In 2018, the case was dismissed due to missing information and incorrect information that was cited as reasons to dismiss the case. YouTubeLevi Chavezs second wife Heather testifying during the trial. The case made national headlines in 2013 as more details came to light . Isabel Wilkerson Husband: How Many Marriages She Did? July 31, 2015 - Former APD officer Levi Chavez has been admitted to the UNM Law School. Tera Chavez Death: Why Parents Believe Death Was Not A Suicide | Crime News The sexual relationship? 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 takes the stand in murder of his ex wife As mentioned, Levi Chavez was charged with her murder in April 2011, but it took another two years for the case to go to court due to a series of motion hearings, civil trials and a change of venue for the trial, KOAT reported. That wouldve been after she moved out of the home she shared with Steve Hindi, according to her testimony. On the night of Oct. 21, 2007, the lives of one couple from Los Lunas, New Mexico were changed forever. 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. Levi Chavez GUILTY of Corruption and Deciept and - Blogger He also told her she should have more information., I listened, Heather Chavez said about the interview. She was quiet. Levi Chavez Now: Where Is Tera Chavez's Husband Today? "I'm going to go to church, pray my Rosary and thank my Virgin Mary," Chavez said as he was crowded by reporters. Tera Chavez was just 26 years old when she was found dead of a gunshot wound on October 22, 2007. Klicken Sie auf Alle ablehnen, wenn Sie nicht mchten, dass wir und unsere Partner Cookies und personenbezogene Daten fr diese zustzlichen Zwecke verwenden. 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. He has full custody of his two children, according to Tera's parents Joseph and Theresa Cordova. or debate this issue live on our message boards. Levi Chavez has maintained that his wife's death was an act of suicide. She was an indoor girl, kind of girly. Farm Heroes Saga, the #4 Game on iTunes. After gaining back his freedom, Levi Chavez decided that he wanted to change his career but still be in the justice system. We raised Andrea as a family., The young couple married in 2000 even though their relationship was already facing some problems, her brothers said. Her husband Levi Chavez, a police officer with the Albuquerque Police Department, was the one who called 911 and told them shed committed suicide. 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. 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. Chavez still faces a wrongful death lawsuit from the family of Tera Chavez. 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. Breaking News: Levi Chavez found NOT GUILTY of all charges in the death of Tera Chavez in 2007. 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. News of his admittance to the university was met with some concern from alumni and other students, New Mexico PBS reported. 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. 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. Levi Chavez - Wikipedia 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. Levi Chavez Now: Where Is Tera Chavez's Husband Today? Their additional three locations remain open. 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. Police officers, pathologists, the women Levi had relationships with, and Tera's family all testified throughout the 6-week-long court case. Reportedly, he is married to APD Detective Heather, who was also present throughout the trial.