But I didnt see them, she said, adding later that she also didnt see any items that looked like they had belonged to Tera. Facebook Then, there is also the matter of Tera telling her friends that she thought her husband was involved in an insurance scam and was stealing money. 2023 by Fashionuer. 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. He. 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. 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. INVESTIGATION - ABQjournal Metro: Death Now Called Suspicious INVESTIGATION - ABQjournal Metro: Death Now Called Suspicious. 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. Joseph Cordova, Teras father, told the outlet, The culture which we grew up in, his family was from law enforcement. Levi Chavez came back the following week and did exactly that. Levi had spent the night at his current girlfriend's house. Strict, but in a good way, he said. Ex-N.M. police officer acquitted of murder of wife - CBS News Levi Chavez is a former Albuquerque, NM Police Officer who was charged with the 2007 death of his 26yearold wife, Tera Chavez. Serna told Chavez. 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. Levi Chavez, right, a former Albuquerque police officer, gets a congratulatory hug from his attorney David Serna on Tuesday, July 16, 2013, in Bernalillo, N.M., after a jury acquitted him of murder and tampering with evidence charges in the 2007 death of his estranged wife, Tera Chavez. I told you guys that from the beginning. 'I'm very embarrassed about it,' Chavez said, then later added. Alicia Castro is the former Argentine Ambassador to Venezuela and current Argentine Ambassador in the United Kingdom. KOB 4 - BREAKING: Former APD officer Levi Chavez back in - Facebook 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. 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. 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. That treatment included sexual relationships with four different women and constant breakups that began with way back when the couple were high school students. 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. Levi Chavez was acquitted in that case, but many people are raising concerns about whether his presence in the next class of law students . We always thought, Hell take care of her.'. We raised Andrea as a family., The young couple married in 2000 even though their relationship was already facing some problems, her brothers said. Based on the information provided on their website, Levi is now serving as the Emergency Housing Director at their Westside Emergency Housing Center. 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. 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. The other half of Heather Chavezs wish never came to pass. "I'm going to go to church, pray my Rosary and thank my Virgin Mary," Chavez said as he was crowded by reporters. In August 2013, Chavez was acquitted of the murder charges. 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. 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. She attended Teras funeral, according to her testimony, as did many other APD officers. Levi Chavez. Earlier Thursday, the fourth of Levi Chavezs many paramours to testify in the murder trial took the stand. Jim Fisher True Crime: The Levi Chavez Murder Case - Blogger Tera Chavez's Death: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know | Heavy.com City questions prominent non-profit's hire of ex-cop who was - KRQE The donut shop has announced it has closed its South Valley and Northeast Heights locations. Chavez found his estranged wife Tera dead of a gunshot wound in the living room of their home in 2007. Your login session has expired. "Dateline NBC" The Officer's Wife (TV Episode 2013) - IMDb Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. The Levi Chavez verdict came after a five-week trial and a six-year investigation that put the 32-year-old former police officer on trial for the October 2007 shooting death of his wife in their home near Los Lunas, New Mexico. Dateline Unforgettable Does Tera Chavez Case: What To Know | Crime News 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. 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 case made national headlines in 2013 as more details came to light about the case and about Levi Chavez' personal life. She grew up in Los Lunas, a small village south of Alburquerque. 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 . 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 call did not go to voicemail. 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. Jones showed Heather Chavez crime scene photos from Teras death scene and told her people were worried about her. On the 911 call, Levi Chavez can be heard crying and saying Please tell them to hurry! Her death was ruled a suicide by the medical examiner, but investigators began thinking it might have been a homicide and the cause of death was changed to undetermined, PEOPLE reported. Where does medical cannabis go from here? In March 2020, Nob Hill mainstay Zinc Wine Bar & Bistro closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Where is he today? But, the disgraced former officer insisted that he did not kill his wife. 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. Social Media Influencer Set on Fire & Killed by Ex-Husband, Family Says. The case made national headlines in 2013 as more details came to light . 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. 'What did I tell you?' For weeks, the murder trial captivated parts of central New Mexico as residents were fixated in barber shops, diners and grocery stores. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. IN THE WEEKS AFTER THE FUNERAL SHE WAS HELPING MOVE TERA'S ITEMS OUT OFTHE LOS LUNAS HOME ANDMORE. For weeks, the murder trial captivated parts of central New Mexico as residents were fixated in barber shops, diners and grocery stores. [3], The night prior to the death of his wife Tera, Levi had spent the night at his girlfriend's house. On July 5, 2008, half of the desire she expressed in the text came true. Keener pressed Heather Chavez on a statement she made during her deposition that her sexual relationship began in a car. 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. Tera Chavez was just 26 years old when she was found dead of a gunshot wound on October 22, 2007. 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. They also said hed had other affairs, including with some of the neighbors and other Albuquerque police officers. In court today, she said the calls were work related, and Keener did not press her for specifics. 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. Chavez was accused of killing his hairdresser wife, Tera, with his police-issued handgun and making it look like a suicide in October 2007. 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. For Tera Chavez, Levi was her high school sweetheart, husband, and the entire world. Manage the news you want to see, read exclusive content and explore other subscriber benefits. Mr. Levi Chavez was born and raised in New Mexico and has a military and law enforcement background. Im innocent. Levi Chavez maintained his innocence throughout the trial, and he maintains his innocence even today. Levi Chavez - Alchetron, The Free Social Encyclopedia Some of the evidence in the civil case, like testimony from an insurance investigator about the fake theft allegations, was barred in murder trial. 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. Her relationship with Chavez started when he was still married to Marisabel. 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. THE WOMEN NEVER DID MEET. Upon announcing the verdict, the family of Levi Chavez, including his current wife Albuquerque detective Heather Chavez, let out gasps and wept. 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. Chavez was tried in 2013 for murder and tampering with evidence in the death of his wife Tera Chavez. 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. 'This was a made up pile of lies from the beginning and it took the jury approximately 10 hours to find that out.'. 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 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. Later on, when Tera passed away, he claimed that the only reason he hadnt left his wife was because of their two children. Her family said they knew there was trouble in the relationship and they had heard Levi Chavez was cheating on his wife, Alibi reported. "I don't feel like speaking for his future.". rules the death self-inflicted The medical examiner ruled Tera's death a suicide. Levi was ultimately cleared of all charges. This individual treats the department as his own private brothel, and while he runs amok, nobody does anything or says anything. In July 2013, after a month-long trial, the verdict from the jury came in: not guilty. She had a twin brother, named Josh, who said, She was my lifeline. Would love your thoughts, please comment. ", First published on July 17, 2013 / 10:40 AM. 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. Watch Dateline Episode: The Officer's Wife - NBC.com Levi Chavez is a former police officer in Albuquerque, New Mexico, who was charged with the 2007 death of his 26-year-old wife, Tera Chavez. Levi Chavez maintained his innocence throughout the trial, and he maintains his innocence even today. Heavy reached out to UNM for additional information about Chavezs admission status; however, we did not receive a response by press time. Discover Lynn Murdaugh Goette Real Image & Current Location, Create Your Perfect Print With Blue And White Peel And Stick Wallpaper. 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. 'I took her for granted.'. Reportedly, he is married to APD Detective Heather, who was also present throughout the trial. The Harwood Museum of Art's exhibition 'Outriders: Legacy of the Black Cowboy' explores this history through archival photographs and contemporary art. After more than 10 hours of deliberations, a jury acquitted Levi Chavez . Their additional three locations remain open. 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. 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. He is serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole for 25 years. The former officer, clenching a Rosary, immediately embraced his attorney, David Serna. . Some of the evidence in the civil case, like testimony from an insurance investigator about the fake theft allegations, was barred in murder trial. "There never was a case against Levi Chavez," Serna said. 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. 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. Levi said. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. Serna will begin his cross-examination of Heather Chavez this afternoon. His profile states: Mr. Levi Chavez was born and raised in New Mexico and has a military and law enforcement background. I didnt speak with her.. Levi Chavez - Wikiwand Right. Levi Chavez Now: Where Is Tera Chavezs Husband Today? 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. Levi Chavez. 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. In July 2013, Levi Chavez was found not guilty of first-degree murder. 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. 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. He has full custody of his two children, according to Tera's parents Joseph and Theresa Cordova. pic.twitter.com/O5xOecrgtD, HeadingHomeNM (@HeadingHomeNM) June 1, 2020. Would love your thoughts, please comment. . Now that so many years have gone by, lets take a look at where he currently is, shall we? Previous Post They married in July 2008, just a few days after Hindis divorce from another Albuquerque police officer was finalized. Chavez still faces a wrongful death lawsuit from the family of Tera Chavez. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, Ex-police officer acquitted of murder of wife | AP News His new wife, Heather Hindi, who was one of his fellow officers, also testified on the stand. 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. Jorge was born on August 28, 1961 in Santiago Atitlan, Guatemala. Her Albuquerque police officer husband found her and called 911. He pulled up the call history for the officer on his patrol computer and found it was a car assigned to Levi . Although the case initially looked like a suicide, investigators dug up evidence and theories that proved otherwise. 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. 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. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Levi Chavez's current wife takes the stand - KOAT This week I spotted my very sweet friend's husband on a dating app and what I did next will leave most of you outraged, writes JANA HOCKING, Billionaire financier Thomas H. 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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. heather chavez albuquerque police During his trial, he was found not guilty of first-degree murder and was acquitted of the charges. Following a couple of years of preparation, he applied to be a lawyer and was accepted into the University of New Mexico Law School, entering class of 2016, where he apparently specialized in criminal law. 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. Levi was initially charged with murdering his wife with his police issued Glock and making it appear as a suicide. Levi Chavez and Tera Chavez. THE TEXTS DIDN'T STOP THERE ANOTHER, ABOUT A MONTH LATER, FROM HEATHER TO LEVI SAYING HE WAS HER REASON TO EXIST. 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. 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. The lawsuit against Jones was dismissed in 2018. In December 2013, it was made public that Chavez had relinquished his police officer certification. "If we had a smoking gun, I would say it was the unseated magazine," said Arthur Ortiz, a longtime New Mexico lawman,. The OTHER side of the law: Former Albuquerque police officer Levi Chavez seen here in his mugshot after allegedly murdering his wife. 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. It looks like Chavez is now working for a nonprofit that provides emergency and permanent housing to homeless individuals. 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. 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! "Please tell them to hurry!" the 26-year-old can be heard saying in his 911 call, PEOPLE reported. During the gap, Keener asked, You have no idea where the cellphone of Mr. Chavez was?. The problem here was that his girlfriend couldnt remember exactly when Levi came to her place or when he left. 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. The Line: Levi Chavez Admitted to UNM Law School (Web Extra) Play it now! "Justice was not served," Joseph Cordova, the father of Tera Chavez, said after listening to the verdict with his wife. Currently, the Maxwell Museum is displaying 'Conversing with the Land: Native North American Baskets of the Maxwell Museum Collections,' through Jan. 10, 2024. 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" Audrina Patridge Niece: What Happened To Sadie Raine Loza? Jones was one of the first officers on the scene and a lead detective on the case. Chavez claimed that his wife committed suicide because of his many affairs. 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 . Tera Chavezs mother, Theresa Cordova, said her daughter was an artist, according to a feature on Chavezs life in Alibi. 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. They also werent allowed to watch video of that deposition. They allege the former officer killed his wife to keep her from disclosing an alleged staged theft of a truck for insurance money.
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