Some of the affairs were with female APD officers.[4]. 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. 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. 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." Also in court this morning, jurors heard a heavily redacted recording of the deposition Levi Chavez gave in the civil case. 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. For instance, detectives said that the night before the young mothers death, Levi Chavez was at his girlfriends house, according to PEOPLE. 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. Audrina Patridge Niece: What Happened To Sadie Raine Loza? 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. 2023 by Fashionuer. 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. 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. Earlier Thursday, the fourth of Levi Chavezs many paramours to testify in the murder trial took the stand. 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. Dr. Chavez works in Albuquerque, NM and 1 other location and specializes in Obstetrics & Gynecology. Reportedly, he is married to APD Detective Heather, who was also present throughout the trial. 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. Theyve long been appreciated for their Sign up for our daily newsletter and get the best of fashionuer in your in-box. The call did not go to voicemail. 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. 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 . 'There never was a case against Levi Chavez,'Serna said. ABOUT A MONTH AFTER THAT LEVI BOUGHT HER A DIAMOND RING. His profile states: Mr. Levi Chavez was born and raised in New Mexico and has a military and law enforcement background. "He's got several plans in the works," Serna said. Their additional three locations remain open. 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. YouTubeLevi Chavezs second wife Heather testifying during the trial. Strict, but in a good way, he said. In court today, she said the calls were work related, and Keener did not press her for specifics. Joseph Cordova, Teras father, told the outlet, The culture which we grew up in, his family was from law enforcement. 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. 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 testified during his trial that he had a series of mistresses but reiterated that he did not kill his wife. August 7, 2015. Levi Chavez's current wife, Heather Chavez, took the stand Friday.She detailed the development of the pair's relationship following the death of Levi Chavez's former wife, Tera. Tera Chavez. He was acquitted of her murder on Tuesday, The less-than-perfect crime: Tera Chavez was killed when her husband allegedly shot her in the mouth and tried to make it look like a suicide. Levi Chavez Now: Where Is Tera Chavezs Husband Today? 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. 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. 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. M.E. Chavez was accused of killing his hairdresser wife, Tera, with his police-issued handgun and making it look like a suicide in October 2007. A summary is at Levi Chavez, Ex-Police Officer, Not Guilty Of Murdering Wife. July 17, 2013 / 10:40 AM Please enter valid email address to continue. 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. In August 2013, Chavez was acquitted of the murder charges. Chavez was tried in 2013 for murder and tampering with evidence in the death of his wife Tera Chavez. We raised Andrea as a family., The young couple married in 2000 even though their relationship was already facing some problems, her brothers said. 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. But the disgraced former. Powered by. He is serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole for 25 years. Tera, a four-year-old girl, died in August 2017 when her car seat was too full of pillows and blankets while she was strapped into it. Bernalillo County deputy involved in rollover crash in Northeast Albuquerque, Where does medical cannabis go from here? 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. So where is Levi Chavez now? On Jan. 15, 2008, Heather Chavez gave an interview to then-Detective Aaron Jones, who was investigating Teras death for the Valencia County Sheriffs Office. Levi was initially charged with murdering his wife with his police issued Glock and making it appear as a suicide. 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. 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. Previous Post [1] However, nearly four years after Tera took her last breath, Levi was charged with first-degree premeditated murder and tampering with evidence. She didnt leave them., When she was just 15 years old, Tera met Levi Chavez and became pregnant with his child, Alibi reported. 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. The pair met when they were just teenagers starting high school, and soon, they got into a serious relationship. 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. She was my secret-bank. Published: Friday, June 28th, 2013 at 12:05AMUpdated: Friday, June 28th, 2013 at 2:03PM. In July 2013, after a month-long trial, the verdict from the jury came in: not guilty. Levi found Tera shot dead in their. The following article appeared on page C1 of the Friday, June 28, 2013, edition of the Albuquerque Journal. 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. She liked to draw, and she liked to write poetry, she recalled. Facebook 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. The former officer, clenching a Rosary, immediately embraced his attorney, David Serna. 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. The donut shop has announced it has closed its South Valley and Northeast Heights locations. Levi Chavez. The case made national headlines in 2013 as more details came to light . The official synopsis of the episode says. 2013 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. Aug 19, 2008 . View contact information: phones, addresses, emails and networks. 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. According to several local coverages, the news of his admission to the university inspired mixed reactions from alumni and other students. The trial revealed a crumbling marriage that was. Chavez claimed that his wife committed suicide because of his many affairs. 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. While Levi Chavez has maintained his innocence and that his wife committed suicide, her family has remained firm in their belief that she was killed, Alibi reported. Serna will begin his cross-examination of Heather Chavez this afternoon. The murder trial of Chavezs wife lasted over two years, according to KOAT. or debate this issue live on our message boards. She had a twin brother, named Josh, who said, She was my lifeline. Facebook gives people the power to. Levi Chavez has full custody of his two children, according to Teras parents Joseph and Theresa Cordova, Alibi reported. COVID-19 has impacted how we provide prioritized street outreach, emergency housing, and permanent supportive housing services to people experiencing homelessness. 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. 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. Hindi, along with other women Levi Chavez had been involved with, testified during the trial about their affairs, Star Tribune reported. Later on, when Tera passed away, he claimed that the only reason he hadnt left his wife was because of their two children. Copyright 2022 by Fashionuer. 'I'm going to go to church, pray my Rosary and thank my Virgin Mary,' Chavez said as he was crowded by reporters. 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. 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. On redirect examination, Assistant District Attorney Anne Keener asked only one question. The former officer, clenching a Rosary, immediately embraced his attorney, David Serna. Not among them was APD officer Steve Hindi, to whom Heather was married at the time. Levi Chavez claimed he returned to their Los Lunas, New Mexico, home on Oct. 22, 2007, to find his wife's dead body in bed after taking a bullet right into the 26-year-old's mouth. Levi Chavez 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. Police officer Levi Chavez called 911 in 2007 to report that hed come home to find his wife deceased of a headshot wound. Levi has undergraduate degrees from UNM and CNM, as well as a law degree from the UNM School of Law. July 31, 2015 - Former APD officer Levi Chavez has been admitted to the UNM Law School. ACTION 7 NEWS REPORTER LAUREN ZAKALIK IS LIVE OUTSIDE COURT TO EXPLAIN. 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. 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. Alicia Castro is the former Argentine Ambassador to Venezuela and current Argentine Ambassador in the United Kingdom. Levi and Tera Chavez were high school sweethearts who married young and were raising two children together. 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. 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. Jorge was born on August 28, 1961 in Santiago Atitlan, Guatemala. One day, [the kids] are going to be of age, and theyre going to want to know, her father told Alibi. There is no confirmation on whether she is still a part of the Albuquerque Police Department. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. Would love your thoughts, please comment. 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. Upon announcing the verdict, the family of Levi Chavez, including his current wife Albuquerque detective Heather Chavez, let out gasps and wept. Comparing Online Sportsbook Welcome Bonuses. 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'. He told the operator she killed herself and that he hadnt said anything because He thought she needed time.. Levi Chavez has maintained that his wife's death was an act of suicide. Josh Mankiewicz reports. detailing just how quickly their relationship developed once tera chavez died. Would love your thoughts, please comment. Levi Chavez. Please review our privacy policy here: https://heavy.com/privacy-policy/, Copyright 2023 Heavy, Inc. All rights reserved. I told you guys that from the beginning. 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. In August 2013, Chavez was acquitted of the murder charges. Levi was ultimately cleared of all charges. 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. Levi Chavez Found 43 people in New Mexico, Arizona and 24 other states. The latest breaking updates, delivered straight to your email inbox. 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. [2] "There never was a case against Levi Chavez," Serna said. INVESTIGATION - ABQjournal Metro: Death Now Called Suspicious INVESTIGATION - ABQjournal Metro: Death Now Called Suspicious. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. Current CACU detective, and Levi's wife, Heather Chavez, was married to another officer in 2007. THE DEFENSE REVEALED TERA CALLED AT LEAST EIGHT NUMBERS ON THAT LIST-- INCLUDING HEATHER IN SEPTEMBER 2007. "Justice was not served," Joseph Cordova, the father of Tera Chavez, said after listening to the verdict with his wife. Upon announcing the verdict, the family of Levi Chavez, including his current wife Albuquerque detective Heather Chavez, let out gasps and wept. 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. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. 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. Levi Chavez's current wife takes the stand, Current wife insists she never spoke with Tera Chavez. Some of the evidence in the civil case, like testimony from an insurance investigator about the fake theft allegations, was barred in murder trial. 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. But, the disgraced former officer insisted that he did not kill 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. I knew Id be acquitted. Josh Mankiewicz reports. "What did I tell you?" "This was a made up pile of lies from the beginning and it took the jury approximately 10 hours to find that out. 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. INVESTIGATION - Death of APD Officer's Wife Investigated INVESTIGATION - Death of APD Officer's Wife Investigated. They allege the former officer killed his wife to keep her from disclosing an alleged staged theft of a truck for insurance money. 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. Levi was born on October 9, 1925 in Ojo Feliz, New Mexico to Jose and Hilaria Chavez. The OTHER side of the law: Former Albuquerque police officer Levi Chavez seen here in his mugshot after allegedly murdering his wife. A former cop was acquitted on Tuesday of killing his depressed wife with his department-issued gun after a month-long trial that has revealed secrets of affairs and alleged corruption within an Albuquerque police force. The interview between Levi Chavez and former Valencia County Sheriff's Detective Aaron Jones was recorded shortly after deputies found Tera Chavez at the couple's home, dead from a gunshot . Levi also asserted that when Tera apparently killed herself, he was away, spending the weekend at one of his girlfriends apartment. Tera Chavez died on 22nd October 2007 at Los Lunas, New Mexico, United States, she was 26 years old during her time of death and according to the report she died from a gunshot wound from her husband's service weapon. Check arrest records, resumes and CV, photos and videos, news, social media profiles, publications, places of employment, work history and public records . I told you guys that from the beginning. Sie knnen Ihre Einstellungen jederzeit ndern, indem Sie auf unseren Websites und Apps auf den Link Datenschutz-Dashboard klicken. Social Media Influencer Set on Fire & Killed by Ex-Husband, Family Says. 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. By abqjournal. She was an indoor girl, kind of girly. 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. 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. 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.