[1] [2] Levi was initially charged with murdering his wife with his police issued Glock and making it appear as 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. Heather Chavez said that, despite the appearance given in the text she sent Levi about taking his last name and more than 400 calls between the two from Oct. 8, 2007 to Dec. 12 of that year they did not begin a sexual relationship until late November or early December.. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, Thats the past, Heather Chavez said in court today. 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. Chavez discovered his wife dead, with a gunshot wound to the mouth upon returning home on October 22, 2007. 'I'm going to go to church, pray my Rosary and thank my Virgin Mary,' Chavez said as he was crowded by reporters. By abqjournal. INVESTIGATION - Death of APD Officer's Wife Investigated INVESTIGATION - Death of APD Officer's Wife Investigated. YouTubeLevi Chavezs second wife Heather testifying during the trial. 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. 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. 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. Upon announcing the verdict, the family of Levi Chavez, including his current wife Albuquerque detective Heather Chavez, let out gasps and wept. Levi was engaged to Heather Hindi two months after Tera died and married a few months later, according to PEOPLE. 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. 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" Later on, when Tera passed away, he claimed that the only reason he hadnt left his wife was because of their two children. or debate this issue live on our message boards. Strict, but in a good way, he said. Accused: Prosecutors have depicted Levi Chavez as a philanderer whose marriage was crumbling, and say he killed his wife after she found out he had staged the theft of his pickup truck to collect the insurance proceeds. 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. 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. 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. Now that so many years have gone by, lets take a look at where he currently is, shall we? Levi and Tera Chavez were high school sweethearts who married young and were raising two children together. For weeks, the murder trial captivated parts of central New Mexico as residents were fixated in barber shops, diners and grocery stores. 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. "What did I tell you?" Serna told Chavez. However, as Dateline NBC explored on its episode The Officers Wife, investigators had questions about her death, especially as the gun used was Levi Chavezs department-issued firearm. However, the case took a shocking turn after some disturbing facts came to the surface. For Tera Chavez, Levi was her high school sweetheart, husband, and the entire world. Detective Jones, who suspected that Levi Chavez had murdered his wife eighteen to twenty hours before he . The trial revealed a crumbling marriage that was. 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. Shed never leave them of her own will. He is serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole for 25 years. Join Facebook to connect with Levi Chavez and others you may know. Levi Chavez maintained his innocence throughout the trial, and he maintains his innocence even today. Former APD officer Levi Chavez is accused of killing his wife Tera. Tera Chavez was just 26 years old when she was found dead of a gunshot wound on October 22, 2007. Where does medical cannabis go from here? Facebook gives people the power to. According to reports, he is now the husband of APD Detective Heather. detailing just how quickly their relationship developed once tera chavez died. Heather Chavez said she hadnt remembered those calls when she gave a deposition in a civil wrongful death lawsuit filed by Teras family against Levi. Published: Friday, June 28th, 2013 at 12:05AMUpdated: Friday, June 28th, 2013 at 2:03PM. 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. Right. "If we had a smoking gun, I would say it was the unseated magazine," said Arthur Ortiz, a longtime New Mexico lawman,. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. 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 . 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. 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. 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. Homeowner finds gruesome animal skeleton hidden behind cupboard for 30 years - so can you guess what it is? Im innocent. Be the first one to comment on this story. Her twin brother described her as a strong woman and a loving mother. 'Guilt doesn't even begin to describe it.'. 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. Alicia Castro is the former Argentine Ambassador to Venezuela and current Argentine Ambassador in the United Kingdom. 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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A former Albuquerque police officer has been acquitted of murder in the death of his wife after a trial that contained a series of salacious revelations about his extramarital affairs with. According to several local coverages, the news of his admission to the university inspired mixed reactions from alumni and other students. Her relationship with Chavez started when he was still married to Marisabel. He has full custody of his two children, according to Tera's parents Joseph and Theresa Cordova. Would love your thoughts, please comment. 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. ACTION 7 NEWS REPORTER LAUREN ZAKALIK IS LIVE OUTSIDE COURT TO EXPLAIN. He told the 911 operator, Please tell them to hurry! and said shed committed suicide, PEOPLE reported. 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. It was hailed as a new era when designers finally recognised 'real women' but they have once again been sidelined by stick-thin models, Taking the Mickey! Levi 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. The donut shop has announced it has closed its South Valley and Northeast Heights locations. Levi Chavez. It appears that his wife, now known as Heather Chavez, is a detective with the Farmington Police Department. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. 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. Reportedly, he is married to APD Detective Heather, who was also present throughout the trial. 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. 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. Her Albuquerque police officer husband found her and called 911. 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However, nearly four years after Tera took her last breath, Levi was charged with first-degree premeditated murder and tampering with evidence. Levi started working for Heading Home in 2015. 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. Tera Chavez. A summary is at Levi Chavez, Ex-Police Officer, Not Guilty Of Murdering Wife. 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. "Please tell them to hurry!" the 26-year-old can be heard saying. (AP) BERNALILLO, New Mexico - 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. 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. 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. Chavez was acquitted of the first-degree murder charge and told reporters outside the courtroom, Im not surprised at all. According to the prosecution, she was on the verge of filing a complaint against him for fraudulent activity. Emergency Housing Director, Westside Emergency Housing Center. Serna told Chavez. The other half of Heather Chavezs wish never came to pass. Powered by. . 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. / CBS News. July 17, 2013 / 10:40 AM 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 was ultimately cleared of all charges. 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. Serna will begin his cross-examination of Heather Chavez this afternoon. 'I'm very embarrassed about it,' Chavez said, then later added. The official synopsis of the episode says. 2013 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. But the prosecutors had alleged that he . We are no longer accepting comments on this article. . Powered by. did you ever go to the address on ash place? In court today, she said the calls were work related, and Keener did not press her for specifics. Heavy reached out to the university for more information about his admittance but did not immediately hear back. state calls heather chavez : IT DIDN'T TAKE LONG FOR THE PROSECUTION TO JUMP RIGHT INTO THE PERSONAL DETAILS OF APD DETECTIVE HEATHER HINDI'S BLOSSOMING RELATIONSHIP WITH RECENT WIDOWER LEVI CHAVEZ IN 2007.' 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. According to her testimony, Heather Chavez was in Chicago with her parents the weekend Tera died. 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 . Audrina Patridge Niece: What Happened To Sadie Raine Loza? THE TEXTS DIDN'T STOP THERE ANOTHER, ABOUT A MONTH LATER, FROM HEATHER TO LEVI SAYING HE WAS HER REASON TO EXIST. 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.. She grew up in Los Lunas, a small village south of Alburquerque. The lawsuit against Jones was dismissed in 2018. Chavezs bio states that hes the emergency housing director at the Westside Emergency Housing Center. But, the disgraced former officer insisted that he did not kill his wife. 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. The murder trial of Chavezs wife lasted over two years, according to KOAT. In October of 2007, Tera, a mother of two, allegedly shot and killed herself at the couple's home while their children were at a family member's house. Levi Chavez was charged with the murder of his wife, Tera, but he has maintained his innocence and said she committed suicide. I didnt answer the call, Heather Chavez said. 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 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. 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. 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. In 2000, they tied the knot and moved to Virginia, where Levi was working as a Coast Guard. Chavez called 911 to report the alleged suicide around 9 p.m. on Oct. 21, 2007. May 1, 2008. Chavez is a former Albuquerque Police Department officer, accused of killing his wife at their Los Lunas home in 2007. July 31, 2015 - Former APD officer Levi Chavez has been admitted to the UNM Law School. Serna said he doubted that Chavez would want return to the state's largest police department. Your email is safe with us, we dont spam. when did the romantic relationship start? Your login session has expired. Now her parents speak to News 13. 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. In an indictment filed in April 2011 that charges Levi Chavez with first-degree murder and evidence tampering, prosecutors say he killed Tera in the couples home near Los Lunas on Oct. 19, 20 or 21, 2007. 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. Their additional three locations remain open. 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. Levi Chavez. I told you guys that from the beginning. He finally went on trial for the allegations brought against him in 2013, a full two years after the charges were first brought. 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. 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. Current CACU detective, and Levi's wife, Heather Chavez, was married to another officer in 2007. We always thought, Hell take care of her.'. Levi started working for Heading Home in 2015. Levi said. Chavez found his estranged wife Tera dead of a gunshot wound in the living room of their home in 2007. Jones was one of the first officers on the scene and a lead detective on the case. 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 July 2013, after a month-long trial, the verdict from the jury came in: not guilty. Levi Chavez has full custody of his two children, according to Teras parents Joseph and Theresa Cordova, Alibi reported. We raised Andrea as a family., The young couple married in 2000 even though their relationship was already facing some problems, her brothers said. 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. ABOUT A MONTH AFTER THAT LEVI BOUGHT HER A DIAMOND RING. 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. Serna told Chavez. According to their website, Levi holds the title of Emergency Housing Director at their Westside Emergency Housing Center. 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. "Justice was not served," Joseph Cordova, the father of Tera Chavez, said after listening to the verdict with his wife. Although the case initially looked like a suicide, investigators dug up evidence and theories that proved otherwise. During his trial, he was found not guilty of first-degree murder and was acquitted of the charges. They allege the former officer killed his wife to keep her from disclosing an alleged staged theft of a truck for insurance money. I didnt do anything wrong, KOAT reported. 2023 by Fashionuer. That treatment included sexual relationships with four different women and constant breakups that began with way back when the couple were high school students. pic.twitter.com/O5xOecrgtD, HeadingHomeNM (@HeadingHomeNM) June 1, 2020. Earlier Thursday, the fourth of Levi Chavezs many paramours to testify in the murder trial took the stand. He told the operator she killed herself and that he hadnt said anything because He thought she needed time.. 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. They also werent allowed to watch video of that deposition. The morning of 22 October 2007, he returned to the couple's home in Los Lunas, NM where he . ", As the murder case gained more attention from the media and public, Chavez and the Albuquerque Police Department became the targets of heavy scrutiny. BREAKING: Former APD officer Levi Chavez back in jail: A Valencia County judge has sent Levi Chavez back to jail after a hearing on Wednesday. She attended Teras funeral, according to her testimony, as did many other APD officers. Published: 09:01 EST, 17 July 2013 | Updated: 09:01 EST, 17 July 2013. 'There never was a case against Levi Chavez,'Serna said. webvtt in day 14 of the levi chavez trial, his current wife, a-p-d officer heather chavez takes the stand. [2] Levi was engaged to Heather Hindi two months after Tera died and married a few months later, according to PEOPLE. In August 2013, Chavez was acquitted of the murder charges. The sexual relationship? On redirect examination, Assistant District Attorney Anne Keener asked only one question. Levi Chavez. 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. Throughout the trial, Levi Chavez steadfastly asserted his innocence and continues to do so. Japanese models have always been admired for their skills as well as their beauty. 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 lawsuit against Jones was dismissed in 2018.

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