Right. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. During his trial, he was found not guilty of first-degree murder and was acquitted of the charges. 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. 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. In 2018, the case was dismissed due to missing information and incorrect information that was cited as reasons to dismiss the case. Dateline Unforgettable: Is Tera Chavez's cop husband Levi Chavez guilty [3], The night prior to the death of his wife Tera, Levi had spent the night at his girlfriend's house. 2023 by Fashionuer. Although the case initially looked like a suicide, investigators dug up evidence and theories that proved otherwise. Be the first one to comment on this story. 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 . 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. 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. 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. 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She testified this morning that she is currently assigned to the APD Crimes Against Children Unit. 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. 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. Levi was initially charged with murdering his wife with his police issued Glock and making it appear as a suicide. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. 'I'm very embarrassed about it,' Chavez said, then later added. That wouldve been after she moved out of the home she shared with Steve Hindi, according to her testimony. 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. 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. Levi Chavez acquitted of wife's murder in New Mexico New Mexico, 2007: Tera Chavez, a police officer's wife, is found shot dead in the mouth of an apparent suicide. 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. Levi Chavez was acquitted in that case, but many people are raising concerns about whether his presence in the next class of law students . Ex-N.M. police officer acquitted of murder of wife - CBS News Serna told Chavez. 'He's got several plans in the works,' Serna said. Levi Chavez, ex-New Mexico police officer, acquitted of wife's murder Levi Chavez Found 43 people in New Mexico, Arizona and 24 other states. "This was a made up pile of lies from the beginning and it took the jury approximately 10 hours to find that out. 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 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. Hugo Chavez's Women: The Ex Wives And Mistresses Who Loved - HuffPost Dateline: The Officer's Wife - Truth, Justice, and All-American The Officer's Wife Dateline NBC True Crime Requires subscription and macOS 11.4 or higher When police officer Levi Chavez finds his wife, Tera, shot to death in their home, an investigation into her murder begins as buried secrets are revealed. The entire world around Levi Chavez came trembling down when one fine October morning in 2007, he returned to his New Mexico home to find his wife Tera Chavez dead after taking a bullet to the mouth. Ex-police officer acquitted of murder of wife | AP News 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. 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. 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. 'What did I tell you?' 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. 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. 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. 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.. or debate this issue live on our message boards. Chavez still faces a wrongful death lawsuit from the family of Tera Chavez. By abqjournal. They allege the former officer killed his wife to keep her from disclosing an alleged staged theft of a truck for insurance money. Bernalillo County deputy involved in rollover crash in Northeast Albuquerque, Where does medical cannabis go from here? 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. Jorge was born on August 28, 1961 in Santiago Atitlan, Guatemala. 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. Dateline: Levi Chavez Becoming Lawyer After Wife Tera Chavez Death The two exchanged seven telephone calls on May 12 of that year, according to cellphone records that investigators found under a mattress Tera Chavezs body was lying on. Some of the affairs were with female APD officers.[4]. 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. There is no confirmation on whether she is still a part of the Albuquerque Police Department. 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. KOB 4 - BREAKING: Former APD officer Levi Chavez back in - Facebook Reportedly, he is married to APD Detective Heather, who was also present throughout the trial. Powered by. 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. In court today, she said the calls were work related, and Keener did not press her for specifics. City questions prominent non-profit's hire of ex-cop who was - KRQE 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. 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 is the Husband of Tera, and he was a police officer with the Albuquerque Police Department. 2023, Hearst Television Inc. on behalf of KOAT-TV. A summary is at Levi Chavez, Ex-Police Officer, Not Guilty Of Murdering Wife. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Levi Chavez. 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. 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 . 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. Former detective testifying in ex-officer case | Local News It looks like Chavez is now working for a nonprofit that provides emergency and permanent housing to homeless individuals. Now her parents speak to News 13. 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. Reportedly, he is married to APD Detective Heather, who was also present throughout the trial. . COVID-19 has impacted how we provide prioritized street outreach, emergency housing, and permanent supportive housing services to people experiencing homelessness. He pulled up the call history for the officer on his patrol computer and found it was a car assigned to Levi . However, nearly four years after Tera took her last breath, Levi was charged with first-degree premeditated murder and tampering with evidence. After more than 10 hours of deliberations, a jury acquitted Levi Chavez . The following article appeared on page C1 of the Friday, June 28, 2013, edition of the Albuquerque Journal. She grew up in Los Lunas, a small village south of Alburquerque. Jones showed Heather Chavez crime scene photos from Teras death scene and told her people were worried about her. "Please tell them to hurry!" the 26-year-old can be heard saying in his 911 call, PEOPLE reported. July 17, 2013 / 10:40 AM INVESTIGATION - Death of APD Officer's Wife Investigated INVESTIGATION - Death of APD Officer's Wife Investigated. Tera Chavez Death: Why Parents Believe Death Was Not A Suicide | Crime News "What did I tell you?" Serna told Chavez. Do not sell or share my personal information. 'I don't feel like speaking for his future.'. The donut shop has announced it has closed its South Valley and Northeast Heights locations. 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. 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. Breaking News: Levi Chavez found NOT GUILTY of all charges in the death of Tera Chavez in 2007. Her father, Joseph Cordova, said she loved flowers and drew some all over the house. Dr. The case made national headlines in 2013 as more details came to light . But, the disgraced former officer insisted that he did not kill his wife. 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. 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. The latest breaking updates, delivered straight to your email inbox. Critics, supporters offer differing opinions on program's future in New Mexico, University of New Mexico Hospital launching health care listening tour, Zinc Wine Bar & Bistro to reopen after three years. Levi Chavez is a former Albuquerque, NM Police Officer who was charged with the 2007 death of his 26yearold wife, Tera Chavez. Not among them was APD officer Steve Hindi, to whom Heather was married at the time. "Justice was not served," Joseph Cordova, the father of Tera Chavez, said after listening to the verdict with his wife. 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. Please enter valid email address to continue. That treatment included sexual relationships with four different women and constant breakups that began with way back when the couple were high school students. Serna will begin his cross-examination of Heather Chavez this afternoon. I wasnt worried.. Josh Mankiewicz reports. 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. Another girlfriend testifies in Chavez trial - Albuquerque Journal Alicia Castro is the former Argentine Ambassador to Venezuela and current Argentine Ambassador in the United Kingdom. She didnt leave them., When she was just 15 years old, Tera met Levi Chavez and became pregnant with his child, Alibi reported.