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. 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. Mr. Levi Chavez was born and raised in New Mexico and has a military and law enforcement background. Episode Website More Episodes 2019 NBC News Top Podcasts In True Crime See All At first, because of how the crime scene looked, Teras death was ruled a suicide. 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. "If we had a smoking gun, I would say it was the unseated magazine," said Arthur Ortiz, a longtime New Mexico lawman,. . 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" 'I'm very embarrassed about it,' Chavez said, then later added. Im not guilty. when did the romantic relationship start? 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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Levi Chavez GUILTY of Corruption and Deciept and - Blogger 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. Levi has undergraduate degrees from UNM and CNM, as well as a law degree from the UNM School of Law. 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. Published: 09:01 EST, 17 July 2013 | Updated: 09:01 EST, 17 July 2013. (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. Im innocent. In 2018, the case was dismissed due to missing information and incorrect information that was cited as reasons to dismiss the case. 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. Powered by. YouTubeLevi Chavezs second wife Heather testifying during the trial. Tera Chavez was just 26 years old when she was found dead of a gunshot wound on October 22, 2007. He also told her she should have more information., I listened, Heather Chavez said about the interview. 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. I told you guys that from the beginning. 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. / CBS News. Based on the information provided on their website, Levi is now serving as the Emergency Housing Director at their Westside Emergency Housing Center. Levi found Tera shot dead in their. 'I took her for granted.'. Levi Chavez has maintained that his wife's death was an act of suicide. 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 was acquitted in that case, but many people are raising concerns about whether his presence in the next class of law students . It appears that his wife, now known as Heather Chavez, is a detective with the Farmington Police Department. Homeowner finds gruesome animal skeleton hidden behind cupboard for 30 years - so can you guess what it is? 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. Annalise died after being pushed off the roof in December 2009. Levi Chavez Now: Where Is Tera Chavez's Husband Today? This time, Levi Chavez said he is the one who has been wronged. Right. Jorge was born on August 28, 1961 in Santiago Atitlan, Guatemala. The lawsuit against Jones was dismissed in 2018. After gaining back his freedom, Levi Chavez decided that he wanted to change his career but still be in the justice system. Police officers, pathologists, the women Levi had relationships with, and Tera's family all testified throughout the 6-week-long court case. 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. 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. Under the name Heading Home, this organization has connections in New Mexico, according to its website. Wenn Sie Ihre Auswahl anpassen mchten, klicken Sie auf Datenschutzeinstellungen verwalten. Levi Chavez has full custody of his two children, according to Teras parents Joseph and Theresa Cordova, Alibi reported. She was an indoor girl, kind of girly. Watch Dateline Episode: The Officer's Wife - NBC.com 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. 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. 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. Serna said he doubted that Chavez would want to return to the state's largest police department. That wouldve been after she moved out of the home she shared with Steve Hindi, according to her testimony. But, the disgraced former officer insisted that he did not kill his wife. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Levi Chavez is a former Albuquerque, NM Police Officer who was charged with the 2007 death of his 26yearold wife, Tera Chavez. 'There never was a case against Levi Chavez,'Serna said. Dateline Unforgettable Does Tera Chavez Case: What To Know | Crime News According to reports, he is now the husband of APD Detective Heather. 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. . Some of the evidence in the civil case, like testimony from an insurance investigator about the fake theft allegations, was barred in murder trial. 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. Tera Chavez Biography: Levi Chavez Wiki, Bio, Age, Wife - Wali Kali 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.' I didnt do anything wrong, KOAT reported. 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. Some extra notes, quotes, news and notes from the Lobos Friday night basketball game in Fort Collins, Colorado. The case made national headlines in 2013 as more details came to light about the case and about Levi Chavez' personal life. In court today, she said the calls were work related, and Keener did not press her for specifics. Murdaugh is heckled as he leaves court, Alex Murdaugh unanimously found GUILTY of murder of wife and son, Pavement where disabled woman gestured at cyclist before fatal crash, Missing hiker buried under snow forces arm out to wave to helicopter, Insane moment river of rocks falls onto Malibu Canyon in CA, Fleet-footed cop chases an offender riding a scooter, Two Russian tanks annihilated with bombs by Ukrainian armed forces, Isabel Oakeshott clashes with Nick Robinson over Hancock texts. But I didnt see them, she said, adding later that she also didnt see any items that looked like they had belonged to Tera. Within two months of her death, he was engaged to a former colleague at the Albuquerque Police Department, Heather Hindi, and they were married a few months later, PEOPLE wrote. Thats the past, Heather Chavez said in court today. View the profiles of people named 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. 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. 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. Weitere Informationen ber die Verwendung Ihrer personenbezogenen Daten finden Sie in unserer Datenschutzerklrung und unserer Cookie-Richtlinie. For instance, detectives said that the night before the young mothers death, Levi Chavez was at his girlfriends house, according to PEOPLE. Obituary | Levi Chavez | Rogers Mortuary Inc. 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. One key talking point during the investigation into Tera Chavezs death and the murder trial was how quickly Levi Chavez appeared to have moved on. Breaking News: Levi Chavez found NOT GUILTY of all charges in the death of Tera Chavez in 2007. Where Are Tera Chavez's Parents Now? - The Cinemaholic But on that night in October, Levi, a police officer with the Albuquerque Police Department, called 911 to report that he'd found his wife dead in their home. Cleared of Wife's Murder, Cop Sues Sheriff - Courthouse News Service webvtt in day 14 of the levi chavez trial, his current wife, a-p-d officer heather chavez takes the stand. The Line: Levi Chavez Admitted to UNM Law School (Web Extra) 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, 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. Her room was the best room in the house to walk into because it smelled so good.. 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. Payton Gendron: Why Payton Gendron Got Arrested? Nov 21, 2007. ACTION 7 NEWS REPORTER LAUREN ZAKALIK IS LIVE OUTSIDE COURT TO EXPLAIN. New Mexico and ABQ News, Sports, Business and more, By Jeff Proctor / Journal Staff Writer Im not guilty. John Fetterman Wife: Who Is Gisele Barreto Fetterman. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. Instead, only the audio position of the recording was played in court. 2023 by Fashionuer. Current wife insists she never spoke with Tera Chavez Recommended Stories CinemaBlend Viral TikTok Shows Off Moment JLo's Face Filter Fails And Some Of Her Wrinkles Are Exposed Jennifer Lopez. 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. BUT HEATHER INSISTS THE WOMEN NEVER SPOKE. Be the first one to comment on this story. 'I don't feel like speaking for his future.'. However, nearly four years after Tera took her last breath, Levi was charged with first-degree premeditated murder and tampering with evidence. Heather Chavezs statement in court today was that the couple only kissed in the car. 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 . 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. Tera Chavez Death: Why Parents Believe Death Was Not A Suicide | Crime News "What did I tell you?" Ex-New Mexico police officer acquitted of wife's murder 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. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. 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. KRQE News 13 has learned former Albuquerque Police officer Levi Chavez, who was fired after he was charged with the murder of his wife, could soon be working closely with the city as part of a non- The latest breaking updates, delivered straight to your email inbox. LIVE IN SANDOVAL COUNTY LZ KOAT ACTION 7 NEWS.. COUNT ON KOAT-DOT-COM FOR. rules the death self-inflicted The medical examiner ruled Tera's death a suicide. 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. Chavez was acquitted of the first-degree murder charge and told reporters outside the courtroom, Im not surprised at all. 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. Levi started working for Heading Home in 2015. So where is Levi Chavez now? Josh Mankiewicz reports. Please logout and login again. Levi Chavez sues detective over murder investigation - KRQE 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. Powered by. He. INVESTIGATION - ABQjournal Metro: Death Now Called Suspicious INVESTIGATION - ABQjournal Metro: Death Now Called Suspicious. 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. Her husband Levi is suspected soon after because of suspicious circumstantial evidence, but there is no confession, eyewitness or 'smoking gun' forensic evidence. 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. 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.. 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. 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. Their additional three locations remain open. 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. THEY WERE MARRIED JULY 2008, DAYS AFTER SHE FINALIZED HER DIVORCE WITH ANOTHER APD OFFICER. Chavez alleged malicious prosecution, malicious abuse of process, defamation, and outrageous conduct, court documents show. She knew every single secret about me no matter what. Chavez also had a younger brother, Aaron. 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. 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. Some of the affairs were with female APD officers.[4]. Dr. Chavez works in Albuquerque, NM and 1 other location and specializes in Obstetrics & Gynecology. Levi Chavez takes the stand in murder of his ex wife 'To say I blamed myself is an understatement,' he said. '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. Levi Chavez Now: Where Is Tera Chavezs Husband Today? Levi Chavez testified during his trial that he had a series of mistresses but reiterated that he did not kill his wife. pic.twitter.com/O5xOecrgtD, HeadingHomeNM (@HeadingHomeNM) June 1, 2020. 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. Levi Chavez's current wife takes the stand - KOAT Levi was born on October 9, 1925 in Ojo Feliz, New Mexico to Jose and Hilaria Chavez. Levi started working for Heading Home in 2015. You could pretty much put her through the wringer, and shed still love you like it never happened. Levi Chavez - Wikipedia INVESTIGATION - Death of APD Officer's Wife Investigated INVESTIGATION - Death of APD Officer's Wife Investigated. Levi 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. [1] [2] Levi was initially charged with murdering his wife with his police issued Glock and making it appear as a suicide. She said she knew Tera had died and Levi Chavez told her the couples two children were home that weekend. I didnt speak with her.. Where does medical cannabis go from here? On redirect examination, Assistant District Attorney Anne Keener asked only one question. Levi was engaged to Heather Hindi two months after Tera died and married a few months later, according to PEOPLE. All Rights Reserved. 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. Upon announcing the verdict, the family of Levi Chavez, including his current wife Albuquerque detective Heather Chavez, let out gasps and wept. 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. Levi Chavez's current wife testifies - Albuquerque Journal 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. She testified this morning that she is currently assigned to the APD Crimes Against Children Unit. NM Ex-police officer acquitted of wife's murder I knew Id be acquitted. Her husband Levi Chavez, a police officer with the Albuquerque Police Department, was the one who called 911 and told them shed committed suicide. But the prosecutors had alleged that he . No comments have so far been submitted. 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. Serna on Thursday spent two and a half hours cross-examining Citizen. "Please tell them to hurry!" the 26-year-old can be heard saying in his 911 call, PEOPLE reported. However, the case took a shocking turn after some disturbing facts came to the surface. Detective Jones, who suspected that Levi Chavez had murdered his wife eighteen to twenty hours before he . August 7, 2015. [3], The night prior to the death of his wife Tera, Levi had spent the night at his girlfriend's house. [2] During the gap, Keener asked, You have no idea where the cellphone of Mr. Chavez was?. Copyright 2022 by Fashionuer. DATELINE FRIDAY SNEAK PEEK: The Officer's Wife - NBC News She grew up in Los Lunas, a small village south of Alburquerque. 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. 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. Ex-police officer acquitted of murder of wife | AP News 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 . According to her testimony, Heather Chavez was in Chicago with her parents the weekend Tera died. For weeks, the murder trial captivated parts of central New Mexico as residents were fixated in barber shops, diners and grocery stores. 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. Your login session has expired. 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. Theyve long been appreciated for their Sign up for our daily newsletter and get the best of fashionuer in your in-box. WE ALSO LEARNED FRIDAY THAT HEATHER-WENT TO TERA CHAVEZ'S FUNERAL. 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.