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. 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 . But, the disgraced former officer insisted that he did not kill his wife. Three weeks after Teras death, Levi Chavez was having sex with another woman in the home near Los Lunas from which authorities had removed Tera Chavezs body, according to the mistresss testimony. Now that so many years have gone by, lets take a look at where he currently is, shall we? Levi was initially charged with murdering his wife with his police issued Glock and making it appear as a suicide. 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. 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. (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. According to several local coverages, the news of his admission to the university inspired mixed reactions from alumni and other students. 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. At first,. 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. Email addresses are used solely for verification and to speed the verification process for repeat questioners. READ NEXT: Social Media Influencer Set on Fire & Killed by Ex-Husband, Family Says. On the night of Oct. 21, 2007, the lives of one couple from Los Lunas, New Mexico were changed forever. Also in court this morning, jurors heard a heavily redacted recording of the deposition Levi Chavez gave in the civil case. 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 . Her mother said she wants the kids to know, Shed never leave them. The morning of 22 October 2007, he returned to the couple's home in Los Lunas, NM where he . 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. Jorge was born on August 28, 1961 in Santiago Atitlan, Guatemala. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, She was quiet. Sie knnen Ihre Einstellungen jederzeit ndern, indem Sie auf unseren Websites und Apps auf den Link Datenschutz-Dashboard klicken. The two had gotten engaged just two months after Tera Chavezs death and prosecutors asked questions about how quickly Levi Chavez had moved on. 'I don't feel like speaking for his future.'. The lawsuit against Jones was dismissed in 2018. 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. Heather Chavezs statement in court today was that the couple only kissed in the car. 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. It appears that his wife, now known as Heather Chavez, is a detective with the Farmington Police Department. Valencia County sheriffs initially ruled the death as a suicide due to the "close proximity of the gun to the body. He has full custody of his two children, according to Tera's parents Joseph and Theresa Cordova. Her family said they knew there was trouble in the relationship and they had heard Levi Chavez was cheating on his wife, Alibi reported. Strict, but in a good way, he said. Levi had spent the night at his current girlfriend's house. He also told her she should have more information., I listened, Heather Chavez said about the interview. 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 . 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. 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. Reportedly, he is married to APD Detective Heather, who was also present throughout the trial. 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. 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. Levi Chavez. 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. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. The donut shop has announced it has closed its South Valley and Northeast Heights locations. 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. 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. [1] Current CACU detective, and Levi's wife, Heather Chavez, was married to another officer in 2007. Levi Chavez has full custody of his two children, according to Teras parents Joseph and Theresa Cordova, Alibi reported. 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 also asserted that when Tera apparently killed herself, he was away, spending the weekend at one of his girlfriends apartment. 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. Serna told 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. Over the next several months, detectives began digging into Levi Chavezs story and the investigation eventually deemed her death a homicide. 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. 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. Right. Although the case initially looked like a suicide, investigators dug up evidence and theories that proved otherwise. That treatment included sexual relationships with four different women and constant breakups that began with way back when the couple were high school students. 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. Be the first one to comment on this story. 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. Her husband Levi Chavez, a police officer with the Albuquerque Police Department, was the one who called 911 and told them shed committed suicide. Levi Chavez and Tera Chavez. Annalise died after being pushed off the roof in December 2009. 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. 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. His new wife, Heather Hindi, who was one of his fellow officers, also testified on the stand. 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 police re-opened their investigation in March of 2010 and charged Levi with her death on April 20, 2011. Bernalillo County deputy involved in rollover crash in Northeast Albuquerque, Where does medical cannabis go from here? Throughout the trial, Levi Chavez steadfastly asserted his innocence and continues to do so. Thats also where she was working on Oct. 8, 2007, the first time she met Levi Chavez face-to-face, according to her testimony. It appears that his wife, now known as Heather Chavez, is a detective with the Farmington Police Department. 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. / CBS News. I told you guys that from the beginning. However, Chavez said his wife's death later helped him reform his philandering ways and he later married another police officer two months after his wife's death. Levi was engaged to Heather Hindi two months after Tera died and married a few months later, according to PEOPLE. 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. However, nearly four years after Tera took her last breath, Levi was charged with first-degree premeditated murder and tampering with evidence. BUT HEATHER INSISTS THE WOMEN NEVER SPOKE. 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." Chavez was acquitted of the first-degree murder charge and told reporters outside the courtroom, Im not surprised at all. 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. Fashionuer.com participates in many affiliate marketing programs & sponsored content which means we get paid commissions on products purchased through our links to retail websites. The Harwood Museum of Art's exhibition 'Outriders: Legacy of the Black Cowboy' explores this history through archival photographs and contemporary art. This time, Levi Chavez said he is the one who has been wronged. Levi was ultimately cleared of all charges. The murder trial of Chavezs wife lasted over two years, according to KOAT. A Comprehensive Review of Edubirdies Academic Writing Service. He told reporters, Im not surprised at all. All Rights Reserved. The other half of Heather Chavezs wish never came to pass. You could pretty much put her through the wringer, and shed still love you like it never happened. This individual treats the department as his own private brothel, and while he runs amok, nobody does anything or says anything. 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! 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. Im not guilty. Im not guilty. Levi Chavez maintained his innocence throughout the trial, and he maintains his innocence even today. 'I took her for granted.'. webvtt in day 14 of the levi chavez trial, his current wife, a-p-d officer heather chavez takes the stand. 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. Dr. 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. Chavez claimed that his wife committed suicide because of his many affairs. Play it now! . 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. According to her testimony, Heather Chavez was in Chicago with her parents the weekend Tera died. 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. "There never was a case against Levi Chavez," Serna said. detailing just how quickly their relationship developed once tera chavez died. 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. "Please tell them to hurry!" the 26-year-old can be heard saying. Facebook gives people the power to. Serna said he doubted that Chavez would want to return to the state's largest police department. 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. 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. For weeks, the murder trial captivated parts of central New Mexico as residents were fixated in barber shops, diners and grocery stores. Your login session has expired. Their additional three locations remain open. "Please tell them to hurry!" the 26-year-old can be heard saying in his 911 call, PEOPLE reported. COVID-19 has impacted how we provide prioritized street outreach, emergency housing, and permanent supportive housing services to people experiencing homelessness. But the prosecutors had alleged that he . I knew Id be acquitted. 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. 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. Woke professor who opposes charter schools sent her sons to Manhattan's $60,000-a-year Dalton Prep: Denies hypocrisy and blames ex-husband, Defense says evidence is consistent with suicide, Cops at Albuquerque Police Department accused of tampering with evidence. Chavez called 911 to report the alleged suicide around 9 p.m. on Oct. 21, 2007. Dated Nov. 14, 2007, it was from a fellow APD officer whose name, at the time, was Heather Hindi. "This was a made up pile of lies from the beginning and it took the jury approximately 10 hours to find that out. Under the name Heading Home, this organization has connections in New Mexico, according to its website. "I don't feel like speaking for his future.". 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. Following the not-guilty verdict, Chavez fileda federal lawsuit against Aaron Jones, a detective with the Valencia County Sheriffs Department at the time of Teras death. 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. 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. 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. Where does medical cannabis go from here? Levi started working for Heading Home in 2015. The problem here was that his girlfriend couldnt remember exactly when Levi came to her place or when he left. Chavez still faces a wrongful death lawsuit from the family of Tera Chavez. New Mexico and ABQ News, Sports, Business and more, By Jeff Proctor / Journal Staff Writer During the gap, Keener asked, You have no idea where the cellphone of Mr. Chavez was?. Heather Chavez also testified that she never met or spoke to Tera Chavez. I did. According to the prosecution, she was on the verge of filing a complaint against him for fraudulent activity. 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. 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'. Powered by. The following article appeared on page C1 of the Friday, June 28, 2013, edition of the Albuquerque Journal. Josh Mankiewicz reports. "What did I tell you?" Chavez found his estranged wife Tera dead of a gunshot wound in the living room of their home in 2007. That wouldve been after she moved out of the home she shared with Steve Hindi, according to her testimony. He and his defense attorney, David Serna, maintain that Tera shot herself with Levis Glock 9 mm. 2013 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. WE ALSO LEARNED FRIDAY THAT HEATHER-WENT TO TERA CHAVEZ'S FUNERAL. Her twin brother described her as a strong woman and a loving mother. He. Police officer Levi Chavez called 911 in 2007 to report that hed come home to find his wife deceased of a headshot wound. I knew Id be acquitted. On redirect examination, Assistant District Attorney Anne Keener asked only one question. 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. 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. It appears that his wife, now known as Heather Chavez, is a detective with the Farmington Police Department. [3], The night prior to the death of his wife Tera, Levi had spent the night at his girlfriend's house. 'Justice was not served,' Joseph Cordova, the father of Tera Chavez, said after listening to the verdict with his wife. "I'm going to go to church, pray my Rosary and thank my Virgin Mary," Chavez said as he was crowded by reporters. Previous Post 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. The official synopsis of the episode says. The two met twice thereafter to have sex before Levi Chavez called 911 to say his wife had shot herself in the head. Aug 19, 2008 . Chavez was accused of killing his hairdresser wife, Tera, with his police-issued handgun and making it look like a suicide in October 2007. It looks like Chavez is now working for a nonprofit that provides emergency and permanent housing to homeless individuals. 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. Heavy reached out to UNM for additional information about Chavezs admission status; however, we did not receive a response by press time. 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. 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 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. Levi Chavez, an Albuquerque police officer, called 911 on the morning of October 22, 2007, to report that hed come home to find his wife dead of a gunshot wound from his service weapon. THE DEFENSE REVEALED TERA CALLED AT LEAST EIGHT NUMBERS ON THAT LIST-- INCLUDING HEATHER IN SEPTEMBER 2007. She said she knew Tera had died and Levi Chavez told her the couples two children were home that weekend. The case made national headlines in 2013 as more details came to light .