A summary is at Levi Chavez, Ex-Police Officer, Not Guilty Of Murdering Wife. On the night of Oct. 21, 2007, the lives of one couple from Los Lunas, New Mexico were changed forever. By that time, though, their marriage was already crumbling apart as Levi was having affairs with several women, many of whom he worked with on the police force. Be the first one to comment on this story. He told the operator she killed herself and that he hadnt said anything because He thought she needed time.. Serna said he doubted that Chavez would want return to the state's largest police department. Levi has undergraduate degrees from UNM and CNM, as well as a law degree from the UNM School of Law. A few years later, the family of four moved back to New Mexico, where Levi Chavez became a police officer with the Alburquerque Police Department and Tera Chavez started going to barber college. 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. 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. In July 2013, Levi Chavez was found not guilty of first-degree murder. But the prosecutors had alleged that he . 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. THE DEFENSE REVEALED TERA CALLED AT LEAST EIGHT NUMBERS ON THAT LIST-- INCLUDING HEATHER IN SEPTEMBER 2007. Episode Website More Episodes 2019 NBC News Top Podcasts In True Crime See All 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. Your email is safe with us, we dont spam. Reportedly, he is married to APD Detective Heather, who was also present throughout the trial. Powered by. detailing just how quickly their relationship developed once tera chavez died. Bernalillo County deputy involved in rollover crash in Northeast Albuquerque, Where does medical cannabis go from here? Weitere Informationen ber die Verwendung Ihrer personenbezogenen Daten finden Sie in unserer Datenschutzerklrung und unserer Cookie-Richtlinie. 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. 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. action 7 . 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. 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. Chavez is a former Albuquerque Police Department officer, accused of killing his wife at their Los Lunas home in 2007. Heather Chavezs statement in court today was that the couple only kissed in the car. But Keener pointed to more phone records that showed a call from Teras phone to Heathers on Sept. 29, 2007. 'I don't feel like speaking for his future.'. . 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. 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. She grew up in Los Lunas, a small village south of Alburquerque. Discover Lynn Murdaugh Goette Real Image & Current Location, Create Your Perfect Print With Blue And White Peel And Stick Wallpaper. At first, her death was believed to be a suicide, but an investigation turned up some information about Levi Chavezs life that made them look deeper into the case. Audrina Patridge Niece: What Happened To Sadie Raine Loza? For weeks, the murder trial captivated parts of central New Mexico as residents were fixated in barber shops, diners and grocery stores. 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. Jones was one of the first officers on the scene and a lead detective on the case. Farm Heroes Saga, the #4 Game on iTunes. It appears that his wife, now known as Heather Chavez, is a detective with the Farmington Police Department. 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. 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. He has full custody of his two children, according to Teras parents Joseph and Theresa Cordova. 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 has undergraduate degrees from UNM and CNM, as well as a law degree from the UNM School of Law. 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. Annalise died after being pushed off the roof in December 2009. 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. Read a reflection on the importance of community partners from our WEHC Emergency Housing Director Levi Chavez. ", First published on July 17, 2013 / 10:40 AM. The trial revealed a crumbling marriage that was. Chavez was acquitted of the first-degree murder charge and told reporters outside the courtroom, Im not surprised at all. 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. 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. Breaking News: Levi Chavez found NOT GUILTY of all charges in the death of Tera Chavez in 2007. Manage the news you want to see, read exclusive content and explore other subscriber benefits. 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. Chavez claimed that his wife committed suicide because of his many affairs. Published: Friday, June 28th, 2013 at 12:05AMUpdated: Friday, June 28th, 2013 at 2:03PM. In March 2020, Nob Hill mainstay Zinc Wine Bar & Bistro closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 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. 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 two had gotten engaged just two months after Tera Chavezs death and prosecutors asked questions about how quickly Levi Chavez had moved on. 'I'm very embarrassed about it,' Chavez said, then later added. Please enter valid email address to continue. On redirect examination, Assistant District Attorney Anne Keener asked only one question. This individual treats the department as his own private brothel, and while he runs amok, nobody does anything or says anything. [2] YouTubeLevi Chavezs second wife Heather testifying during the trial. But on direct examination by Bryan McKay, senior trial attorney for the 13th Judicial District Attorneys Office, Garley testified that she also went to the home the Chavezes had shared at 11 Ash Place on the weekend of Nov. 11 and 12, 2007. I knew Id be acquitted. 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 . 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. There is no confirmation on whether she is still a part of the Albuquerque Police Department. Isabel Wilkerson Husband: How Many Marriages She Did? BUT HEATHER INSISTS THE WOMEN NEVER SPOKE. They allege the former officer killed his wife to keep her from disclosing an alleged staged theft of a truck for insurance money. But I didnt see them, she said, adding later that she also didnt see any items that looked like they had belonged to Tera. did you ever go to the address on ash place? Her room was the best room in the house to walk into because it smelled so good.. Mmmm detective Chavez with homicide, the text read. DETAILING JUST HOW QUICKLY THEIR RELATIONSHIP DEVELOPED ONCE TERA CHAVEZ DIED. 'He's got several plans in the works,' Serna said. Chavez of course denies the incident. 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" Powered by WordPress.com VIP. 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. Some extra notes, quotes, news and notes from the Lobos Friday night basketball game in Fort Collins, Colorado. 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.