They married in July 2008, just a few days after Hindis divorce from another Albuquerque police officer was finalized. City questions prominent non-profit's hire of ex-cop who was - KRQE Dr. 'I took her for granted.'. 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. New Mexico and ABQ News, Sports, Business and more, By Jeff Proctor / Journal Staff Writer The pair met when they were just teenagers starting high school, and soon, they got into a serious relationship. Right. The murder trial eventually took place in the summer of 2013 and lasted a total of 21 days of testimony and two days of deliberation, KOAT wrote. 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. 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. Powered by. Levi Chavez Work History and Career Records - Radaris 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. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. 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. "I don't feel like speaking for his future.". The upcoming episode of Dateline Unforgettable will premiere at 8.00 pm ET on Tuesday, June 14, 2022. Derek Chauvin's personal history: About his ex-wife, stepchildren, past Levi Chavez, ex-New Mexico police officer, acquitted of wife's murder 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." She knew every single secret about me no matter what. Chavez also had a younger brother, Aaron. 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. She loved hard. Social Media Influencer Set on Fire & Killed by Ex-Husband, Family Says. Instead, only the audio position of the recording was played in court. 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. In December 2013, it was made public that Chavez had relinquished his police officer certification. Jones was one of the first officers on the scene and a lead detective on the case. They werent told that tens of instances in which Levi Chavezs attorneys asserted his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination had been excised from the deposition. He finally went on trial for the allegations brought against him in 2013, a full two years after the charges were first brought. did you ever go to the address on ash place? Later on, when Tera passed away, he claimed that the only reason he hadnt left his wife was because of their two children. It appears that his wife, now known as Heather Chavez, is a detective with the Farmington Police Department. Heather Chavez also testified that she never met or spoke to Tera Chavez. During the gap, Keener asked, You have no idea where the cellphone of Mr. Chavez was?. She grew up in Los Lunas, a small village south of Alburquerque. Ex-police officer acquitted of murder of wife | AP News 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 . I told you guys that from the beginning. He and his defense attorney, David Serna, maintain that Tera shot herself with Levis Glock 9 mm. 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. 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. 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. Im not guilty. He told the 911 operator, Please tell them to hurry! and said shed committed suicide, PEOPLE reported. 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. Your login session has expired. Strict, but in a good way, he said. 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. July 31, 2015 - Former APD officer Levi Chavez has been admitted to the UNM Law School. Play it now! Chavez claimed that his wife committed suicide because of his many affairs. Im innocent. action 7 . She said she knew Tera had died and Levi Chavez told her the couples two children were home that weekend. 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. This individual treats the department as his own private brothel, and while he runs amok, nobody does anything or says anything. He has full custody of his two children, according to Teras parents Joseph and Theresa Cordova. Jorge was born on August 28, 1961 in Santiago Atitlan, Guatemala. Also in court this morning, jurors heard a heavily redacted recording of the deposition Levi Chavez gave in the civil case. 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. Read More: Where Are Tera Chavezs Parents Now? That treatment included sexual relationships with four different women and constant breakups that began with way back when the couple were high school students. However, nearly four years after Tera took her last breath, Levi was charged with first-degree premeditated murder and tampering with evidence. Powered by. But Keener pointed to more phone records that showed a call from Teras phone to Heathers on Sept. 29, 2007. 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. Police officer Levi Chavez called 911 in 2007 to report that hed come home to find his wife deceased of a headshot wound. Ex-New Mexico police officer acquitted of wife's murder Reportedly, he is married to APD Detective Heather, who was also present throughout the trial. Their additional three locations remain open. All Rights Reserved. INVESTIGATION - ABQjournal Metro: Death Now Called Suspicious INVESTIGATION - ABQjournal Metro: Death Now Called Suspicious. Yet, with no proof of the former, he couldnt be charged or arrested for fraud. The Valencia County District Attorney stated Chavez violated the . Chavezs bio states that hes the emergency housing director at the Westside Emergency Housing Center. BERNALILLO Its impossible to say based on cellphone records where Levi Chavez was for 15 hours near the end of the three-day period during which prosecutors say he killed his wife in 2007, according to a cellphone company analyst who testified Thursday in the former APD officers murder trial. Heather Chavezs statement in court today was that the couple only kissed in the car. The lawsuit against Jones was dismissed in 2018. The two had gotten engaged just two months after Tera Chavezs death and prosecutors asked questions about how quickly Levi Chavez had moved on. 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Dr. Chavez works in Albuquerque, NM and 1 other location and specializes in Obstetrics & Gynecology. 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. Upon announcing the verdict, the family of Levi Chavez, including his current wife Albuquerque detective Heather Chavez, let out gasps and wept. On July 5, 2008, half of the desire she expressed in the text came true. Levi has undergraduate degrees from UNM and CNM, as well as a law degree from the UNM School of Law. Levi Chavez Verdict In New Mexico 'Casanova Cop' Case Delivered IN THE WEEKS AFTER THE FUNERAL SHE WAS HELPING MOVE TERA'S ITEMS OUT OFTHE LOS LUNAS HOME ANDMORE. She didnt leave them., When she was just 15 years old, Tera met Levi Chavez and became pregnant with his child, Alibi reported. 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. Although her parents said they were shocked at the news, they turned it around to a positive. The teenager and her baby continued to live at the Cordova family home for two years, her mother Theresa Cordova said. 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. Upon announcing the verdict, the family of Levi Chavez, including his current wife Albuquerque detective Heather Chavez, let out gasps and wept. Chavez discovered his wife dead, with a gunshot wound to the mouth upon returning home on October 22, 2007. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. Shed never leave them of her own will. The former officer, clenching a Rosary, immediately embraced his attorney, David Serna. Serna on Thursday spent two and a half hours cross-examining Citizen. 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'. One day, [the kids] are going to be of age, and theyre going to want to know, her father told Alibi. View contact information: phones, addresses, emails and networks. Breaking News: Levi Chavez found NOT GUILTY of all charges in the death of Tera Chavez in 2007. Please logout and login again. The latest breaking updates, delivered straight to your email inbox. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. Nov 21, 2007. Levi Chavez's current wife, Heather Chavez, took the stand Friday.She detailed the development of the pair's relationship following the death of Levi Chavez's former wife, Tera. No comments have so far been submitted. [3], The night prior to the death of his wife Tera, Levi had spent the night at his girlfriend's house. Obituary | Levi Chavez | Rogers Mortuary Inc. Jim Fisher True Crime: The Levi Chavez Murder Case - Blogger 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. DATELINE FRIDAY SNEAK PEEK: The Officer's Wife - NBC News Levi Chavez's current wife takes the stand, Current wife insists she never spoke with Tera Chavez. 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. I didnt speak with her.. Jorge Chavez Obituary (1961 - 2021) - Midland, TX - Midland Reporter when did the romantic relationship start? Tera Chavez's Death: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know | Heavy.com Levi Chavez Now: Where Is Tera Chavez's Husband Today? 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. pic.twitter.com/O5xOecrgtD, HeadingHomeNM (@HeadingHomeNM) June 1, 2020. This time, Levi Chavez said he is the one who has been wronged. Chavez is a former Albuquerque Police Department officer, accused of killing his wife at their Los Lunas home in 2007. YouTubeLevi Chavezs second wife Heather testifying during the trial. During his trial, he was found not guilty of first-degree murder and was acquitted of the charges. Serna will begin his cross-examination of Heather Chavez this afternoon. LIVE IN SANDOVAL COUNTY LZ KOAT ACTION 7 NEWS.. COUNT ON KOAT-DOT-COM FOR. 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. Please enter valid email address to continue. 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. 2023 by Fashionuer. Im innocent. Jones showed Heather Chavez crime scene photos from Teras death scene and told her people were worried about her. Aug 19, 2008 . Her mother said she wants the kids to know, Shed never leave them. 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. Chavez called 911 to report the alleged suicide around 9 p.m. on Oct. 21, 2007. We raised Andrea as a family., The young couple married in 2000 even though their relationship was already facing some problems, her brothers said. 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. Levi Chavez sues detective over murder investigation - KRQE Her father, Joseph Cordova, said she loved flowers and drew some all over the house. 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. Where does medical cannabis go from here? Weitere Informationen ber die Verwendung Ihrer personenbezogenen Daten finden Sie in unserer Datenschutzerklrung und unserer Cookie-Richtlinie. 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 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. Heavy reached out to the university for more information about his admittance but did not immediately hear back. They also said hed had other affairs, including with some of the neighbors and other Albuquerque police officers. Dateline Unforgettable Does Tera Chavez Case: What To Know | Crime News The Line: Levi Chavez Admitted to UNM Law School (Web Extra) Levi Chavez | Heading Home 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 had spent the night at his current girlfriend's house. Levi Chavez maintained his innocence throughout the trial, and he maintains his innocence even today. Levi was initially charged with murdering his wife with his police issued Glock and making it appear as a suicide. 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. Now that he has graduated, instead of being a practicing attorney, Levi works at a non-profit organization called Heading Home, which spearheads the campaign to eradicate homelessness in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Another girlfriend testifies in Chavez trial - Albuquerque Journal 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. Dateline: The Officer's Wife - Truth, Justice, and All-American A Comprehensive Review of Edubirdies Academic Writing Service. He pulled up the call history for the officer on his patrol computer and found it was a car assigned to Levi . 'What did I tell you?' Levi Chavez Profiles | Facebook ROYALE, LESS THAN ONE MONTH AFTER TERA CHAVEZ DIED-THEN A-P-D DETECTIVE HEATHER HINDI WAS ALREADY TEXTING LEVI ABOUT HER NAME BECOMING HEATHER CHAVEZ INDICATING SHE WANTED TO MARRY HIM. 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. Levi was ultimately cleared of all charges. Now her parents speak to News 13. THE TEXTS DIDN'T STOP THERE ANOTHER, ABOUT A MONTH LATER, FROM HEATHER TO LEVI SAYING HE WAS HER REASON TO EXIST. I wasnt worried.. The OTHER side of the law: Former Albuquerque police officer Levi Chavez seen here in his mugshot after allegedly murdering his wife. Mr. Levi Chavez was born and raised in New Mexico and has a military and law enforcement background. Levi Chavez Now: Where Is Tera Chavez's Husband Today? Tera Chavezs mother, Theresa Cordova, said her daughter was an artist, according to a feature on Chavezs life in Alibi. Be the first one to comment on this story. His profile states: Mr. Levi Chavez was born and raised in New Mexico and has a military and law enforcement background. Josh Mankiewicz reports Friday, November . In March 2020, Nob Hill mainstay Zinc Wine Bar & Bistro closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 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. Chavez told jurors that he found his wife dead from a gunshot wound and thought it was God's way of punishing him. 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. Check arrest records, resumes and CV, photos and videos, news, social media profiles, publications, places of employment, work history and public records . 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.