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 . THE TEXTS DIDN'T STOP THERE ANOTHER, ABOUT A MONTH LATER, FROM HEATHER TO LEVI SAYING HE WAS HER REASON TO EXIST. Right. 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. 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, 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. 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. He told the 911 operator, Please tell them to hurry! and said shed committed suicide, PEOPLE reported. 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. 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. He is suing the detective who first launched the investigation into the 2007 death of Levi's wife, Tera Chavez. Although the case initially looked like a suicide, investigators dug up evidence and theories that proved otherwise. The Harwood Museum of Art's exhibition 'Outriders: Legacy of the Black Cowboy' explores this history through archival photographs and contemporary art. She said she knew Tera had died and Levi Chavez told her the couples two children were home that weekend. Another girlfriend testifies in Chavez trial - Albuquerque Journal action 7 . The former officer, clenching a Rosary, immediately embraced his attorney, David Serna. Current CACU detective, and Levi's wife, Heather Chavez, was married to another officer in 2007. Im not guilty. 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. By abqjournal. Published: 09:01 EST, 17 July 2013 | Updated: 09:01 EST, 17 July 2013. Jones was one of the first officers on the scene and a lead detective on the case. However, nearly four years after Tera took her last breath, Levi was charged with first-degree premeditated murder and tampering with evidence. Heavy reached out to the university for more information about his admittance but did not immediately hear back. Through witness testimony, the public learned that Chavez had been having a number of affairs while married to Tera Chavez. Where Are Tera Chavez's Parents Now? - The Cinemaholic Powered by WordPress.com VIP. Levi Chavez was charged with the murder of his wife, Tera, but he has maintained his innocence and said she committed suicide. 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. Powered by. Levi Chavez Work History and Career Records - Radaris She testified this morning that she is currently assigned to the APD Crimes Against Children Unit. Mmmm detective Chavez with homicide, the text read. Tera Chavez died on 22nd October 2007 at Los Lunas, New Mexico, United States, she was 26 years old during her time of death and according to the report she died from a gunshot wound from her husband's service weapon. Reportedly, he is married to APD Detective Heather, who was also present throughout the trial. Some of the affairs were with female APD officers.[4]. "Please tell them to hurry!" the 26-year-old can be heard saying in his 911 call, PEOPLE reported. 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 . Prosecutors allege that Levi Chavez shot Tera Chavez, 26, once in the mouth with his APD-issued Glock 9 mm pistol and tried to make it look like a suicide. or debate this issue live on our message boards. According to reports, he is now the husband of APD Detective Heather. Levi Chavez takes the stand in murder of his ex wife Where is he today? Levi Chavez came back the following week and did exactly that. Serna told Chavez. rules the death self-inflicted The medical examiner ruled Tera's death a suicide. Levi and Tera Chavez were high school sweethearts who married young and were raising two children together. 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. She loved hard. Their additional three locations remain open. There is no confirmation on whether she is still a part of the Albuquerque Police Department. Facebook 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. Upon announcing the verdict, the family of Levi Chavez, including his current wife Albuquerque detective Heather Chavez, let out gasps and wept. Josh Mankiewicz reports Friday, November . . Joseph Cordova, Teras father, told the outlet, The culture which we grew up in, his family was from law enforcement. 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. Season 2 Episode 2 of Dateline: Unforgettable is scheduled to air on Tuesday, June 14, 2022, at 8.00 pm ET on Oxygen, with Josh Mankiewicz reporting on the story. However, as Dateline NBC explored on its episode The Officers Wife, investigators had questions about her death, especially as the gun used was Levi Chavezs department-issued firearm. 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. Levi Chavez acquitted of wife's murder in New Mexico Obituary | Levi Chavez | Rogers Mortuary Inc. Her family said they knew there was trouble in the relationship and they had heard Levi Chavez was cheating on his wife, Alibi reported. [3], The night prior to the death of his wife Tera, Levi had spent the night at his girlfriend's house. Be the first one to comment on this story. For weeks, the murder trial captivated parts of central New Mexico as residents were fixated in barber shops, diners and grocery stores. READ NEXT: Social Media Influencer Set on Fire & Killed by Ex-Husband, Family Says. 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. The former officer, clenching a Rosary, immediately embraced his attorney, David Serna. 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. THEY WERE MARRIED JULY 2008, DAYS AFTER SHE FINALIZED HER DIVORCE WITH ANOTHER APD OFFICER. Levi has undergraduate degrees from UNM and CNM, as well as a law degree from the UNM School of Law. webvtt in day 14 of the levi chavez trial, his current wife, a-p-d officer heather chavez takes the stand. "What did I tell you?" The sexual relationship? She had a twin brother, named Josh, who said, She was my lifeline. We raised Andrea as a family., The young couple married in 2000 even though their relationship was already facing some problems, her brothers said. 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. NM Ex-police officer acquitted of wife's murder 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. Mr. Levi Chavez was born and raised in New Mexico and has a military and law enforcement background. 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. In March 2020, Nob Hill mainstay Zinc Wine Bar & Bistro closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Her father, Joseph Cordova, said she loved flowers and drew some all over the house. Her mother said she wants the kids to know, Shed never leave them. Levi Chavez, ex-New Mexico police officer, acquitted of wife's murder Play it now! Chavez discovered his wife dead, with a gunshot wound to the mouth upon returning home on October 22, 2007. Under the name Heading Home, this organization has connections in New Mexico, according to its website. Levi Chavez has full custody of his two children, according to Teras parents Joseph and Theresa Cordova, Alibi reported. Levi Chavez Now: Where Is Tera Chavezs Husband Today? In all likelihood, Chavezs cellphone was turned off between 12:27 a.m. and 3:32 p.m. on Oct. 21, 2007, said Jody Citizen, a senior analyst for the Verizon Wireless companys legal department. Serna will begin his cross-examination of Heather Chavez this afternoon. Check arrest records, resumes and CV, photos and videos, news, social media profiles, publications, places of employment, work history and public records . According to the prosecution, she was on the verge of filing a complaint against him for fraudulent activity. Tera Chavez had been looking for a business space to rent for her salon and had an appointment to meet a landlord just two days after the day she died, Alibi wrote. did you ever go to the address on ash place? However, the case took a shocking turn after some disturbing facts came to the surface. Former detective testifying in ex-officer case | Local News 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. Please enter valid email address to continue. In 2000, they tied the knot and moved to Virginia, where Levi was working as a Coast Guard. State District Judge George P. Eichwald instructed the two to Quit arguing back and forth like kids.. 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. 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 is a former Albuquerque Police Department officer, accused of killing his wife at their Los Lunas home in 2007. Also in court this morning, jurors heard a heavily redacted recording of the deposition Levi Chavez gave in the civil case. Former police officer acquitted of murder in wife's death - NBC News Levi Chavez's current wife takes the stand - Yahoo! News LIVE IN SANDOVAL COUNTY LZ KOAT ACTION 7 NEWS.. COUNT ON KOAT-DOT-COM FOR. It took two years following Chavezs arrest for the trial to move forward due to delays from civil trials, motion hearings and the trial having to move venues, according to KOAT. 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Homeowner finds gruesome animal skeleton hidden behind cupboard for 30 years - so can you guess what it is? Thats the past, Heather Chavez said in court today. "I don't feel like speaking for his future.". Shed never leave them of her own will. detailing just how quickly their relationship developed once tera chavez died. Tera Chavezs mother, Theresa Cordova, said her daughter was an artist, according to a feature on Chavezs life in Alibi. Farm Heroes Saga, the #4 Game on iTunes. 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. City questions prominent non-profit's hire of ex-cop who was - KRQE Levi Chavez alleged malicious prosecution, malicious abuse of process, defamation, and outrageous conduct, according to court documents. She knew every single secret about me no matter what. Chavez also had a younger brother, Aaron. DATELINE FRIDAY SNEAK PEEK: The Officer's Wife - NBC News Where Is Levi Chavez Now? - The Cinemaholic 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. Cinemaholic reports that 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. For Tera Chavez, Levi was her high school sweetheart, husband, and the entire world. Levi Chavez Profiles | Facebook 'I'm going to go to church, pray my Rosary and thank my Virgin Mary,' Chavez said as he was crowded by reporters. 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. 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. The pair met when they were just teenagers starting high school, and soon, they got into a serious relationship. Levi had spent the night at his current girlfriend's house. Episode Website More Episodes 2019 NBC News Top Podcasts In True Crime See All Cleared of Wife's Murder, Cop Sues Sheriff - Courthouse News Service COVID-19 has impacted how we provide prioritized street outreach, emergency housing, and permanent supportive housing services to people experiencing homelessness. Former police officer acquitted of wife's murder | Local News 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. 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. Wenn Sie Ihre Auswahl anpassen mchten, klicken Sie auf Datenschutzeinstellungen verwalten. Serna said he doubted that Chavez would want return to the state's largest police department. Dr. Chavez works in Albuquerque, NM and 1 other location and specializes in Obstetrics & Gynecology. Chavez called 911 to report the alleged suicide around 9 p.m. on Oct. 21, 2007. Would love your thoughts, please comment. Levi Chavez is a former Albuquerque, NM Police Officer who was charged with the 2007 death of his 26yearold wife, Tera Chavez. After investigations revealed secrets involving an unhappy marriage, tangled love affairs, and a web of lies, it was Levi who came under the microscope for Teras alleged murder and the subsequent cover-up. 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. 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. 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. 'This was a made up pile of lies from the beginning and it took the jury approximately 10 hours to find that out.'.