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. BUT HEATHER INSISTS THE WOMEN NEVER SPOKE. 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. "What did I tell you?" Serna told Chavez. I wasnt worried.. M.E. Former police officer acquitted of murder in wife's death - NBC News 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. They also werent allowed to watch video of that deposition. His profile states: Mr. Levi Chavez was born and raised in New Mexico and has a military and law enforcement background. did you ever go to the address on ash place? Levi Chavez has full custody of his two children, according to Teras parents Joseph and Theresa Cordova, Alibi reported. The pair met when they were just teenagers starting high school, and soon, they got into a serious relationship. 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. NM Ex-police officer acquitted of wife's murder Copyright 2022 by Fashionuer. At first, because of how the crime scene looked, Teras death was ruled a suicide. As week three of the Levi Chavez murder trial wound down prosecutors started playing up another possible motive for him to kill his wife Tera. The former officer, clenching a Rosary, immediately embraced his attorney, David Serna. 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. or debate this issue live on our message boards. 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. In 2000, they tied the knot and moved to Virginia, where Levi was working as a Coast Guard. View the profiles of people named Levi Chavez. 'This was a made up pile of lies from the beginning and it took the jury approximately 10 hours to find that out.'. Former police officer acquitted of wife's murder | Local 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 . They allege the former officer killed his wife to keep her from disclosing an alleged staged theft of a truck for insurance money. 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. Her room was the best room in the house to walk into because it smelled so good.. I didnt speak with her.. According to her testimony, Heather Chavez was in Chicago with her parents the weekend Tera died. His ex-wife, Kellie May Xiong Chauvin, who was crowned Mrs. Minnesota in 2019, legally separated from Chauvin on May 28, 2020 - just three days after a viral bystander video showed her husband . 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." Serna on Thursday spent two and a half hours cross-examining Citizen. Im not guilty. For weeks, the murder trial captivated parts of central New Mexico as residents were fixated in barber shops, diners and grocery stores. 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. Im not guilty. COVID-19 has impacted how we provide prioritized street outreach, emergency housing, and permanent supportive housing services to people experiencing homelessness. Levi Chavez - Wikipedia Subscribe now to access decluttered news, chosen by you. 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. 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. Her relationship with Chavez started when he was still married to Marisabel. 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. 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. Where Is Levi Chavez Now? - The Cinemaholic She was quiet. 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. For Tera Chavez, Levi was her high school sweetheart, husband, and the entire world. The official synopsis of the episode says. However, nearly four years after Tera took her last breath, Levi was charged with first-degree premeditated murder and tampering with evidence. The two had gotten engaged just two months after Tera Chavezs death and prosecutors asked questions about how quickly Levi Chavez had moved on. Levi also asserted that when Tera apparently killed herself, he was away, spending the weekend at one of his girlfriends apartment. Levi was initially charged with murdering his wife with his police issued Glock and making it appear as a suicide. Heavy reached out to the university for more information about his admittance but did not immediately hear back. Jorge Chavez Obituary (1961 - 2021) - Midland, TX - Midland Reporter 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. Would love your thoughts, please comment. Levi Chavez sues detective over murder investigation - KRQE There is no confirmation on whether she is still a part of the Albuquerque Police Department. 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. Alicia Castro is the former Argentine Ambassador to Venezuela and current Argentine Ambassador in the United Kingdom. This individual treats the department as his own private brothel, and while he runs amok, nobody does anything or says anything. Dateline Unforgettable Does Tera Chavez Case: What To Know | Crime News On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Japanese models have always been admired for their skills as well as their beauty. 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. A summary is at Levi Chavez, Ex-Police Officer, Not Guilty Of Murdering Wife. But the disgraced former. She attended Teras funeral, according to her testimony, as did many other APD officers. The police re-opened their investigation in March of 2010 and charged Levi with her death on April 20, 2011. 'Guilt doesn't even begin to describe it.'. At least 12 dead after winter storm slams South, Midwest, The Saturday Six: Dental device controversy, scientist's bug find and more, Indonesia fuel depot fire kills 18; more than a dozen missing, 3 children killed, 2 others wounded at Texas home, Man charged for alleged involvement in 2 transformer explosions, Nikki Haley slams potential GOP contenders, and Trump and George W. Bush, Duo of 81-year-old women plan to see the world in 80 days, Tom Sizemore, actor known for "Saving Private Ryan" and "Heat," dies at 61, Alex Murdaugh trial: What to know about the double murder case. Levi Chavez Work History and Career Records - Radaris 'I'm going to go to church, pray my Rosary and thank my Virgin Mary,' Chavez said as he was crowded by reporters. Thats the past, Heather Chavez said in court today. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. 2023, Hearst Television Inc. on behalf of KOAT-TV. Email addresses are used solely for verification and to speed the verification process for repeat questioners. Josh Mankiewicz reports. Bernalillo County deputy involved in rollover crash in Northeast Albuquerque, Where does medical cannabis go from here? Previous Post Social Media Influencer Set on Fire & Killed by Ex-Husband, Family Says. 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. Facebook I told you guys that from the beginning. On July 5, 2008, half of the desire she expressed in the text came true. Chavez still faces a wrongful death lawsuit from the family of Tera Chavez. 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" Levi Chavez came back the following week and did exactly that. 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.