Tera Chavez was just 26 years old when she was found dead of a gunshot wound on October 22, 2007. OFFICERS FOUND HER BODY INSIDE. Garcia said she couldnt find any identifiable prints on either the Glock, the magazine or any of the bullets she examined. Jones also told her Levi Chavez had numerous affairs while he was married to Tera, but according to Keeners characterization of Heather Chavezs previous statements, she wasnt interested. Heather Chavez said she was helping move Tera Chavez's items out of the Los Lunas home in the weeks after the funeral. "There never was a case against Levi Chavez," Serna said. The prosecutions primary theory on motive for murder was that Levi Chavez wanted to silence Tera as a potential witness against him regarding the truck. A Bernalillo County deputy was reportedly not injured after their vehicle rolled in a two-vehicle, Hospital CEO Kate Becker says 'we really want to hear from our community about what, Dozens of Albuquerque Academy students volunteered to help unload and deliver the furnishings. width: 640px; Reportedly, he is married to APD Detective Heather, who was also present throughout the trial. The Albuquerque City Council voted 8-0 on March 15, 2021 to confirm Medina's appointment as Chief of the Albuquerque Police Department. They deliberated all day Monday and began again at about 1 p.m. today. Somebody dumped the Internet history.. 77 0 obj Your email is safe with us, we dont spam. What is mud rain? During his career, he was a patrol officer for 9 years. On Jan. 15, 2008, Heather Chavez gave an interview to then-Detective Jones of VCSO. Chavez was accused of killing Tera in October 2007 and making it look like a suicide. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. In August 2013, Chavez was acquitted of the murder charges. Levi M. Chavez, II, Esq. BERNALILLO A deep dive into Levi Chavezs personal laptop computer turned up an Internet search from November 2006 for how to kill someone, social media profiles of various women with whom he was having affairs and visits to pornography websites, according to testimony in the former APD officers murder trial on Friday. OVER THE YEARS DETECTIVES INTERVIEWED A LOT OF PEOPLE, STILL NEARLY THREE DECADES LATER, NO ARRESTS. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. The donut shop has announced it has closed its South Valley and Northeast Heights locations. All of the discussion about whether the magazine was seated began with Aaron Jones, who was the lead detective who investigated Teras death for the Valencia County Sheriffs Office. Subscribe now to access decluttered news, chosen by you. Its a good thing hes not a cop now, because he has no business being a cop, Serna said Monday. 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. City of Albuquerque goes to court to shut down City says the property puts the community at risk, but owner says it's unfair to blame businesses for Albuquerque crime and homelessness, Bernalillo County deputy involved in rollover crash in Northeast Albuquerque, University of New Mexico Hospital launching health care listening tour, Support for families: Nonprofit that helps people who are homeless gets mattress donation, Where does medical cannabis go from here? No lucktill we finally figured out how to get it from the police department! About Heather Chavez Heather is a graduate of the University of California at Berkeleys English literature program and has worked as a newspaper reporter, editor and contributor to mystery and television blogs. endobj On cross-examination by Serna, Radosevich testified that he also observed what appeared to be blood stains on the magazine that likely couldnt have gotten there had the magazine been seated. THEY KNEVER KNEW WHO WAS RESPONSIBLE. Levi Chavez called 911 around 9 p.m. that day, Oct. 21, 2007, to say his wife had shot herself in the head. 2023, Hearst Television Inc. on behalf of KOAT-TV. , VIDEO: Giant I-40 light poles sway in strong ABQ, Taxidermy birds used to make drones at New Mexico, PHOTOS: Storm leaves parts of state covered in snow, PHOTOS: Winter storm moves through NM leaving snow, PHOTOS: Storm causes snowy, icy roads across New, Map: New Mexico Veterans Monuments and Memorials, 13 Broadcast Pl SW, Albuquerque, NM, 87104, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. The Albuquerque City Council voted 8-0 on March 15, 2021 to confirm Medinas appointment as Chief of the Albuquerque Police Department. Dash Dash World Controls, BERNALILLO Two of Levi Chavezs alibi witnesses gave testimony in one case emotional and in the other combative in front of a packed courtroom this morning as control of the former Albuquerque police officers murder trial shifted to the defense. In the winter of 2014, after serving 20 years of being a sworn officer, Medina retired from the Albuquerque Police Department as a Commander. Prosecutors put 36 witnesses on the stand. Weve made it clear to them: Teras your mother, and she loves you,' she said of Tera and Levis children. In March 2020, Nob Hill mainstay Zinc Wine Bar & Bistro closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Prosecutors alleged that he killed Tera around 1 a.m. on Oct. 21, 2007 a Sunday by creeping up on her while she was likely asleep in bed inside the couples home near Los Lunas, shoving his APD-issued Glock 9 mm pistol into the back of her mouth and pulling the trigger once. Decommissioned Nuclear Power Plant Scotland, Romero says Chavez was with her for part of the weekend when his wife was shot. Jurors nine women and three men received the case shortly after 5 p.m. Friday following closing arguments by defense attorney David Serna and prosecutors Anne Keener and Bryan McKay. She had multiple defense wounds, and had put up a fight. University of New Mexico Hospital launching health care listening Hospital CEO Kate Becker says 'we really want to hear from our community about what their health needs are' in order to prioritize resources. "I'm going to go to church, pray my Rosary and thank my Virgin Mary," Chavez said as he was crowded by reporters. Detective Heather Chavez with the Farmington police said. Repeatedly throughout the trial and again on Thursday Serna has said Levi Chavez had last been in Los Lunas on Oct. 19. A Bernalillo County deputy was reportedly not injured after their vehicle rolled in a two-vehicle, Hospital CEO Kate Becker says 'we really want to hear from our community about what, Dozens of Albuquerque Academy students volunteered to help unload and deliver the furnishings. The Gallup New Deal Art Virtual Museum has received another big boost from the National Endowment fo 'More time for sunshine.' Former APD officer Levi Chavez gets a hug from his wife Heather Chavez after being found not guilty of murder on Tuesday, July 16, 2013. BERNALILLO The magazine that held the bullets for Levi Chavezs APD-issued Glock 9 mm pistol took center stage in a Sandoval County courtroom Monday morning as the former officers murder trial rolled into its fourth week of testimony. (Greg Sorber/Journal), Defense attorney David Serna speaks to reporters outside the Sandoval County Courthouse on Tuesday, July 16, 2013, after his client Levi Chavez was found not guilty of murdering his wife Tera Chavez in October 2007. (Adolphe Pierre-Louis-Journal), Former APD officer Levi Chavez, center, hugs family members after being found not guilty of murder on Tuesday, July 16, 2013. He cried as he described finding Tera dead in the couples home and said he is a changed man who, after her death, spoke to priests in an effort to leave his philandering ways behind. His philosophy was to help improve public trust and community partnerships. Police are asking people with legitimate tips to contact the Farmington Police Department detective's hotline at 505-599-1068 or CrimeStoppers in Farmington at 334-tips. Contact Number (505) ***-**** Engage via Phone. He continued his education, attending the Police School of Staff and Command with Northwestern University. Ex-wife Heather Hindi left him for alleged wife-killer Levi Chavez. She said some jurors even cried during deliberations. It is a case that has haunted a Northern New Mexico community for nearly three decades. Upon returning to Albuquerque, she attended Tera's funeral, she testified, as did many other. News . Because we are targeting the worst of the worst we are finding and building other criminal cases, Attorney General Hector Balderas said. Required fields are marked *. Serna also has worked feverishly to discredit Jones, describing the former detective as a conspiracy theorist, an unethical investigator and a man who has twice been fired from law enforcement agencies. << /Filter /FlateDecode /Length 902 >> They allege the former officer killed his wife to keep her from disclosing an alleged staged theft of a truck for insurance money. Rebecca Sarker Sister Sunetra, He strongly follows the principles of community oriented policing and has begun implementing Community Engagement, Partnerships with Business Coalitions, Youth and Elderly Outreach within the Albuquerque Police Department. 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. Read More. Titleist Golf Bags 2021, Prosecutors could wrap up the case by the end of the week and Levi Chavez's attorney tells ABC News his client might take the stand. According to her testimony, Heather Chavez was in Chicago with her parents the weekend Tera died. SHE HADNT CONTACTED ANYBODY. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! During the next 19 months through the use of community poling principles he created partnerships with community stakeholders, and increased internal communication and cooperation. Dozens of Albuquerque Academy students volunteered New Mexico Supreme Court: Juveniles who plead can appeal Ruling stems from the case of Christopher Rodriguez, who was sentenced as an adult to 14 years in prison for his role in the Changes to city of Albuquerque's Sun Van service raise New process allows anybody to self-certify New process allows anybody to self-certify they are disabled. gtag('js', new Date()); Her boss at the time was worried so she went to Carlas house and knocked on her door. He said in 2009 at the deposition that Thursday Oct. 18, 2007 was the last time he was there until Sunday night Oct. 21, when he says he discovered Teras body. Pedro Taylor Football, ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) - The family of 33-year-old Erika Chavez, the Albuquerque woman who died in a car crash, said their lives will never be the same. Wheeler is the husband of Chavez's maid of honor, Samantha Wheeler. Boycott Black Lives Matter, ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. Police officers will often tell you theres no such thing as a routine call when youre patrolling the streets. Medina was promoted to Sergeant in 2004 where he became involved with the Albuquerque Police Department Party Patrol. Harold Medina received a Bachelors degree with a double major in Biology and Criminology through the college of Arts and Science from the University of New Mexico in 1994. Deputies arrest man in attempted robbery that led to Bernalillo County deputies arrested a man Bernalillo County deputies arrested a man in an armed robbery-turned-gunfight that left his alleged accomplice dead last year in Southwest Albuquerque. Keener pressed Heather Chavez on a statement she made during her deposition that her sexual relationship with Levi Chavez began in a car. Chavez enrolled as a student at the University of California at Berkeley, studying writing and literature as part of the program in English literature offered there. Market data provided by Factset. Levi Chavez cried at the defense table while his mother testified. (Greg Sorber/Journal), Tera Chavez 's parents, Theresa and Joseph Cordova, leave the Sandoval County Courthouse on Tuesday, July 16, 2013, after Levi Chavez was found not guilty of murdering their daughter. The City assumes no responsibility for the content of the material contained at that site or for the accuracy of any information that is found there. In the fall of 2009, he transferred to the Property Crimes Division. Levi was staying with his mother in October 2007, she testified today, during one of the couples estrangements. Her boss at the time was worried so she went to Carlas house and knocked on her door. Email addresses are used solely for verification and to speed the verification process for repeat questioners. The defense contends the 26-year-old hair stylist took her own life because she was despondent over the couples failing marriage and Levi Chavezs many extramarital affairs.

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