M.E. It appears that his wife, now known as Heather Chavez, is a detective with the Farmington Police Department. Dateline Unforgettable Does Tera Chavez Case: What To Know | Crime News "There never was a case against Levi Chavez," Serna said. Tera Chavez Biography: Levi Chavez Wiki, Bio, Age, Wife - Wali Kali Levi was engaged to Heather Hindi two months after Tera died and married a few months later, according to PEOPLE. 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. The investigation took many years, with a search warrant served at Levi Chavezs home in August 2009, by which time the case was deemed a homicide. 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. No comments have so far been submitted. 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. Derek Chauvin's personal history: About his ex-wife, stepchildren, past New Mexico and ABQ News, Sports, Business and more, By Jeff Proctor / Journal Staff Writer It appears that Chavez is now working for a non-profit organization called Heading Home that gives emergency housing and permanent housing support to people who are homeless in New Mexico, according to their website. 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. Levi Chavez. ", First published on July 17, 2013 / 10:40 AM. The call did not go to voicemail. Dateline Unforgettable: Is Tera Chavez's cop husband Levi Chavez guilty Do not sell or share my personal information. Mr. Levi Chavez was born and raised in New Mexico and has a military and law enforcement background. 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. Where Are Tera Chavez's Parents Now? - The Cinemaholic Tera Chavez. Facebook You could pretty much put her through the wringer, and shed still love you like it never happened. 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. Levi said. Weitere Informationen ber die Verwendung Ihrer personenbezogenen Daten finden Sie in unserer Datenschutzerklrung und unserer Cookie-Richtlinie. She was quiet. Powered by. Previous Post 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. There is no confirmation on whether she is still a part of the Albuquerque Police Department. 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. It looks like Chavez is now working for a nonprofit that provides emergency and permanent housing to homeless individuals. On July 5, 2008, half of the desire she expressed in the text came true. Hugo Chavez's Women: The Ex Wives And Mistresses Who Loved - HuffPost Levi Chavez has full custody of his two children, according to Teras parents Joseph and Theresa Cordova, Alibi reported. But the prosecutors had alleged that he . Levi Chavez Now: Where Is Tera Chavezs Husband Today? KRQE News 13 has learned former Albuquerque Police officer Levi Chavez, who was fired after he was charged with the murder of his wife, could soon be working closely with the city as part of a non- City questions prominent non-profit's hire of ex-cop who was - KRQE For instance, detectives said that the night before the young mothers death, Levi Chavez was at his girlfriends house, according to PEOPLE. COVID-19 has impacted how we provide prioritized street outreach, emergency housing, and permanent supportive housing services to people experiencing homelessness. NM Ex-police officer acquitted of wife's murder 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. It appears that his wife, now known as Heather Chavez, is a detective with the Farmington Police Department. 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 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. I knew Id be acquitted. Strict, but in a good way, he said. 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. 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. Would love your thoughts, please comment. 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. Upon announcing the verdict, the family of Levi Chavez, including his current wife Albuquerque detective Heather Chavez, let out gasps and wept. 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" 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. At first, because of how the crime scene looked, Teras death was ruled a suicide. Also in court this morning, jurors heard a heavily redacted recording of the deposition Levi Chavez gave in the civil case. 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. All Rights Reserved. Levi Chavez, a 26-year-old officer with the Albuquerque, New Mexico Police Department, at nine o'clock on the night of October 21, 2007, called 911 to report that his wife had committed suicide with his department-issued Glock 9 pistol. 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. The lawsuit against Jones was dismissed in 2018. Copyright 2022 by Fashionuer. Under often-contentious cross-examination by Assistant District Attorney Anne Keener that bordered on combative, Heather Chavez conceded that October 2007 wasnt the first time she had ever spoken to Levi Chavez. Police officers, pathologists, the women Levi had relationships with, and Tera's family all testified throughout the 6-week-long court case. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. 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. INVESTIGATION - Death of APD Officer's Wife Investigated INVESTIGATION - Death of APD Officer's Wife Investigated. Her mother said she wants the kids to know, Shed never leave them. He told the operator she killed herself and that he hadnt said anything because He thought she needed time.. However, after several suspicions, connections, and autopsy reports were drawn, investigators and the victim's family accused the officer of allegedly shooting and murdering Tera Chavez in the bed of their Los Lunas home. Levi Chavez testified during his trial that he had a series of mistresses but reiterated that he did not kill his wife. That wouldve been after she moved out of the home she shared with Steve Hindi, according to her testimony. He has full custody of his two children, according to Tera's parents Joseph and Theresa Cordova. DATELINE FRIDAY SNEAK PEEK: The Officer's Wife - NBC News During his testimony last week, Chavez frequently broke down and had to take breaks when he recounted his ill treatment of his late wife throughout their marriage. While Levi Chavez has maintained his innocence and that his wife committed suicide, her family has remained firm in their belief that she was killed, Alibi reported. He told reporters that he wasnt surprised at all and that throughout the whole process, he knew he would be cleared. ", As the murder case gained more attention from the media and public, Chavez and the Albuquerque Police Department became the targets of heavy scrutiny. 'I took her for granted.'. The records also show that following the end of the shift at midnight, the phone was in the far Northeast Heights, near the home of a fellow APD officer with whom Chavez was having an affair. The trial revealed a crumbling marriage that was. 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. Episode Website More Episodes 2019 NBC News Top Podcasts In True Crime See All Chavez was accused of killing his hairdresser wife, Tera, with his police-issued handgun and making it look like a suicide in October 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. Valencia County sheriffs initially ruled the death as a suicide due to the "close proximity of the gun to the body. Chavez was eventually charged with first-degree murder and obstructing justice, responding to which he entered a not guilty plea and, to date, asserts his innocence. He had come to the CACU office to schedule a time to shadow Heather, according to her testimony, meaning she would show him the ropes of detective work in the unit. 'He's got several plans in the works,' Serna said. 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. 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. Chavez still faces a wrongful death lawsuit from the family of Tera Chavez. According to her testimony, Heather Chavez was in Chicago with her parents the weekend Tera died. Her husband Levi is suspected soon after because of suspicious circumstantial evidence, but there is no confession, eyewitness or 'smoking gun' forensic evidence. View the profiles of people named Levi Chavez. News of his admittance to the university was met with some concern from alumni and other students, New Mexico PBS reported. Im innocent. 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. Chavezs bio states that hes the emergency housing director at the Westside Emergency Housing Center. She knew every single secret about me no matter what. Chavez also had a younger brother, Aaron. Through witness testimony, the public learned that Chavez had been having a number of affairs while married to Tera Chavez. However, nearly four years after Tera took her last breath, Levi was charged with first-degree premeditated murder and tampering with evidence. Levi Chavezs current wife takes the stand, Current wife insists she never spoke with Tera Chavez, WEBVTT IN DAY 14 OF THE LEVI CHAVEZ TRIAL, HIS CURRENT WIFE, A-P-D OFFICER HEATHER CHAVEZ TAKES THE STAND. On the night of Oct. 21, 2007, the lives of one couple from Los Lunas, New Mexico were changed forever. On redirect examination, Assistant District Attorney Anne Keener asked only one question. I didnt answer the call, Heather Chavez said. He is suing the detective who first launched the investigation into the 2007 death of Levi's wife, Tera Chavez. Read More: Where Are Tera Chavezs Parents Now? His profile states: Mr. Levi Chavez was born and raised in New Mexico and has a military and law enforcement background.

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