Ex-wife Heather Hindi left him for alleged wife-killer Levi Chavez. Im innocent. 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. Weve made it clear to them: Teras your mother, and she loves you,' she said of Tera and Levis children. Detective Heather Chavez with the Farmington police said. endstream There was no solid evidence one way or the other., During the interview, the woman got emotional. Prosecutors Bryan McKay and Anne Keener declined to comment, as did the Tera Chavezs family, except for one comment from Jopseph Cordova, Tera father. CONTACT: 505-415-2640. How long will the ski season last in New Mexico? He received the Uniformed Officer of the Year for the Albuquerque Police Department in 2004. The Attorney Generals office said this crackdown is on the more violent offenders and they know who they are. The jury learned Friday that underneath the mattress on which Tera. The city of Albuquerque already has paid Teras family $230,000 to settle claims against itself and APD in the civil case. After Romero testified, Russell Perea took the witness stand armed with a promise if immunity granted by Eichwald in exchange for his testimony. Bernalillo County deputy involved in rollover crash in Northeast Albuquerque, Where does medical cannabis go from here? 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. Titleist Golf Bags 2021, Serna admitted 29 exhibits into evidence, including an OMI photograph of Teras tongue removed from her body that showed a round burn mark near the back of the tongue. Heather Chavez's Phone Number and Email. Under a short cross-examination by McKay, Levi Chavez often grew testy. Heinrich makes push on daylight Democratic senator from New Mexico partners Democratic senator from New Mexico partners with Republicans to reintroduce legislation in D.C. to make daylight saving time permanent. (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. New Mexico and ABQ News, Sports, Business and more, By Jeff Proctor / Journal Staff Writer BERNALILLO, New Mexico The monthlong criminal trial and all its salacious stories of law officer affairs and a blundering investigation are over, but a civil trial looms for a former Albuquerque policeman acquitted of killing his depressed wife with his department-issued gun. In March 2020, Nob Hill mainstay Zinc Wine Bar & Bistro closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. APDs vision is an Albuquerque where citizens and the police department work together through mutual trust to build a thriving community. On Tuesday, the court heard from police officer Regina Sanchez, who admitted to having an affair with Chavez in 2006. (AP Photo/Albuquerque Journal, Adolphe Pierre-Louis). Her boss at the time was worried so she went to Carlas house and knocked on her door. In total, police have valued the amount of recovered merchandise from all their arrests close to $100,000 from their latest sting this past month. First on the witness stand was Rita Romero, Levi Chavezs mother, who often testified through sobs as she told defense attorney David Serna how much she loved her former daughter-in-law, Tera Chavez. Thats when she married Levi Chavez and took his last name, according to testimony she gave Friday morning at the end of the third week in her husbands murder trial. (Adolphe Pierre-Louis/Journal), Former APD officer Levi Chavez, second from right, hugs family members after being found not guilty of murder on Tuesday, July 16, 2013. endobj Detective Heather Chavez with the Farmington police said.Police believe Carla likely knew her attacker. Manage the news you want to see, read exclusive content and explore other subscriber benefits. He. View the Department Summary Sworn Personnel (as of July 29, 2022). Their additional three locations remain open. She was unsuccessful, but Levi later showed up at her home in Los Lunas shortly after 8 p.m. Romero testified that by then, she had learned that Tera didnt go to work at Style America that day, and that she hadnt called in sick, as she had the day before. Manage the news you want to see, read exclusive content and explore other subscriber benefits. "She received multiple stab wounds." He also focused on providing prevention and intervention education strategies to the local Albuquerque high school students. Levi Chavez has admitted to having girlfriends while he was married, including APD officer Heather Hindi, whom he married within days of her divorce from another APD officer Despite being sued by the city of Rio Rancho for reimbursement for his police certification costs, Schultz hires Chavez even after strong arguments by APD Academy personnel objecting to his hiring. Although he testified that someone had altered things on its hard drive, he was confident that one of the searches he uncovered had, indeed, occurred a White Pages search that turned up the home address for Aaron Jones, the lead detective investigating Teras death for the Valencia County Sheriffs Office. One revelation did, however, come from the deposition: Levi Chavezs story has changed about the last time he was in Los Lunas before he called 911 to report his wifes death. Former Albuquerque Police Officer Levi Chavez enters court on June 13, 2013 in Bernalillo, N.M. Dean Hanson/The Albuquerque Journal/AP Photo, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. The defense claims Tera Chavez killed herself because she was depressed about her marriage. Subscribe now to access decluttered news, chosen by you. Portions of CA home hang over cliff after landslide, 1 killed amid turbulence event on business jet, UNM Hospital wants to know publics feedback. Where does medical cannabis go from here? width: 640px; Dr. Chavez is affiliated with Lovelace Medical Center. . And it was the third time the judge denied him. Heather Chavez said that, despite the appearance given in the text she sent Levi about taking his last name and more than 400 calls between the two from Oct. 8, 2007 to Dec. 12 of that year they did not begin a sexual relationship until late November or early December.. They also werent allowed to watch video of that deposition. stream 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. Also, a new bullet was in the Glocks firing chamber when law enforcement arrived at the Chavezes home. }, When asked by reporters for his reaction after the verdict, Levi Chavez said Im not surprised. Theres nothing I would like to have them work other types of overtime rather than standing at a retail store, said Chief Medina. 77 0 obj This link will take you to a site over which the City of Albuquerque has no control. She lives with her family in Phone number, address, and email on Spokeo, the leading people search directory for contact information and public records. 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. Medina believes in strong customer service in order to create a program based on community policing. He had come to the her 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. Levi Chavez is charged with first-degree murder and evidence tampering. News Break provides latest and breaking Albuquerque, NM local news, weather forecast, crime and safety reports, traffic updates, event notices, sports, entertainment, local life and other items of interest in the community and nearby Chavez's affidavit is now part of a civil rights lawsuit filed by Mary Hawkes' family against the City of Albuquerque and the local police department, according to New Mexico In Join Facebook to connect with Heather Chavez and others you may know. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Carla Helmer hadn't shown up for work at a Farmington convenience store for three days. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Others, including Radosevich, have testified that, based on less-than-ideal crime scene photographs, the magazine appeared to have possibly been unseated.. Jones showed Heather Chavez crime scene photos from Teras death scene and told her people were worried about her. Boycott Black Lives Matter, 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. She said some jurors even cried during deliberations. Among them is likely to be Russell Perea, the former APD officer who was sharing a police vehicle with Levi Chavez on the weekend Tera Chavez died. Other names that Heather uses includes Heather Ripley, Heather C Chavez, Heather C Hindi, Heather C Ripley and Heather Hindi. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. 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. Christian Chavez in Albuquerque, NM 20 results - Christian Chavez may also have lived outside of Albuquerque, such as Cuba, Bosque Farms and 2 other cities in New Mexico. Please God," Chavez responded. Legal Statement. Contact. Levi M. Chavez, II, Esq. Upon announcing the verdict, the family of Levi Chavez, including his current wife Albuquerque detective Heather Chavez, let out gasps and wept. In considering everything, I do not believe that the magazine was seated at the time this weapon was recovered, he said. HER BOSS WENT TO HER HOUSE. Levi Chavez is charged with first-degree murder and evidence tampering. Upon returning to Albuquerque, she attended Teras funeral, she testified, as did many other APD officers. I couldve been a better parent and recommended that it was in the best interest that they not be together, she said. Georgetown University Diploma, But when Albuquerque Police For non-emergency police calls, call 505-242-COPS 311 COMMUNITY CONTACT CENTER The 311 Community Contact Center is a centralized call center for the City of Albuquerque. Its a good thing hes not a cop now, because he has no business being a cop, Serna said Monday. endobj (Dean Hanson/Journal) 1:48 p.m. BERNALILLOTwenty-four days after Levi Chavez called. Wealthy and poor, black and white, young and old we all have constitutional rights. Get Directions Google Map Contact Information Position: Office of the Chief Phone: 505-768-2200 Physical Address 400 Roma NW Albuquerque New Mexico 87102. Tera Chavez was just 26 years old when she was found dead of a gunshot wound on October 22, 2007. "She was upset. She first pursued her career in writing in college. Facebook gives people the power to share and makes the world more open and connected. gtag('js', new Date()); She had multiple defense wounds, and had put up a fight. Reportedly, he is married to APD Detective Heather, who was also present throughout the trial. Levi Chavez refuted Slamas claims when he testified. I wasnt worried.. She basically said she wanted someone to love her," Nick Wheeler testified last Friday. "He's got several plans in the works," Serna said. Albuquerque. 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. Dated Nov. 14, 2007, it was from a fellow APD officer whose name, at the time, was Heather Hindi. The 311 Community Contact Center is a centralized call center for the City of Albuquerque. Somebody dumped the Internet history.. The civil case will proceed as soon as state District Judge Ted Baca sets a date. APDs mission is to build relationships through community policing that will lead to reduced crime and increased safety. Decommissioned Nuclear Power Plant Scotland, Blastocyst culture and Blastocyst embryo transfer, Fertility consultation and fertility treatment planning. stream They included: members of Teras family, her friends, a longtime New Mexico medical examiner, two veteran lawmen who testified as expert witnesses, APD officers who went to the Chavezes home after the 911 call, several of Levi Chavezs paramours including two who were fellow APD officers and his current wife, whom he began seeing almost immediately after Teras death. John enjoyed horseback riding with his sons and best friend and cousin On March 16, 2012 we broke the story (READ IT HERE) about how APD's current Deputy Chief Allen Banks was caught lying while under a sworn oath to tell the truth when he was testifying in the labor hearing involving former APD officer Russell Perea. The number of how many incidents across Albuquerque is hard to track says Chief Medina. 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. 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. 72 0 obj For non-emergency police calls, call 505-242-COPS. Prosecutors put 36 witnesses on the stand. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.(KRQE) The attorney general and the Albuquerque Police Department are cracking down on serial shoplifters and organized retail crime. According to her testimony, Heather Chavez was in Chicago with her parents the weekend Tera died. 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. New Mexico and ABQ News, Sports, Business and more, By Jeff Proctor / Journal Staff Writer Rebecca Sarker Sister Sunetra, Garcia said she couldnt find any identifiable prints on either the Glock, the magazine or any of the bullets she examined. 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. In the winter of 2014, after serving 20 years of being a sworn officer, Medina retired from the Albuquerque Police Department as a Commander. The Gallup New Deal Art Virtual Museum has received another big boost from the National Endowment fo 'More time for sunshine.' This comes as the number of cases continues to rise and the offenses more and more violent. What is mud rain? 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. 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. . "She asked me if I would leave Samantha for her, and I told her no". Detectives say Chavez wanted his wife dead because she threatened to reveal he staged the theft of a truck so he can collect insurance money. No matter what you choose, not everyone is going to be happy.. Romero described the relationship between Levis family and Teras family as nonexistent., We traveled in different circles, she said. They included Levi Chavezs mother, the APD officer who was sharing a police car with Chavez the weekend Tera died (that officer testified with a promise of immunity after trying to exert his Fifth Amendment right against self incrimination to stay off the stand) two nationally known experts on crime scene reconstruction and firearms and a suicidologist, who said Tera had several of the risk factors associated with someone headed toward suicide. Rebecca Sarker Sister Sunetra, State District Judge George P. Eichwald essentially gutted that theory when he barred Farrellys testimony after a motion from Serna. h***@cabq.gov. Decommissioned Nuclear Power Plant Scotland, Serna objected to the question, and Eichwald sustained the objection. Upon his acquittal, Levi dedicated his life to fighting for the falsely accused. But they didnt begin deliberating until Monday because of the late hour. t|!iej@,RUAp*tG;^ppxu\>q 1T}|{U\x lX2pdRHB zg_h";*uJYUXd\.~|}wWI]'l+F Q~18OMU. 2023 The City of Albuquerque. 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. Someone had to press that magazine release after (the Glock) was fired, he said. All rights reserved. One of Levi Chavezs lovers who was also a client of Teras at the Los Lunas Style America salon testified that Tera told her the truck hadnt really been stolen. McKay and Keener admitted more than 220 exhibits into evidence, including the Glock handgun and more than 100 crime scene photographs. Judge Eichwald ultimately allowed the question, to which Radosevich answered: At the time (Jones) recovered it, yes, Jones said the magazine was unseated. On cross-examination, Serna asked Garcia only one question: You didnt come to any professional conclusions that any of the surfaces you examined had been wiped clean, did you?, She replied: I could not determine that.. Other stores are installing LOT-COP Security Camera Towers to aid in this deterrence effort. There is no confirmation on whether she is still a part of the Albuquerque Police Department. He stopped McKay on a few occasions and asked whether he could talk to my jury.. In the trial's final days, Chavez took the stand and acknowledged having a string of mistresses, searching a website on how to kill someone with martial arts moves, and ignoring his wife's calls for help. What should I do if I am stopped by a police officer? It was the third time since the trial began on June 10 that Serna had asked for a ruling from Eichwald to throw the case out. 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. Serna told Chavez. 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. Serna has sought to poke holes in those assessments. "Justice was not served," Joseph Cordova, the father of Tera Chavez, said after listening to the verdict with his wife. Legal Statement. 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. 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. Detectives say Chavez wanted his wife dead because she threatened to reveal he staged the theft of a truck so he can collect insurance money. "She received multiple stab wounds." Also in court on Friday, jurors heard a heavily redacted recording of the deposition Levi Chavez gave in the civil case. It appears that his wife, now known as Heather Chavez, is a detective with the Farmington Police Department. the 911 dispatcher asked. Heather Chavez, Levi Chavez's current wife, testifies during his murder trial on Friday, June 28, 2013. << /Linearized 1 /L 38845 /H [ 955 163 ] /O 76 /E 36564 /N 1 /T 38217 >> The following article appeared on page A1 of the Tuesday, June 2, 2013 edition of the Albuquerque Journal. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. . Earlier Monday, retired New Mexico Crime Lab fingerprint identification expert Shirley Garcia also testified. The former officer, clenching a Rosary, immediately embraced his attorney, David Serna. The jury found him not guilty. Chavez's 911 call to report his wife's death was played in court. (Adolphe Pierre-Louis/Journal), Levi Chavez, center, leaves the Sandoval County Courthouse on Tuesday, July 16, 2013, after he was found not guilty of murdering his wife Tera Chavez in October 2007 and making it look like a suicide. Reportedly, he is married to APD Detective Heather, who was also present throughout the trial. He told the 911 operator, Please tell them to hurry! and said shed committed suicide, PEOPLE reported. Heather A Pratt-chavez - 1437355773 Profile Details Heather A Pratt-chavez is a physician based out of Albuquerque, New Mexico and her medical specialization is Pediatrics . Decommissioned Nuclear Power Plant Scotland, Medina was promoted to Sergeant in 2004 where he became involved with the Albuquerque Police Department Party Patrol. King had been an academy classmate of Police Chief Ray Schultz, who, in a tearful press conference after the killings, called it one of the saddest days in the history of the Albuquerque Police Department. Inside the department, former officers say, the deaths were a turning point: Officer safety became the order of the day. Im not guilty. Levi Chavez was working as a police officer in October 2007 when he allegedly shot and killed Tera Chavez in the bed of their Los Lunas home with his police revolver. 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. Many stores are now keeping a log of names and videos of repeat offenders. 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. (Adolphe Pierre-Louis /Journal), Tera Chavez's brother Aaron Cordova, left, and her parents Theresa and Joseph Cordova, wait in a hallway at the Sandoval County District Court for the verdict in the murder trial of former APD officer Levi Chavez, who was accused of killing Tera in October of 2007 and making it look like a suicide. Theres still a civil wrongful death lawsuit, filed by Teras family, to be decided in state District Court in Bernalillo County. FOR MORE INFORMATION YOU CAN GO TO M. It is a case that has haunted a Northern New Mexico community for nearly three decades.On Oct. 28, 1992, a Farmington woman was brutally murdered.Carla Helmer hadn't shown up for work at a Farmington convenience store for three days. The Gallup New Deal Art Virtual Museum has received another big boost from the National Endowment fo 'More time for sunshine.' Since February, APD has made 15 felony arrests and 7 misdemeanor arrests for shoplifting. During these 19 months, property crimes saw double-digit reductions in many areas. % Following the verdict, emotional family members of Tera Chavez were quickly escorted out of Sandoval District Court, the result of an edict from state District Judge George Eichwald who sought to ease tensions between the two families. He was honored as the Uniformed Officer of the month as a patrol officer three times. Associated persons: Lear Huntington, Caitlin Moya, Amanda M Reinhart, Danielle Reinhart, Leonard J . HUM0W%FWD ,X{8n`j.{_il;xQne9oK^T(gB5eVhmmvPZu]u^Z@V.>2XYi-&+n q m4mNpI P]-)8m !5;RTTAdfI;H.KDYBd"kgBYJi !GG@5*GG0Zaowi&.0D6L%pI Anyone with information on Beccas identity is encouraged to contact Detective Heather Chavez of the Albuquerque Police Department at 505-768-2404 or hcchavez@cabq.gov, or the FBI Violent Criminal Apprehension Program He was born in Albuquerque, and lived in Los Lunas. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Email addresses are used solely for verification and to speed the verification process for repeat questioners. Perea, a former APD officer, was sharing a police vehicle with Levi Chavez on Oct. 19 and 20. Heather Chavez is 46 years old and was born on 06/04/1976. At issue is testimony that the magazine in the pistol was unseated after Teras body was found and what that means to the case. Bernalillo County deputy involved in rollover crash in Northeast A Bernalillo County deputy was reportedly A Bernalillo County deputy was reportedly not injured after their vehicle rolled in a two-vehicle crash Saturday morning in Northeast Albuquerque. Thats the past, Heather Chavez said in court Friday. The attorney general says these operations are partnerships with big box stores like Home Depot and Target. Medina was named interim Chief of Police in September 2020, and appointed by Mayor Keller to serve as permanent Chief of Police in March 2021. He strongly believes in working with the community to educate and have an understanding of community-oriented policing. Levi Chavez cried at the defense table while his mother testified. Detective Heather Chavez with the Farmington police said.Police believe Carla likely knew her attacker. Email addresses are used solely for verification and to speed the verification process for repeat questioners. The Harwood Museum of Art's exhibition 'Outriders: Legacy of the Black Cowboy' explores this history through archival photographs and contemporary art. ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. Police officers will often tell you theres no such thing as a routine call when youre patrolling the streets. Contact Number (505) ***-**** Engage via Phone. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. That case is scheduled to be heard in state District Court in Bernalillo County and has been on hold while the criminal trial was held. abq.policecomplaints.info. The other half of Heather Chavezs wish a move to the APD homicide unit never came to pass. And to release the magazine from its seated position, five pounds of pressure must be applied to a release button located on the left side of the handle near the trigger guard, he said. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Jones was the lead investigator handling the death of Tera Chavez for the Valencia County Sheriffs Office. "You know the whole thing was so disgusting and such a disgrace. Not among them was APD officer Steve Hindi, to whom Heather was married at the time. 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.
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