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. So Eichwald ruled that Farrellys testimony would be too prejudicial toward Levi Chavez. Chavez's 911 call to report his wife's death was played in court. Legal Statement. He. Detective Heather Chavez with the Farmington police said.Police believe Carla likely knew her attacker. "She asked me if I would leave Samantha for her, and I told her no". Albuquerque Community Connect Camera Registry and Integration. What should I do if I am stopped by a police officer? Where does medical cannabis go from here? Heather Chavez, Levi Chavez's current wife, testifies during his murder trial on Friday, June 28, 2013. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. I couldve been a better parent and recommended that it was in the best interest that they not be together, she said. (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. According to testimony earlier in the trial, he was exchanging text messages 24 days after the 911 call with another APD officer about the two getting married. 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. She testified that she is currently assigned to the APD Crimes Against Children Unit. Levi Chavez maintained his innocence throughout the trial, and he maintains his innocence even today. Download the Albuquerque Police Department's Organizational Chart. Two years later, a jury acquitted him of the charge. The Gallup New Deal Art Virtual Museum has received another big boost from the National Endowment fo 'More time for sunshine.' How long will the ski season last in New Mexico? . She first pursued her career in writing in college. She said some jurors even cried during deliberations. The Attorney Generals office said this crackdown is on the more violent offenders and they know who they are. 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. Radosevich said it would, but added several times that releasing the magazine required a deliberate, intentional action. << /Lang /MarkInfo << /Marked true >> /Outlines 6 0 R /PageLayout /OneColumn /Pages 5 0 R /StructTreeRoot 9 0 R /Type /Catalog >> ITS A HEAVY WEIGHT TO CARRY. He stopped McKay on a few occasions and asked whether he could talk to my jury.. THEY NEVER HAD CLOSURE. xcbdg`b`8 $@@q1`: Alter Last Name Full Name Persons Count Share ; Chaves: Heather Chaves: 10: 19.36%: Garcia: Heather Garcia: 545: 6.34%: Martinez: . She used words such as lonely, scared and isolated.. Read More. Levi Chavez is charged with first-degree murder and evidence tampering. Tell me if she feels cold?" The DNA belonged to both Tera and Levi Chavez, according to Williams. The number of how many incidents across Albuquerque is hard to track says Chief Medina. 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. 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. Critics, supporters offer differing opinions on program's future in New Mexico, Zinc Wine Bar & Bistro to reopen after three years. Mary Chavez lives in Albuquerque, NM; previous city include Peralta NM. function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);} All the children are aware of who Tera was, Heather Chavez said, and they even celebrate her birthday. 11/21/2022 12:47 AM. 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. In December of 2017, Medina was appointed to Deputy Chief for the Albuquerque Police Department and currently oversees the Field Services Bureau. More from KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos, What Biden might try next if his student loan forgiveness, Bile acids and gut microbes could potentially treat, Should we bring back the dodo? (Adolphe Pierre-Louis /Journal), Former APD officer Levi Chavez reacts to being found not guilty of murder on Tuesday, July 16, 2013. Attorney Brad Hall, who represents Teras family in the civil suit, asked whether Levi Chavez had loaned his cellphone to anyone. The latest breaking updates, delivered straight to your email inbox. 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. 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. ) . A female juror spoke with reporters about 45 minutes after the verdict was read in the courtroom. In considering everything, I do not believe that the magazine was seated at the time this weapon was recovered, he said. xc````` ]ep e1BU&lwYp3Y76fb`;RD" Over the years, detectives. 72 0 obj 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. Theres still a civil wrongful death lawsuit, filed by Teras family, to be decided in state District Court in Bernalillo County. After Romero testified, Russell Perea took the witness stand armed with a promise if immunity granted by Eichwald in exchange for his testimony. Nobody answered, so she called police.Officers showed up and found Carla's body inside. "Justice was not served," Joseph Cordova, the father of Tera Chavez, said after listening to the verdict with his wife. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Published: Tuesday, July 2nd, 2013 at 12:05AMUpdated: Tuesday, July 2nd, 2013 at 2:08PM. << /Annots 92 0 R /Contents [ 77 0 R 78 0 R 79 0 R 80 0 R 81 0 R 82 0 R 83 0 R 84 0 R ] /CropBox [ 0.0 0.0 612.0 792.0 ] /Group 108 0 R /MediaBox [ 0.0 0.0 612.0 792.0 ] /Parent 5 0 R /Resources << /ColorSpace << /CS0 95 0 R /CS1 96 0 R >> /ExtGState << /GS0 97 0 R >> /Font << /TT0 99 0 R /TT1 101 0 R /TT2 103 0 R /TT3 105 0 R >> /XObject << /Im0 88 0 R /Im1 89 0 R /Im2 90 0 R >> >> /Rotate 0 /StructParents 0 /Tabs /S /Type /Page >> Heather Chavez's Phone Number and Email. Jones was the lead investigator handling the death of Tera Chavez for the Valencia County Sheriffs Office. Heather Chavezs statement in court today was that the couple only kissed in the car. Get Directions Google Map Contact Information Position: Office of the Chief Phone: 505-768-2200 Physical Address 400 Roma NW Albuquerque New Mexico 87102. Heather's current home is located at Albuquerque, NM. Heather Chavez said she hadnt remembered those calls when she gave a deposition in a civil wrongful death lawsuit filed by Teras family against Levi. Boycott Black Lives Matter, Your email address will not be published. Carla Helmer hadn't shown up for work at a Farmington convenience store for three days. Working with the attorney general office working with [District Attorneys] and ensuring that we are building strong prosecution upping charges from what used to be a larceny slash aggravated assault to now charging them with robbery, said Attorney General Hector Balderas. Tera Chavez was just 26 years old when she was found dead of a gunshot wound on October 22, 2007. Over the years, detectives interviewed a lot of people. Rebecca Sarker Sister Sunetra, Serna said his client was a victim of an overly aggressive former detective and "lies" from local media outlets, although none reported Serna ever requesting for a retraction or correction from any stories since 2007. In case you missed it, here's a repeat of a major event that is unfolding in the Levi Chavez trial. HER BOSS WENT TO HER HOUSE. And six days before Chavez called 911 in October 2007 to say his wife Tera Chavez had shot herself in the head, all of a sudden, there was a deletion of files, said officer Michael Brookreson, a digital forensic investigator for the Las Cruces Police Department. NANCY: CARLA HAD PUT UP A FIGHT. Titleist Golf Bags 2021, Prosecutors Bryan McKay and Anne Keener declined to comment, as did the Tera Chavezs family, except for one comment from Jopseph Cordova, Tera father. Jones is the one who removed the gun from next to Teras body, and he testified at trial that he noted the magazine was unseated and that a bullet was in the firing chamber. 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. Master Police Officer 1C at City of Albuquerque. Reportedly, he is married to APD Detective Heather, who was also present throughout the trial. Who Wrote She's Like The Swallow, (AP Photo/Albuquerque Journal, Adolphe Pierre-Louis). I dont see how thats possible, Levi Chavez said. During his time with Party Patrol he focused on decreasing illegal sales to underage youth. Pedro Taylor Football, Dated Nov. 14, 2007, it was from a fellow APD officer whose name, at the time, was Heather Hindi. endobj SHE HADNT CONTACTED ANYBODY. The whole situation is just sick, she said through tears. Based on my experience the magazine release had to be depressed after that firing sequence was completed, he said. Prosecutors allege that he killed Tera in the couple's Los Lunas home on either Oct. 19, 20 or 21, 2007 and tried to make. Since February, APD has made 15 felony arrests and 7 misdemeanor arrests for shoplifting. 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. 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. Justice was not served today, Cordova said. >> SHE HAD NOT BEEN TO WORK IN THREE DAYS. Georgetown University Diploma, Critics, supporters offer differing opinions on program's future in New Mexico, Zinc Wine Bar & Bistro to reopen after three years. 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. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! Former cop Levi Chavez is charged with first-degree murder. The defense from the moment Levi Chavez called 911 around 9 p.m. on Oct. 21, 2007 to say Tera had shot herself in the head has contended that the 26-year-old took her own life as she reached a desperate level of depression that had largely been driven by her husbands many extramarital affairs. gtag('config', 'UA-177193517-1'); Levi was initially charged Jason Chavez in Albuquerque, New Mexico. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, He continued his education, attending the Police School of Staff and Command with Northwestern University. ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) Three years after being acquitted in a high profile murder trial, former Albuquerque Police Department officer Levi Chavez After skipping out on his financial obligations to the Rio Rancho police department, Albuquerque Aviation police hired Chavez. 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. 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. Information about the Albuquerque Police Department. "What did I tell you?" Chavez has never been charged with any wrongdoing. the 911 dispatcher asked. 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. They also werent allowed to watch video of that deposition. OVER THE YEARS DETECTIVES INTERVIEWED A LOT OF PEOPLE, STILL NEARLY THREE DECADES LATER, NO ARRESTS. << /Filter /FlateDecode /S 36 /O 90 /Length 79 >> Email addresses are used solely for verification and to speed the verification process for repeat questioners. Please call the 118th Street Task Force at 1-877-765-8273 , (505) 768-2450 or Crime Stoppers at (505) 843-STOP with any information you may have concerning this crime. stream Its a good thing hes not a cop now, because he has no business being a cop, Serna said Monday. Serna said he doubted that Chavez would want return to the state's largest police department. IVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH HIM. View the sitemap for the City of Albuquerque website. The other half of Heather Chavezs wish a move to the APD homicide unit never came to pass. Serna objected to the question, and Eichwald sustained the objection. He was the 35th of 36 witnesses called by the state, which rested its case Monday afternoon. Your email is safe with us, we dont spam. Prosecutors allege 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. You can cut the tension with a knife in here, Eichwald said. 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. All Rights Reserved. Chavez was charged with first-degree murder and evidence tampering in an April 2011 indictment. Heather Chavez said she was helping move Tera Chavez's items out of the Los Lunas home in the weeks after the funeral. Decommissioned Nuclear Power Plant Scotland, The following article appeared on page A1 of the Tuesday, June 2, 2013 edition of the Albuquerque Journal. I told you guys that from the beginning., After an intense walk out of the courthouse surrounded by cameras, reporters and family, Levi Chavez arrived at his car. For weeks, the murder trial captivated parts of central New Mexico as residents were fixated in barber shops, diners and grocery stores. Required fields are marked *. She lives with her family in Phone number, address, and email on Spokeo, the leading people search directory for contact information and public records. It is a case that has haunted a Northern New Mexico community for nearly three decades. Their additional three locations remain open. (a.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded",n,!1),e.addEventListener("load",n,!1)):(e.attachEvent("onload",n),a.attachEvent("onreadystatechange",function(){"complete"===a.readyState&&t.readyCallback()})),(n=t.source||{}).concatemoji?c(n.concatemoji):n.wpemoji&&n.twemoji&&(c(n.twemoji),c(n.wpemoji)))}(window,document,window._wpemojiSettings); window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; 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. This comes as the number of cases continues to rise and the offenses more and more violent. APD and AG are hoping to bring harsher charges for those who are more violent offenders or serial shoplifters. FARMINGTON POLICE ARE STILL FOLLOWING LEADS AND ARE ASKING PEOPLE WITH LEGITIMATE TIPS TO CONTACT THE FARMINGTON POLICE HOTLINE OR CRIME STOPPERS. Engage via Email. Also, a new bullet was in the Glocks firing chamber when law enforcement arrived at the Chavezes home. Boycott Black Lives Matter, State District Judge George P. Eichwald essentially gutted that theory when he barred Farrellys testimony after a motion from Serna. At one point on Monday, Serna took the gun, which was not loaded, turned it upside down and pointed it toward himself. 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. Some of the evidence in the civil case, like testimony from an insurance investigator about the fake theft allegations, was barred in murder trial. Prosecutors allege that he killed Tera in the couples Los Lunas home on either Oct. 19, 20 or 21, 2007 and tried to make her death look like a suicide. Manage the news you want to see, read exclusive content and explore other subscriber benefits. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. I didnt answer the call, Heather Chavez said. Levi Chavez is the Husband of Tera, and he was a police officer with the Albuquerque Police Department. They deliberated all day Monday and began again at about 1 p.m. today. Titleist Golf Bags 2021, The call did not go to voicemail. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. Medina believes in strong customer service in order to create a program based on community policing. That leaves Levi Chavez as the sole defendant in the civil matter, which had been on hold since his indictment to allow the criminal case to reach a conclusion. What is mud rain? Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Heather Chavez is 46 years old and was born on 06/04/1976. 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.

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