ther A Pratt-Chavez, MD, is a Pediatric Medicine specialist in Albuquerque, New Mexico. During the next 19 months through the use of community poling principles he created partnerships with community stakeholders, and increased internal communication and cooperation. THEY KNEVER KNEW WHO WAS RESPONSIBLE. The jury learned Friday that underneath the mattress on which Tera. Manage the news you want to see, read exclusive content and explore other subscriber benefits. Also on Tuesday the state called DNA expert Alanna Williams, who testified that she couldn't tell who fired the gun that killed Tera Chavez because there were two sets of DNA on the gun's handle. 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. (Dean Hanson/Journal) 1:48 p.m. BERNALILLOTwenty-four days after Levi Chavez called. What is mud rain? 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. There is no confirmation on whether she is still a part of the Albuquerque Police Department. Heather's current home is located at Albuquerque, NM. These initiatives led to the continued success in the reduction of property crimes in the Southwest Area Command. 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. Levi Chavez did, indeed, marry Heather Chavez (ne Hindi) in the summer of 2008. (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. The gun was the biggest hang up, but there was no proof, she said. GallupARTS receives $400,000 grant for virtual project. The whole situation is just sick, she said through tears. Wheeler is the husband of Chavez's maid of honor, Samantha Wheeler. She graduated with honors from University Of New Mexico School Of Medicine in 2007. Steve Hindi is a former boxer. Someone had to press that magazine release after (the Glock) was fired, he said. Over the years, detectives. 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. He was accused of using his APD issued gun in 2007 to kill her and then staging it to look like a suicide. He had to watch his parents pass away and they never had closure so they never knew what happened to Carla. Prosecutors Bryan McKay and Anne Keener declined to comment, as did the Tera Chavezs family, except for one comment from Jopseph Cordova, Tera father. Subscribe now to access decluttered news, chosen by you. Still -- nearly three decades later -- no arrests. Georgetown University Diploma, Rebecca Sarker Sister Sunetra, Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. (Greg Sorber/Journal). But Romero said she never knew about her sons infidelity only that he and Tera were having problems., Your email is safe with us, we dont spam, Romero testified that she had regrets about guilting and coercing her son to remain married to Tera even though the two shouldve been divorced many years ago.. Former cop Levi Chavez is charged with first-degree murder. Jones showed Heather Chavez crime scene photos from Teras death scene and told her people were worried about her. News . Ex-wife Heather Hindi left him for alleged wife-killer Levi Chavez. function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);} 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. He also told her she should have more information., I listened, Heather Chavez said about the interview. 77 0 obj So Eichwald ruled that Farrellys testimony would be too prejudicial toward Levi Chavez. Below you will find a list of surnames similar to Heather Chavez that were found in public records. Dash Dash World Controls, Tell me if she feels cold?" State District Judge George P. Eichwald instructed the two to Quit arguing back and forth like kids.. Repeatedly throughout the trial and again on Thursday Serna has said Levi Chavez had last been in Los Lunas on Oct. 19. (Adolphe Pierre-Louis/Journal), Former APD officer Levi Chavez, right, gets a hug from his attorney David Serna after the jury in the murder trial against him returned a verdict of not guilty on Tuesday, July 16, 2013. In the fall of 2009, he transferred to the Property Crimes Division. Published: Tuesday, July 16th, 2013 at 3:53PMUpdated: Tuesday, July 16th, 2013 at 11:21PM, #foogallery-gallery-0 .fg-image { 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. 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. % Who Wrote She's Like The Swallow, But Keener pointed to more phone records that showed a call from Teras phone to Heathers on Sept. 29, 2007. gtag('js', new Date()); Over the years, detectives interviewed a lot of people. This comes as the number of cases Heather Chavez also testified that she never met or spoke to Tera Chavez. Not among them was APD officer Steve Hindi, to whom Heather was married at the time. Keener pressed Heather Chavez on a statement she made during her deposition that her sexual relationship with Levi Chavez began in a car. or redistributed. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Tera Chavez was just 26 years old when she was found dead of a gunshot wound on October 22, 2007. Manage the news you want to see, read exclusive content and explore other subscriber benefits. Nobody answered, so she called police.Officers showed up and found Carla's body inside. He told the 911 operator, Please tell them to hurry! and said shed committed suicide, PEOPLE reported. Heather Chavezs statement in court today was that the couple only kissed in the car. He asked Radosevich whether it would be possible to release the magazine after shooting oneself with the gun in that position. "Can you touch her? 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. 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. In the days after Teras death, Romero said, her son was distraught, broken, fragile and unwilling to leave his room. 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? Legal Statement. He had to watch his parents pass away and they never had closure so they never knew what happened to Carla. Heather Chavez is 46 years old and was born on 06/04/1976. 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. Last Update. Assistant District Attorney Anne Keener, on cross-examination, asked Romero to confirm that she had left her marriage to Levi Chavez Sr. because of cheating, gambling and the debt he left her in. stream 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. Albuquerque Police Contact. Thats the past, Heather Chavez said in court Friday. A forensic pathologist testified earlier in the trial that Tera died almost immediately after one shot was fired into her mouth. 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. Its really hard to get your pulse on shoplifting numbers because a lot of companies dont even report things to the police, Chief Medina said. July 16, 2013: Levi Chavez, right, a former Albuquerque police officer, gets a hug from his wife, Heather Chavez, after being cleared of charges he murdered his estranged wife, Tera Chavez, in in 2007. Chavez has never been charged with any wrongdoing. I've been in contact with him. 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. 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. 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. I want to make sure that the general public understands that we are not targeting petty shoplifting or individuals who are shoplifting out of a need, we are targeting organized retail criminals, said Balderas. I didnt speak with her.. Information about the Albuquerque Police Department. He continued his education, attending the Police School of Staff and Command with Northwestern University. "I can't look at her. NOBODY THUS FAR HAS HAD TO PAY FOR THIS CRIME. 2023, Hearst Television Inc. on behalf of KOAT-TV. She still has a brother that lives here locally. Chavez has been charged with first-degree murder and tampering with evidence. The defense claims Tera Chavez killed herself because she was depressed about her marriage. Two major arrests have recently been made: one being Isaiah Martinez who is accused of organizing a mass theft of multiple sunglass huts across the city, with a value of $53,000 dollars back in October 2021. Much of the trial centered on allegations that Albuquerque police officers who responded to the Chavez home in nearby Los Lunas removed and even flushed key evidence down a toilet. 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. 11/21/2022 12:47 AM. 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. xcbdg`b`8 $@@q1`: New Mexico State Police, Albuquerque Police Department, and Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office, and recently added representatives from the U.S. Drug . OVER THE YEARS DETECTIVES INTERVIEWED A LOT OF PEOPLE, STILL NEARLY THREE DECADES LATER, NO ARRESTS. Dr. Chavez is affiliated with Lovelace Medical Center. Chavez has never been charged with any wrongdoing. 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. They also werent allowed to watch video of that deposition. Self Service Car Washes Near Me, Prosecutors, he said, had not presented enough evidence for any reasonable finder of fact to convict his client. width: 640px; ITS A HEAVY WEIGHT TO CARRY. The evidence tampering charge stemmed from prosecutors allegation that Chavez then placed the gun and a shell casing near Teras body to make it appear that she had shot herself. ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.(KRQE) The attorney general and the Albuquerque Police Department are cracking down on serial shoplifters and organized retail crime. He introduced and developed several first-time programs that emphasized on outreach to local youth. Upon his acquittal, Levi dedicated his life to fighting for the falsely accused. During his time with Party Patrol he focused on decreasing illegal sales to underage youth. (Adolphe Pierre-Louis/Journal), Tera Chavez's brother Aaron Cordova, left, her parents Theresa and Joseph Cordova, prosecutors Bryan McKay and Anne Keener, along with former Valencia County detective Aaron Jones, arrive at the Sandoval County District Court for the verdict in the murder trial of APD officer Levi Chavez on Tuesday, July 16, 2013. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. 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. Mary Chavez is 73 years old and was born on 12/22/1947. GallupARTS receives $400,000 grant for virtual project. On cross-examination by Serna, Radosevich testified that he also observed what appeared to be blood stains on the magazine that likely couldnt have gotten there had the magazine been seated. No matter what you choose, not everyone is going to be happy.. But they didnt begin deliberating until Monday because of the late hour. Legal Statement. ;$X@UqD BXHp 9@B$T001VlHE 5 Alter Last Name Full Name Persons Count Share ; Chaves: Heather Chaves: 10: 19.36%: Garcia: Heather Garcia: 545: 6.34%: Martinez: . Levi Chavez, right, a former Albuquerque police officer, gets a congratulatory hug from his attorney David Serna on Tuesday, July 16, 2013, in Bernalillo, N.M., after a jury acquitted him of. 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. In December of 2017, Medina was appointed to Deputy Chief for the Albuquerque Police Department and currently oversees the Field Services Bureau. Garcia said she couldnt find any identifiable prints on either the Glock, the magazine or any of the bullets she examined. 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 Chavez, age 35, a devoted and loving father, passed away on Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2020. ", Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox. the 911 dispatcher asked. She had multiple defense wounds, and had put up a fight. Read More. Dash Dash World Controls, That witness, Rose Slama, also testified that she told Levi Chavez about his wifes allegations. According to her testimony, Heather Chavez was in Chicago with her parents the weekend Tera died. Some of the evidence in the civil case, like testimony from an insurance investigator about the fake theft allegations, was barred in murder trial. They have also lived in Taos, NM and New York, NY. 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. 5.9K views, 149 likes, 112 loves, 95 comments, 29 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from Farmington Police Department - New Mexico: Detective Heather Chavez's Retirement Cermony 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. He received the Uniformed Officer of the Year for the Albuquerque Police Department in 2004. When a shot is fired, provided the magazine is locked in place (also called seated), the semiautomatic pistol then automatically pulls another bullet from the magazine and loads it into the guns chamber. APD and AG are hoping to bring harsher charges for those who are more violent offenders or serial shoplifters. 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. NANCY: POLICE BELIEVE SOMEONE DOES KNOW WHO KILLED CARLA. Saatva Mattress Review: Our Pick for the Best Overall Bed of 2023, We Found 12 Cute Planters and Flower Pots That Cost Less Than $25, Here's Where to Watch and Stream Marvel's 'Ant Man and the Wasp: Quantumania' Online. Levi Chavez Was Found Not Guilty of His Wifes Death in 2013 & Later Filed a 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. One reporter asked what he plans to do now, Im going to go to church, pray my rosary and thank my Virgin Mary.. He believes in principles that are focused on community and law enforcement partnerships, problem solving, and transforming the department to help create a strong bond of trust with the community. Their exhibits also included Teras diary and two notes a handwriting expert said she had written which the defense characterized as suicide notes and prosecutors described as evidence that Tera was ready to move on from her relationship with Levi Chavez all of which were found in the couples home. Her husband Levi Chavez, a police officer with the Albuquerque Police Department, was the. Some extra notes, quotes, news and notes from the Lobos Friday night basketball game in Fort Collins, Colorado. Albuquerque Community Connect Camera Registry and Integration. 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. Published: Tuesday, July 2nd, 2013 at 12:05AMUpdated: Tuesday, July 2nd, 2013 at 2:08PM. The attorney general says these operations are partnerships with big box stores like Home Depot and Target. Levi Chavez is charged with first-degree murder and evidence tampering. Heres how the Glock works, according to Radosevichs testimony and a demonstration he made for the jury with the gun used to kill Tera inside the Chavezes home near Los Lunas in October 2007: The magazine, a polymer piece that holds bullets, is inserted into the butt of the pistol. Get the Android Weather app from Google Play, MLB pitchers adjusting to quick pace of new pitch, Military prospects see NFL hopes rise after policy, Female minor league manager gets day as D-backs bench, Grosjean leads Andretti qualifying sweep for IndyCar, Bertuzzi sets up goal in Bruins 4-2 win over Rangers, New Mexico Gas Company leaders explain high winter gas bills, San Juan County sheriff who shot a dog tells his side of the story, New Mexico man sentenced for trafficking 45 lbs of meth from Mexico. Many stores are now keeping a log of names and videos of repeat offenders. 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. Prosecutors say Chavez used his police training to cover up the crime, refusing to touch his wife's body so his fingerprints wouldn't be found. Under a short cross-examination by McKay, Levi Chavez often grew testy. Upon returning to Albuquerque, she attended Tera's funeral, she testified, as did many other. endstream In case you missed it, here's a repeat of a major event that is unfolding in the Levi Chavez trial. Levi Chavez is the Husband of Tera, and he was a police officer with the Albuquerque Police Department. }, When asked by reporters for his reaction after the verdict, Levi Chavez said Im not surprised. HER BOSS WENT TO HER HOUSE. 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. Their additional three locations remain open. In 2014, Medina retired from the Albuquerque Police Department and shortly thereafter became the Chief of Police for the Pueblo of Laguna. Because we are targeting the worst of the worst we are finding and building other criminal cases, Attorney General Hector Balderas said. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. The juror said the decision was difficult but unanimous. Titleist Golf Bags 2021, ) . 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. In the winter of 2014, after serving 20 years of being a sworn officer, Medina retired from the Albuquerque Police Department as a Commander. 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. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. This comes as the number of cases continues to rise and the offenses more and more violent. Brookreson testified there also were several Web searches for Jones. Your email address will not be published. Brookreson said there was no way to tell who was responsible for the activity on the computer, which in addition to Levi Chavez also appeared to have been used by Tera Chavez and possibly one or both of the couples two young children. Wealthy and poor, black and white, young and old we all have constitutional rights. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. << /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 >> Titleist Golf Bags 2021, "She received multiple stab wounds." 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. 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. Heather Chavez's Phone Number and Email. Chavez has been charged with first-degree murder and tampering with evidence. 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. Heather Chavez, Albuquerque Police Department, NM, (505) 768-2404, However, he conceded that it was plausible.. Under often-contentious direct examination by Assistant District Attorney Anne Keener, Heather Chavez conceded that October 2007 wasnt the first time she had ever spoken to Levi Chavez. Albuquerque. Since February, APD has made 15 felony arrests and 7 misdemeanor arrests for shoplifting. The reason: Serna and prosecutors said Farrelly hadnt turned over everything he had on the case during discovery. Boycott Black Lives Matter, (Greg Sorber/Journal), Former Valencia County Detective Aaron Jones talks to the media on Tuesday, July 16, 2013, after Levi Chavez was found not guilty of murdering his wife Tera Chavez.