At one point on Monday, Serna took the gun, which was not loaded, turned it upside down and pointed it toward himself. The Attorney Generals office said this crackdown is on the more violent offenders and they know who they are. Levi Chavez called 911 around 9 p.m. that day, Oct. 21, 2007, to say his wife had shot herself in the head. Tera's family said he did it to. 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. A female juror spoke with reporters about 45 minutes after the verdict was read in the courtroom. Your email address will not be published. Mothers Against Drunk Driving honored him with an individual Heros Award for his work in preventing underage drinking in 2007. 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. Brookreson testified there also were several Web searches for Jones. The other half of Heather Chavezs wish a move to the APD homicide unit never came to pass. (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. He told the 911 operator, Please tell them to hurry! and said shed committed suicide, PEOPLE reported. 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. 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. Below you will find a list of surnames similar to Heather Chavez that were found in public records. Levi Chavez came back the following week and did exactly that. 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. 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 considering everything, I do not believe that the magazine was seated at the time this weapon was recovered, he said. Romero said she was under the impression they were separated and going through a divorce. Decommissioned Nuclear Power Plant Scotland, Blastocyst culture and Blastocyst embryo transfer, Fertility consultation and fertility treatment planning. The Harwood Museum of Art's exhibition 'Outriders: Legacy of the Black Cowboy' explores this history through archival photographs and contemporary art. 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. probate, or family law case, contact Attorney Levi M. Chavez, II at 505-415-2640. Upon announcing the verdict, the family of Levi Chavez, including his current wife Albuquerque detective Heather Chavez, let out gasps and wept. %PDF-1.7 The jury learned Friday that underneath the mattress on which Tera. The Albuquerque City Council voted 8-0 on March 15, 2021 to confirm Medinas appointment as Chief of the Albuquerque Police Department. endobj Jones showed Heather Chavez crime scene photos from Teras death scene and told her people were worried about her. During testimony on Friday, she said she was referring to herself in the text. Get Directions Google Map Contact Information Position: Office of the Chief Phone: 505-768-2200 Physical Address 400 Roma NW Albuquerque New Mexico 87102. 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. the Albuquerque Police Department. Georgetown University Diploma, 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. Email addresses are used solely for verification and to speed the verification process for repeat questioners. abq.policecomplaints.info. 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. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. He had to watch his parents pass away and they never had closure so they never knew what happened to Carla. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Manage the news you want to see, read exclusive content and explore other subscriber benefits. 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. A Bernalillo County deputy was reportedly not injured after their vehicle rolled in a two-vehicle, Trying to figure out where the medical cannabis program stands now is up for debate, Hospital CEO Kate Becker says 'we really want to hear from our community about what. Theres still a civil wrongful death lawsuit, filed by Teras family, to be decided in state District Court in Bernalillo County. OFFICERS FOUND HER BODY INSIDE. Testimony and argument in the trial lasted five weeks. They also werent allowed to watch video of that deposition. Hearst Television participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. But, the disgraced former officer insisted that he did not kill his wife. 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. She said some jurors even cried during deliberations. THEY KNEVER KNEW WHO WAS RESPONSIBLE. << /Filter /FlateDecode /Length 902 >> Before reading the verdict Judge George P. Eichwald admonished the gallery, saying he had observed a lot of animosity. NANCY: CARLA HAD PUT UP A FIGHT. Wheeler is the husband of Chavez's maid of honor, Samantha Wheeler. ) . In 2011, the Albuquerque police officer was accused of murder. Required fields are marked *. So Eichwald ruled that Farrellys testimony would be too prejudicial toward Levi Chavez. He introduced and developed several first-time programs that emphasized on outreach to local youth. Boycott Black Lives Matter, Your email address will not be published. "I can't look at her. APDs vision is an Albuquerque where citizens and the police department work together through mutual trust to build a thriving community. Decommissioned Nuclear Power Plant Scotland, She basically said she wanted someone to love her," Nick Wheeler testified last Friday. His philosophy was to help improve public trust and community partnerships. Rebecca Sarker Sister Sunetra, 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. That witness, Rose Slama, also testified that she told Levi Chavez about his wifes allegations. Chavez was accused of killing his wife in October. Curently, hes in the media headlines as Dateline NBC explored on The decade of the 1970s began for the department with the retirement of Chief Paul Shaver, the city's longest-serving police chief. Facebook gives people the power to share and makes the world more open and connected. Chavez has never been charged with any wrongdoing. What is mud rain? He stopped McKay on a few occasions and asked whether he could talk to my jury.. The juror said the decision was difficult but unanimous. However, he conceded that it was plausible.. 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. 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. Published: Tuesday, July 16th, 2013 at 3:53PMUpdated: Tuesday, July 16th, 2013 at 11:21PM, #foogallery-gallery-0 .fg-image { Romero says Chavez was with her for part of the weekend when his wife was shot. Email addresses are used solely for verification and to speed the verification process for repeat questioners. Im innocent. % (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. 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. 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. (AP Photo/Albuquerque Journal, Adolphe Pierre-Louis). Your email is safe with us, we dont spam. On Oct. 28, 1992, a Farmington woman was brutally murdered. endobj Email. 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? IVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH HIM. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Albuquerque Community Connect Camera Registry and Integration. Upon announcing the verdict, the family of Levi Chavez, including his current wife Albuquerque detective Heather Chavez, let out gasps and wept. 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. 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. NANCY: OCTOBER 28, 1992, CARLA HAD NOT SHOWN UP TO WORK AT THE CONVENIENCE STORE. 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. 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. Mary Chavez lives in Albuquerque, NM; previous city include Peralta NM. 76 0 obj Farmington police still searching for answers in murder case 27 years later, CAN SOLVE THIS CASE. In case you missed it, here's a repeat of a major event that is unfolding in the Levi Chavez trial. (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. Jones was the lead investigator handling the death of Tera Chavez for the Valencia County Sheriffs Office. During his time with Party Patrol he focused on decreasing illegal sales to underage youth. Prosecutors allege that he shot his wife, Tera Chavez, through the mouth on either Oct. 19, 20 or 21, 2007, in the couples home near Los Lunas and tried to make her death look like a suicide. State District Judge George P. Eichwald essentially gutted that theory when he barred Farrellys testimony after a motion from Serna. The two exchanged seven telephone calls on May 12 of that year, according to cellphone records investigators found under a mattress Tera Chavezs body was lying on. She used words such as lonely, scared and isolated.. Detective Heather Chavez with the Farmington police said. Medina believes in strong customer service in order to create a program based on community policing. He received the Uniformed Officer of the Year for the Albuquerque Police Department in 2004. Published: Saturday, June 29th, 2013 at 12:05AMUpdated: Saturday, June 29th, 2013 at 12:41AM. h***@cabq.gov. She first pursued her career in writing in college. 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. (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. ther A Pratt-Chavez, MD, is a Pediatric Medicine specialist in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He was honored as the Uniformed Officer of the month as a patrol officer three times. Prosecutors put 36 witnesses on the stand. "This was a made up pile of lies from the beginning and it took the jury approximately 10 hours to find that out. On Oct. 21 of that year a Sunday Romero tried several times to call her son to set up a lunch date, according to her testimony. APD and AG are hoping to bring harsher charges for those who are more violent offenders or serial shoplifters. 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. endstream 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.. This included partnerships with the schools, teachers and laws enforcement with a focused presentation of alcohol awareness to students. 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. As McKay began to ask Radosevich whether Jones had passed along the information about the magazine not being secured into the butt of the pistol, Serna twice lodged objections, claiming such testimony from Radosevich would be hearsay. 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. CONTACT: 505-415-2640. She had multiple defense wounds, and had put up a fight. endstream 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. Shortly after the states last witness and the jury were excused Monday, Levis attorney, David Serna, asked state District Judge George P. Eichwald to find Chavez not guilty with a directed verdict. State District Judge George P. Eichwald instructed the two to Quit arguing back and forth like kids.. Contact. Chavez's 911 call to report his wife's death was played in court. 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. << /Linearized 1 /L 38845 /H [ 955 163 ] /O 76 /E 36564 /N 1 /T 38217 >> Levi Chavez is the Husband of Tera, and he was a police officer with the Albuquerque Police Department. Somebody dumped the Internet history.. 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. . (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 || []; Instead, only the audio position of the recording was played in court. OVER THE YEARS DETECTIVES INTERVIEWED A LOT OF PEOPLE, STILL NEARLY THREE DECADES LATER, NO ARRESTS. Serna, seeking on cross-examination to get details of Levi and Heathers life on the record, asked her to describe the blended family that includes Tera and Levis two children, Heathers child from a previous marriage and the couples 2-year-old son. Market data provided by Factset. Trying to figure out where the medical cannabis program stands now is up for debate one side saying the program is expected to 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. 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. Reportedly, he is married to APD Detective Heather, who was also present throughout the trial. 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. (Adolphe Pierre-Louis /Journal), Former APD officer Levi Chavez clutches a rosary before being found not guilty of murder on Tuesday, July 16, 2013. "I'm going to go to church, pray my Rosary and thank my Virgin Mary," Chavez said as he was crowded by reporters. (Adolphe Pierre-Louis /Journal), Former APD officer Levi Chavez reacts to being found not guilty of murder on Tuesday, July 16, 2013. Within two months of her death, he was engaged to a former colleague at the Albuquerque Police Department, Heather Hindi, and they were married a few months later, PEOPLE wrote. >> SHE HAD NOT BEEN TO WORK IN THREE DAYS. Dated Nov. 14, 2007, it was from a fellow APD officer whose name, at the time, was Heather Hindi. Georgetown University Diploma, 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. He continued his education, attending the Police School of Staff and Command with Northwestern University. Debra Romero, also a police officer in the department, admitted to having an affair with Levi Chavez. Freed: Levi Chavez, right, a Get the help of an immigration lawyer in Albuquerque, NM, by contacting Cristina Chvez, Attorney at Law, LLC. "He's got several plans in the works," Serna said. 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.. Mark A. Radosevich, a well-known figure in New Mexico law enforcement since the early 1970s, testified as a firearms expert for prosecutors. Because we are targeting the worst of the worst we are finding and building other criminal cases, Attorney General Hector Balderas said. The 311 Community Contact Center is a centralized call center for the City of Albuquerque. Its not a taboo subject at all.. Carla Helmer hadn't shown up for work at a Farmington convenience store for three days. For weeks, the murder trial captivated parts of central New Mexico as residents were fixated in barber shops, diners and grocery stores. 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. 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. Over the years, detectives. What should I do if I am stopped by a police officer? She said a lot of the jurys discussion centered around testimony and evidence involving the gun that killed Tera Levi Chavezs department-issued Glock 9 mm pistol. 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 Heather Chavez Access and Control Lead Farmington, New Mexico, United States 242 followers 242 connections Join to view profile San Juan College San Juan College Activity Heidi and I had a. 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. Published: Tuesday, July 2nd, 2013 at 12:05AMUpdated: Tuesday, July 2nd, 2013 at 2:08PM. Bernalillo County deputy involved in rollover crash in Northeast Albuquerque, Where does medical cannabis go from here? The former officer, clenching a Rosary, immediately embraced his attorney, David Serna. Dash Dash World Controls, (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. 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. 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. 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. Also, a new bullet was in the Glocks firing chamber when law enforcement arrived at the Chavezes home. She said she passed that information along to her son, who decided to go by the couples home to check on Tera. 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. Another, Athena Padilla was arrested on March 9, was charged with 10 shoplifting incidents with a value close to $19,000. Please God," Chavez responded. 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. Two years later, a jury acquitted him of the charge. In the days after Teras death, Romero said, her son was distraught, broken, fragile and unwilling to leave his room. Radosevich said it would, but added several times that releasing the magazine required a deliberate, intentional action. 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. There was a lot the jury didnt hear, too, because of bitter pretrial wrangling much of which shook out in favor of the defense. 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. 75 0 obj https://www.cabq.gov/police/our-department, https://www.cabq.gov/police/images/chief-harold-medina_6798-8x10.jpg, Documents Related to APD Settlement Agreement, Documents Related to APD's Settlement Agreement, McClendon v. City of Albuquerque Settlement, Legal Notice: Destruction of Unclaimed Property, Sexual Assault Evidence Kit Backlog Reduction Project. The exchange led to several objections from Serna, and eventually a full-blown shouting match between Serna and Keener. Still -- nearly three decades later -- no arrests. They say Chavez was having an affair with Albuquerque police officer Nick Wheeler in the months before her death. Nobody thus far has had to pay for this crime," Chavez said.Police believe someone does know who killed Carla Felmer and Farmington police are still following leads in this case. Her boss at the time was worried so she went to Carlas house and knocked on her door. Heather Chavez also testified that she never met or spoke to Tera Chavez. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Justice was not served today, Cordova said. Guitarist Ottmar Liebert bringing his unique blend of music Ottmar Liebert and his band Luna Negra will perform with the New Mexico Philharmonic at Popejoy Hall on Saturday, March 11. Associated persons: Lear Huntington, Caitlin Moya, Amanda M Reinhart, Danielle Reinhart, Leonard J . Chavez has been charged with first-degree murder and tampering with evidence. New Mexico and ABQ News, Sports, Business and more, By Jeff Proctor / Journal Staff Writer 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Perea, a former APD officer, was sharing a police vehicle with Levi Chavez on Oct. 19 and 20. (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. (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. Levi M. Chavez, II, Esq. But the trial, which began two weeks ago, has offered more stories of affairs within the Albuquerque Police Department. Heather Chavez is 46 years old and was born on 06/04/1976. ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) - The attorney general and the Albuquerque Police Department are cracking down on serial shoplifters and organized retail crime. He worked closely with community partners such as Mothers Against Drunk Drivers, and was recognized by them in 2008 for the leadership of Party Patrol; his program won the Heros award for that year. 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.

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