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yG9e=I0IA pj1"J The following article appeared on page A1 of the Tuesday, June 2, 2013 edition of the Albuquerque Journal. Box 1293 One Civic Plaza Room 7057 Albuquerque New Mexico 87103. She used words such as lonely, scared and isolated.. Prosecutors, he said, had not presented enough evidence for any reasonable finder of fact to convict his client. Titleist Golf Bags 2021, }, When asked by reporters for his reaction after the verdict, Levi Chavez said Im not surprised. Their additional three locations remain open. Heather Pratt-chavez is a pediatrician established in Albuquerque, New Mexico and her medical specialization is pediatrics with more than 14 years of experience. Self Service Car Washes Near Me, 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 STILL HAS A BROTHER THAT LIVES LOCALLY. She still has a brother that lives here locally. Detective Heather Chavez with the Farmington police said.Police believe Carla likely knew her attacker. Many of the other defense exhibits were photographs, as well. 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. LeviChavezLaw . 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. But they didnt begin deliberating until Monday because of the late hour. Her husband Levi Chavez, a police officer with the Albuquerque Police Department, was the. Last Update. Weve made it clear to them: Teras your mother, and she loves you,' she said of Tera and Levis children. Thats also where she was working on Oct. 8, 2007, the first time she met Levi Chavez, according to her testimony. Titleist Golf Bags 2021, Email addresses are used solely for verification and to speed the verification process for repeat questioners. endobj One reporter asked what he plans to do now, Im going to go to church, pray my rosary and thank my Virgin Mary.. She still has a brother that lives here locally. I wasnt worried.. Medina was promoted to Sergeant in 2004 where he became involved with the Albuquerque Police Department Party Patrol. "She received multiple stab wounds." During the next 19 months through the use of community poling principles he created partnerships with community stakeholders, and increased internal communication and cooperation. << /Linearized 1 /L 38845 /H [ 955 163 ] /O 76 /E 36564 /N 1 /T 38217 >> According to her testimony, Heather Chavez was in Chicago with her parents the weekend Tera died. 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. Levi Chavez is charged with first-degree murder and evidence tampering. xcbdg`b`8 $@@q1`: Heather is related to Philip P Pratt and Judith A Pratt as well as 3 additional people. Nobody answered, so she called police.Officers showed up and found Carla's body inside. (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. Where does medical cannabis go from here? Also, a new bullet was in the Glocks firing chamber when law enforcement arrived at the Chavezes home. State District Judge George P. Eichwald essentially gutted that theory when he barred Farrellys testimony after a motion from Serna. Manage the news you want to see, read exclusive content and explore other subscriber benefits. I've been in contact with him. Her boss at the time was worried so she went to Carlas house and knocked on her door. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. 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. Chavez was accused of killing his wife in October 2007 and making it look like a suicide. Judge Eichwald ultimately allowed the question, to which Radosevich answered: At the time (Jones) recovered it, yes, Jones said the magazine was unseated. 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. (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. He also focused on providing prevention and intervention education strategies to the local Albuquerque high school students. 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? Your email is safe with us, we dont spam. This comes as the number of cases continues to rise and the offenses more and more violent. All the children are aware of who Tera was, Heather Chavez said, and they even celebrate her birthday. CONTACT: 505-415-2640. The official website for the City of Albuquerque. The other half of Heather Chavezs wish a move to the APD homicide unit never came to pass. 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. [1] [2] Levi was initially charged with murdering his wife with his police issued Glock and making it appear as a suicide. He has pled not guilty. . He introduced and developed several first-time programs that emphasized on outreach to local youth. Wheeler is the husband of Chavez's maid of honor, Samantha Wheeler. At issue is testimony that the magazine in the pistol was unseated after Teras body was found and what that means to the case. Nobody answered, so she called police.Officers showed up and found Carla's body inside. 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. Since February, APD has made 15 felony arrests and 7 misdemeanor arrests for shoplifting. He had to watch his parents pass away and they never had closure so they never knew what happened to Carla. Based on my experience the magazine release had to be depressed after that firing sequence was completed, he said. HE HAD TO WATCH HIS PARENTS PASSED AWAY. Its a good thing hes not a cop now, because he has no business being a cop, Serna said Monday. McKay and Keener admitted more than 220 exhibits into evidence, including the Glock handgun and more than 100 crime scene photographs. Levi Chavez, an Albuquerque police officer, called 911 on the morning of October 22, 2007, to report that he'd come home to find his wife dead of a gunshot wound from his service weapon. Those separations, according to earlier testimony, were due in large part to Levi Chavezs longstanding habit of cheating on Tera. Critics, supporters offer differing opinions on program's future in New Mexico, Zinc Wine Bar & Bistro to reopen after three years. (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. 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. During these 19 months, property crimes saw double-digit reductions in many areas. The Levi Chavez case wont end with todays verdict. The contents of any site or link not maintained by the City does not necessarily reflect the opinions, standards or policies of the City of Albuquerque, its officials, agents or employees. Heather Chavez is 46 years old and was born on 06/04/1976. But the trial, which began two weeks ago, has offered more stories of affairs within the Albuquerque Police Department. 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. The latest breaking updates, delivered straight to your email inbox. Mailing Address P.O. 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. Chavez's 911 call to report his wife's death was played in court. New Mexico and ABQ News, Sports, Business and more, By Jeff Proctor / Journal Staff Writer (AP Photo/Albuquerque Journal, Adolphe Pierre-Louis). Decommissioned Nuclear Power Plant Scotland, Blastocyst culture and Blastocyst embryo transfer, Fertility consultation and fertility treatment planning. 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. APDs mission is to build relationships through community policing that will lead to reduced crime and increased safety. He told the 911 operator, Please tell them to hurry! and said shed committed suicide, PEOPLE reported. 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. Romero says Chavez was with her for part of the weekend when his wife was shot. 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. FARMINGTON POLICE ARE STILL FOLLOWING LEADS AND ARE ASKING PEOPLE WITH LEGITIMATE TIPS TO CONTACT THE FARMINGTON POLICE HOTLINE OR CRIME STOPPERS. % Serna said he doubted that Chavez would want return to the state's largest police department. 9,701 Followers, 2,680 Following, 7,903 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Heather Chavez (@heather_chav) Still -- nearly three decades later -- no arrests. endobj Serna told Chavez. Upon announcing the verdict, the family of Levi Chavez, including his current wife Albuquerque detective Heather Chavez, let out gasps and wept. (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. endstream He has pled not guilty. Facebook gives people the power to share and makes the world more open and connected. New Mexico and ABQ News, Sports, Business and more, By Jeff Proctor / Journal Staff Writer This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Levi was staying with his mother in October 2007, she testified today, during one of the couples estrangements. Radosevich said it would, but added several times that releasing the magazine required a deliberate, intentional action. Not among them was APD officer Steve Hindi, to whom Heather was married at the time. Theres still a civil wrongful death lawsuit, filed by Teras family, to be decided in state District Court in Bernalillo County. 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. 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.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. Upon returning to Albuquerque, she attended Tera's funeral, she testified, as did many other. Manage the news you want to see, read exclusive content and explore other subscriber benefits. 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. HER BOSS WENT TO HER HOUSE. A female juror spoke with reporters about 45 minutes after the verdict was read in the courtroom. The civil case will proceed as soon as state District Judge Ted Baca sets a date. 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. Email addresses are used solely for verification and to speed the verification process for repeat questioners. In 2007, Medina was promoted to the Lieutenant rank and remained there for 2 years. 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. However, he conceded that it was plausible.. 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. Read More. Reportedly, he is married to APD Detective Heather, who was also present throughout the trial. Heather Chavez said she was helping move Tera Chavez's items out of the Los Lunas home in the weeks after the funeral. Levi Chavez called 911 around 9 p.m. that day, Oct. 21, 2007, to say his wife had shot herself in the head. << /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 >> In 2011, Medina was promoted to the rank of Commander. 2023 The City of Albuquerque. Boycott Black Lives Matter, Your email address will not be published. Over the years, detectives interviewed a lot of people. At one point, state District Judge George P. Eichwald gave Romero a five-minute break from the witness stand when it appeared she may not be able to continue testifying. His much-anticipated testimony did not appear to help either side, as Perea said that he couldnt be sure where Levi Chavez was for the entirety of the two swing shifts. Upon returning to Albuquerque, she attended Teras funeral, she testified, as did many other APD officers. 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. 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. 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. << /Type /XRef /Length 87 /Filter /FlateDecode /DecodeParms << /Columns 4 /Predictor 12 >> /W [ 1 2 1 ] /Index [ 72 37 ] /Root 74 0 R /Size 109 /Prev 38218 /ID [] >> 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. APD and AG are hoping to bring harsher charges for those who are more violent offenders or serial shoplifters. (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. Pedro Taylor Football, She had multiple defense wounds, and had put up a fight. Synopsis: In 2005 an unknown person killed 26 year old Victoria Chavez and buried her in a mesa located adjacent to 118th Street SW in Albuquerque, New Mexico. 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. The jury found him not guilty. The jury learned Friday that underneath the mattress on which Tera. 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. All rights reserved. Other names that Heather uses includes Heather Ripley, Heather C Chavez, Heather C Hindi, Heather C Ripley and Heather Hindi. Levi Chavez is charged with first-degree murder and evidence tampering. Contact Number (505) ***-**** Engage via Phone. Chavez said he hadnt, and Hall asked whether he knew that cellphone records showed his phone in Los Lunas on Friday Oct. 19. Market data provided by Factset. 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. According to her testimony, Heather Chavez was in Chicago with her parents the weekend Tera died. "I don't feel like speaking for his future.". Im innocent. He started his police career in November of 1995, when he graduated from the Albuquerque Police Academy. The city of Albuquerque already has paid Teras family $230,000 to settle claims against itself and APD in the civil case. Heather's current home is located at Albuquerque, NM. 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. He strongly believes in working with the community to educate and have an understanding of community-oriented policing. They deliberated all day Monday and began again at about 1 p.m. today. The defense claims Tera Chavez killed herself because she was depressed about her marriage. Rebecca Sarker Sister Sunetra, function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);} 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. View the sitemap for the City of Albuquerque website. "Can you touch her? "She was upset. "She asked me if I would leave Samantha for her, and I told her no". 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. Mmmm detective Chavez with homicide, the text read. Heather Chavezs statement in court today was that the couple only kissed in the car. 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. On Jan. 15, 2008, Heather Chavez gave an interview to then-Detective Jones of VCSO. 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. 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 is a Master Police Officer 1C at City of Albuquerque based in Albuquerque, New Mexico. 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. 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. The Gallup New Deal Art Virtual Museum has received another big boost from the National Endowment fo 'More time for sunshine.' Market data provided by Factset. Heather Chavez, Levi Chavez's current wife, testifies during his murder trial on Friday, June 28, 2013. << /Lang /MarkInfo << /Marked true >> /Outlines 6 0 R /PageLayout /OneColumn /Pages 5 0 R /StructTreeRoot 9 0 R /Type /Catalog >> Over the years, detectives interviewed a lot of people. He continued his education, attending the Police School of Staff and Command with Northwestern University. There is no confirmation on whether she is still a part of the Albuquerque Police Department. The unfaithfulness began early in the couples 10-year relationship, around the time Tera became pregnant with the couples first child shortly before her 16th birthday. 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. Prosecutor Bryan McKay, who told jurors during closing arguments that Chavez used his department-issued gun to commit "cold-blooded, calculated, planned-out murder," declined to comment after the verdict. 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. 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. stream Testimony and argument in the trial lasted five weeks. Chavez still faces a wrongful death lawsuit from the family of Tera Chavez. De-extinction is a, Roundhouse Roundup: Paramilitary rules, youth parole, BCSO: Kids were living in dirty home containing drugs, Gun safety bill passes Senate, faces one more hurdle, Hobbs woman sentenced for stealing car with kids, Roswell PD: Woman steals, drives wrong-way to get, Case dismissed for teen accused of taking gun to, Whats happening around New Mexico Feb. 24 Mar. Decommissioned Nuclear Power Plant Scotland, Pedro Taylor Football, Before reading the verdict Judge George P. Eichwald admonished the gallery, saying he had observed a lot of animosity. 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. This included partnerships with the schools, teachers and laws enforcement with a focused presentation of alcohol awareness to students. This link will take you to a site over which the City of Albuquerque has no control. I couldve been a better parent and recommended that it was in the best interest that they not be together, she said. 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. During his time with Party Patrol he focused on decreasing illegal sales to underage youth. ITS A HEAVY WEIGHT TO CARRY. Associated persons: Lear Huntington, Caitlin Moya, Amanda M Reinhart, Danielle Reinhart, Leonard J . Wealthy and poor, black and white, young and old we all have constitutional rights. 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. View the Department Summary Sworn Personnel (as of July 29, 2022). %PDF-1.7 She testified that she is currently assigned to the APD Crimes Against Children Unit. Who Wrote She's Like The Swallow, Levi Chavez refuted Slamas claims when he testified. 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. 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. ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) - The attorney general and the Albuquerque Police Department are cracking down on serial shoplifters and organized retail crime.