NM - Tera Chavez, 26, found dead in her Los Lunas home, 22 Oct 2007 - #2

[aa9511]

Geevee, I find the whole Heather Chavez thing very weird. I keep wondering if she helped him plan this, being a detective and all. Seems to be that would be the perfect way to commit a crime, knowing everything detectives will look for!! For example, Mr. Serna talking about how Levi didn't take the "bait" questions, i.e. do you think someone broke in, is there anyone that might have wanted to hurt her?" Yes, it could be that he answered these "correctly" b/c he's innocent....or it could be that HE ALREADY KNEW WHAT DETECTIVES WOULD SAY TO TRY TO "TRAP" HIM.

Then she marries him and they live happily ever after. Hmmm....wifey out of the picture forever, how convenient. Doesn't have to deal with her bugging her husband, doesn't have to deal with her drama, doesn't have to deal with custody arrangements, doesn't have to give her money (for the kids)....seems to me to be VERY CONVENIENT for BOTH Levi AND Heather.

 

[Mrs.Serna]

Here you can see how silver we became in a short # of years. If you all don't mind, I'll come along later and delete this photo just for my privacy's sake.

I do not know what to say to the comment above about Heather, who is a lovely, lovely lady. If you really do sit down and make a list, or several, of how you think this might have happened as a result of their conspiring to murder, or solely his premeditated plans to, I guarantee you will not be able to produce a plausible scenario that can fit with the facts we do have.

It's important to remember how over this marriage was, how desperately Mrs. Chavez was feeling about that, and about failing to convince her friend's husband to leave his wife and be with her. Her family fought that characterization of her with all their might; they attempted to present a solid front of people who saw her as always, upbeat, happy, ready to move on from a failed marriage, and ready to be an independent businesswoman.

For the civil trial, they will have to change their views and testify that she was dangerously despondent; the kind of person one shouldn't leave ropes, or guns or poisons around. Interesting how that works, isn't it?

 

[aa9511]

Here you can see how silver we became in a short # of years. View attachment 37179 If you all don't mind, I'll come along later and delete this photo just for my privacy's sake.

I do not know what to say to the comment above about Heather, who is a lovely, lovely lady. If you really do sit down and make a list, or several, of how you think this might have happened as a result of their conspiring to murder, or solely his premeditated plans to, I guarantee you will not be able to produce a plausible scenario that can fit with the facts we do have.

It's important to remember how over this marriage was, how desperately Mrs. Chavez was feeling about that, and about failing to convince her friend's husband to leave his wife and be with her. Her family fought that characterization of her with all their might; they attempted to present a solid front of people who saw her as always, upbeat, happy, ready to move on from a failed marriage, and ready to be an independent businesswoman.

For the civil trial, they will have to change their views and testify that she was dangerously despondent; the kind of person one shouldn't leave ropes, or guns or poisons around. Interesting how that works, isn't it?

Beautiful! Thanks for sharing!

I respect the system, and respect the decision the jury made. It was their decision to make. Some of us have a different idea of the weight of the evidence presented. Speaking for myself here, I disagree with the weight they gave the evidence, but in the end, it was not my decision, what I think doesn't matter. It was up to them to decide.

So, that's that. And, as Mr. Serna said in closing (paraphrasing) sometimes 10 guilty ones go so that 1 innocent doens't go to prison for something they didn't do. So, I'm gonna chalk Levi up to one of those 10 that are needed to keep the system straight. That's all I can do from here.

 

[Jewels53]

I know I wrote a lengthy reply (twice) about some of the details, and for some reason they were deleted. Someone suggested I try 'validation' and without a law license or paralegal certification or law enforcement background, your administrator couldn't see a way to fit me in so to speak. So, here I am anyway.

RSBM BBM

So Mrs. Serna here you are again. First off I want you to know our Moderators work very hard at their jobs and validating someone is at their discretion so I have to trust them. The Mods are the ones in charge and help keep us in line.

You say that we are not good Websleuther's if we can't prove who you are? Those picture's could be found on the Web you know so no proof yet to me.

I still don't believe in Levi's innocence and that is my opinion.

 

[Mrs.Serna]

Beautiful! Thanks for sharing!

I respect the system, and respect the decision the jury made. It was their decision to make. Some of us have a different idea of the weight of the evidence presented. Speaking for myself here, I disagree with the weight they gave the evidence, but in the end, it was not my decision, what I think doesn't matter. It was up to them to decide.

So, that's that. And, as Mr. Serna said in closing (paraphrasing) sometimes 10 guilty ones go so that 1 innocent doens't go to prison for something they didn't do. So, I'm gonna chalk Levi up to one of those 10 that are needed to keep the system straight. That's all I can do from here.

Thanks, aa9511, I appreciate your thoughts. The jury does get the full picture in a way that even the most devoted viewer doesn't. The immensity of all the testimony and emotions and just the sheer hours of duty was a lot to bear. To be honest, this case should never have made it into a courtroom. It shouldn't have gone farther than the DA's desk, and they know that. Everything they brought as evidence was either contradicted by other evidence, or by common sense, or was simply circumstantial. They went head over heels to sanitize and glamorize her life and to damn our client and render him repugnant. They did that well, but that's not what makes a successful prosecution based on laws they charged him with breaking and they deserved to lose. I know there are many people who share your opinion that he''s guilty; there are many others who could clearly see he wasn't. Our office received many messages and some anonymous letters of support throughout the ordeal.

And to the person (is it the same one or are there many?) who doesn't believe who I am, I'll say this: I'm not likely to try harder to prove that to you, and again would ask what someone would gain by impersonating me, the unvalidated Mrs. Serna (my first name's Patti, by the way). If someone's impersonating me I wish they would come tackle this sink full of pots and pans I need to wash. lease:

The episode of Dateline covering this trial should be airing this month. They were thinking maybe the 20th, maybe even the 13th. Inside Edition also did coverage and they interviewed David afterwards but I don't have any idea when they're airing anything.

 

[geevee]

Good morning Mrs. Serna,

Thanks for the photos, and yes, recognize Barry Sheck (sp?). As Jewels mentioned, not proof of identity but I'll not challenge you unless I grow suspicious. lol

Sorry, some of us have been around message boards since their birth and have first hand knowledge of dealing with folks who would have you think they are someone else. Nothing personal towards you, just an unfortunate internet thing.

I am glad you've returned though, I do like hearing both sides, as I mentioned earlier, I didn't have any info on this case until trial began so had to catch-up while testimony was going on, but had no reason to think him guilty initially.

As testimony continued there were a few things that swung me to that side, the moist bath towel, the missing new journal, the way her body/hand looked much more like someone who fell asleep with a remote in their hand instead of died after jamming a gun all the way to the furthest reaches of her throat, the stuff about 'felony amounts of mj moving through their house', I was left with many questions about the stolen truck as well.

But it's decided and over now, I hope Tera's family can find some peace, and LC and Heather take good care of the children.

BTW, the greying did not diminish your lovely locks.

 

[Mrs.Serna]

Thanks, geevee, you're too kind. I know what you mean about people and anonymity on the internet: it's never funny or well intentioned in my opinion. Anyway, I'm not going to dwell on it unless it truly is an issue for some.

I'm curious where you heard something about felony amounts of pot moving through their house? I never ran across that notion anywhere, and never heard anyone say it. The towel was mentioned in the audio at the scene; it didn't become a damp towel until years later when a damp towel would be a handy thing to have. As for her hand position, if you could take the remote out of the picture, the position of her hand is not inconsistent with how you would expect it to look at that point in time assuming it had held and fired that gun.

Have any of you all read "Innocent Man" by John Grisham, or the book on which much of it was based, "Actual Innocence" by Barry Scheck (Yes, that's who that is in the pic!)? I highly recommend them. We have the best legal system in the world, but it can also fail people in the most awful ways.
Mrs.Serna

 

[geevee]

Thanks, geevee, you're too kind. I know what you mean about people and anonymity on the internet: it's never funny or well intentioned in my opinion. Anyway, I'm not going to dwell on it unless it truly is an issue for some.

I'm curious where you heard something about felony amounts of pot moving through their house? I never ran across that notion anywhere, and never heard anyone say it. The towel was mentioned in the audio at the scene; it didn't become a damp towel until years later when a damp towel would be a handy thing to have. As for her hand position, if you could take the remote out of the picture, the position of her hand is not inconsistent with how you would expect it to look at that point in time assuming it had held and fired that gun.

Have any of you all read "Innocent Man" by John Grisham, or the book on which much of it was based, "Actual Innocence" by Barry Scheck (Yes, that's who that is in the pic!)? I highly recommend them. We have the best legal system in the world, but it can also fail people in the most awful ways.
Mrs.Serna

Thanks, I didn't think his name looked right when I typed it, and haven't read either book but may look them up, I do respect greatly what BS does with the I.P. (didn't think so highly back during OJ though lol).

There was testimony of Tera mentioning the mj thing LC and his cop buddies had going on, best as I can recall it was around the time of the truck investigation testimony but not sure who was on the stand. Since it was live streamed I haven't watched any of the YTs to know which days who was on the stand but if it sticks in my mind for a while and I have time I'll see if I can find what I heard.

 

[geevee]

P.S. Please post a reminder when you know the day of the Dateline program, I'd like to see it, I think.

 

[aa9511]

Thanks, aa9511, I appreciate your thoughts. The jury does get the full picture in a way that even the most devoted viewer doesn't. The immensity of all the testimony and emotions and just the sheer hours of duty was a lot to bear. To be honest, this case should never have made it into a courtroom. It shouldn't have gone farther than the DA's desk, and they know that. Everything they brought as evidence was either contradicted by other evidence, or by common sense, or was simply circumstantial. They went head over heels to sanitize and glamorize her life and to damn our client and render him repugnant. They did that well, but that's not what makes a successful prosecution based on laws they charged him with breaking and they deserved to lose. I know there are many people who share your opinion that he''s guilty; there are many others who could clearly see he wasn't. Our office received many messages and some anonymous letters of support throughout the ordeal.

And to the person (is it the same one or are there many?) who doesn't believe who I am, I'll say this: I'm not likely to try harder to prove that to you, and again would ask what someone would gain by impersonating me, the unvalidated Mrs. Serna (my first name's Patti, by the way). If someone's impersonating me I wish they would come tackle this sink full of pots and pans I need to wash. lease:

The episode of Dateline covering this trial should be airing this month. They were thinking maybe the 20th, maybe even the 13th. Inside Edition also did coverage and they interviewed David afterwards but I don't have any idea when they're airing anything.

bbm

I can understand one or two circumstantial things....but so many circumstantial things??? So he just "happened" to turn off his cell phone? He just "happened" to be conveniently out of town for that weekend. He "happened" to be having many affairs, one of whom he obviously wanted to marry. There "happened" to be towel, damp or not? The magazine "happened" to be unseated? And his wife, amidst all these affairs and this toxic relationship, "happens" to committ suicide?

No, this man is not innocent. I get where the jury is coming from....there was nothing to completely erase the remote possiblity of suicide...it was out there and there was nothing that could 100% erase that possiblility...therefore they had to do what they did. Reasonable Doubt. I get that.

But this man is guilty. I hope he has a life full of stress and problems, I really do. And it will be like that, because people like this don't change. He WILL cheat on Heather eventually. He WILL have affairs in his marriage. He WILL live a life of moral sins in may areas of his life. And I suspect that when his kids get older, he will have a strained relationship with them. After all, there's this thing called Google. And when they're older they're gonna be able to read about everrryythingggg. And then they're gonna go to their maternal grandparents, if the'yre still alive, and they're gonna ask them questions about their mother.

I hope he never lives in peace.

 

[Mrs.Serna]

He didn't 'happen' to turn off his cell phone. He did it because she was making non stop calls to it, something over 300 in a 48 hour period. He didn't want to hear from her and he said that on the stand. I would advise anyone in an estranged relationship who was getting that level of stalking to turn off the phone, would you not?

And he didn't "conveniently happen" to be out of town the prior weekend: he had scheduled guard training. Being part of military and law enforcement was his life.

Sorry you've taken this tack, frankly, and sorry also that you predict such misery for him and his family. They've done a very good job insulating the children from those who wish them all hell on earth. They were at our home for dinner last night and were doing just fine, so for now you'll have to live with disappointment over that.

 

[aa9511]

He didn't 'happen' to turn off his cell phone. He did it because she was making non stop calls to it, something over 300 in a 48 hour period. He didn't want to hear from her and he said that on the stand. I would advise anyone in an estranged relationship who was getting that level of stalking to turn off the phone, would you not?

And he didn't "conveniently happen" to be out of town the prior weekend: he had scheduled guard training. Being part of military and law enforcement was his life.

Sorry you've taken this tack, frankly, and sorry also that you predict such misery for him and his family. They've done a very good job insulating the children from those who wish them all hell on earth. They were at our home for dinner last night and were doing just fine, so for now you'll have to live with disappointment over that.

"those who wish them all hell on earth"....who are you insinuating, their maternal GRANDPARENTS?? Why would they wish them all hell on earth? They would want nothing but happiness for them. And yes, Levi and Heather must be doing a good job "insulating" them...they HAVE to "insulate' them to have control over what they hear about their mother and her suspicious death. Oh don't you worry, a mother's love is not forgotten. Just becuase she's dead doesn't mean they'll forget her. Their loss will grow over their lifetime as they pass importnant milestones where they don't have her guidance and love with them. And YES they will ask questions when they're old enough to think about it. No matter what Levi does, they will NEVER forget her, they will never forget that they had a mother, and Heather is not their mother.

Also the cell phone turning off, combined with all the other circumstantial evidence, is strong. It's not a "let's look at it piece-by-piece" thing that Levi and defense team thought up...it's everything AS A WHOLE. COMBINED. Anyone can go after the fact and come up with excuses for different pieces of ANYTHING.

 

[Mrs.Serna]

"those who wish them all hell on earth"....who are you insinuating, their maternal GRANDPARENTS?? Why would they wish them all hell on earth? They would want nothing but happiness for them. And yes, Levi and Heather must be doing a good job "insulating" them...they HAVE to "insulate' them to have control over what they hear about their mother and her suspicious death. Oh don't you worry, a mother's love is not forgotten. Just becuase she's dead doesn't mean they'll forget her. Their loss will grow over their lifetime as they pass importnant milestones where they don't have her guidance and love with them. And YES they will ask questions when they're old enough to think about it. No matter what Levi does, they will NEVER forget her, they will never forget that they had a mother, and Heather is not their mother.

Also the cell phone turning off, combined with all the other circumstantial evidence, is strong. It's not a "let's look at it piece-by-piece" thing that Levi and defense team thought up...it's everything AS A WHOLE. COMBINED. Anyone can go after the fact and come up with excuses for different pieces of ANYTHING.

Not at all. I bet the maternal grandparents wish strongly they had a current relationship with their grandkids, despite their also strong wish to put the kids' only surviving parent behind bars forever and, having failed in that, their wish that he be deprived of income necessary for their support.

Monitoring social media commentary is part of my job and it made a huge difference in winning a change of venue for this trial. People are eager to leap to their own conclusions in this case; I've seen very few online comments that indicated dispassionate consideration of the facts, so you're in the majority there.

 

[Jewels53]

The Officer's Wife


http://www.nbcnews.com/video/dateline/53003003#53003003


I sure hope those of you who followed this trial are able to watch on Friday!

 

[thefragile7393]

The Officer's Wife


http://www.nbcnews.com/video/dateline/53003003#53003003


I sure hope those of you who followed this trial are able to watch on Friday!

I was just about to post this and of course thats my 12-12 shift! Do they get on you tube often or is tehre another way to watch it? I don't have DVR.

 

[geevee]

Here's Dateline on NBCnews' site, looks like you can view full episodes there, not sure how long before it's viewable after the air date but worth a look this weekend, TF:

http://www.nbcnews.com/id/3032600/

P.S. Thanks for posting it Jewels, I nearly forgot about it.

 

[Jewels53]

Just bumping this up to remind people of the Dateline show tonight. 8 pm central 9 pm eastern, not sure what that calculates into west coast time. lol

 

[thefragile7393]

I so can't wait to watch this even though it will bring up so much yucky emotions again. But this case is close to my heart...I will not miss the online viewing.

Sent from my SGH-T989 using Tapatalk 4

 

[Jewels53]

I so can't wait to watch this even though it will bring up so much yucky emotions again. But this case is close to my heart...I will not miss the online viewing.

Sent from my SGH-T989 using Tapatalk 4

I know what you mean fragile, I am hoping from the preview they show much more about Tera and what her family lost in this tragedy. I so believe in Karma and it will come back and bite you! I have seen it happen so many times in real life.

I will feel like we are watching as a group as so many of us had the same feelings. I think others left because they were just too frustrated. I am here until the end.

 

[Jewels53]

:seeya:

The first 1 1/2 have been good. Surprised to see Aaron Jones on in so much of the show.