BERNALILLO, N.M. (AP) The mother of a former Albuquerque police officer accused of killing his wife says the couple should have divorced years ago. An emotional Rita Romero, the mother of Levi Chavez, told jurors Tuesday that she regretted convincing her son to get back together with Tera Chavez after the pair faced troubles. She said Tera Chavez was often depressed.
Chavez is accused of shooting his 26-year-old wife, Tera Chavez, with his department-issued gun in 2007 at their Los Lunas home and then trying to make her death look like a suicide.
During cross-examination, Romero admitted knowing about one affair but said neither her son nor her daughter-in-law talked about their affairs with her. Romero was the first witness called by defense attorney David Serna.
