The search intensifies for Stephen Chaney, a 33-year-old man convicted of murdering his ex-girlfriend, Claudia Leiva, but who vanished a day before his trial was set to begin. Houston authorities, as reported by Click2Houston, are actively pursuing leads after Chaney failed to appear at his Oct. 9 trial, despite participating in jury selection.
After leaving his house on Oct. 8 and cutting off his ankle monitor, which was later found thrown onto a freeway around 10 p.m., Chaney has been unreachable. His attorneys and brother attempted to make contact with him several times to no avail, according to court documA manhunt has been initiated as Chaney's trial continued in his absence, resulting in his conviction for Leiva's murder last Wednesday, as stated by 6abc. A warrant for his arrest remains outstanding.
Leiva's death unfolded on Aug. 12, 2020, when her body was discovered next to a dumpster at the Rose Tree apartments in north Houston. Covered with boards, it appeared she had been left there for days with a fatal gunshot wound to the head. Surveillance footage captured a man, identified as Chaney, dragging what appeared to be a body from a Chevrolet Trailblazer, positioning it near the dumpster, and covering it up.
Adding to the circumstances surrounding the case, Leiva was reported missing by her mother, who indicated she was involved with several men prostituting her, and had been harassed by a man mere days before her death. Court documents reveal Leiva filed a harassment report against Chaney on Aug. 7, 2020. Text messages retrieved from her phone revealed her pleas for Chaney not to harm her, as well as her intentions to end their relationship, which he appeared to disregard, further implicating him in her death.
The Harris County District Attorney's Office, detailing Chaney's pre-trial conditions, had mandated he remain homebound and equipped with a GPS device. Despite following protocol, Chaney's escape from custody has triggered an urgent manhunt, with authorities seeking public assistance for any information that could lead to his capture.
