Kristen Chavez, a 32-year-old paralegal, was found dead in her northwest Houston home following an alleged attack by her husband, Chance Chavez. According to Click2Houston, Chavez is accused of striking his wife with a clothing iron on Wednesday. He was arrested near their residence in a gated community on Emma Forest Street. Court documents report a broken iron near the victim's body and multiple holes in the wall.
One of Kristen Chavez's four dogs, Peaches the dachshund, was found dead days later, with the cause still undetermined. Kristen’s mother, Laura Bell, described her daughter as "very ambitious. Loved to help people. Very outgoing. She never met a stranger,” according to a statement obtained by Click2Houston. Police reports indicate that the husband abandoned the dogs early Wednesday before seeking help from a neighbor while covered in blood. The three other dogs were located and have been returned to the victim's family.
Meanwhile, the Houston Police Department responded to a call regarding a suspicious event at the home. Upon their arrival, officers found Chance Zane Chavez with his hands up, his clothing splattered in blood. He was detained and placed in a patrol car as officers discovered the lifeless body of his wife, according to ABC13. The official cause of death points to blunt force trauma.
Chance Chavez's bond is set at $250,000 while he faces murder charges, but the victim's loved ones have started a petition demanding a higher bond or a denial of bond altogether. They're expecting the issue to be addressed during Chavez's first district court appearance next Monday.
