Bond increased for Houston murder suspect accused of killing wife with iron
Bond doubled for Houston man accused of killing his wife
Chance Chavez is accused of killing his wife after striking her multiple times with an iron.
HOUSTON - Bond was increased to $500,000 on Monday for a man accused of murdering his wife in northwest Houston.
Chance Chavez is accused of striking his wife, Kristen, multiple times with an iron, killing her, according to police.
He appeared before a judge on Monday. The hearing was delayed for hours because Chavez was refusing to appear. A containment squad eventually escorted him into the courtroom.
Chavez’s bond was previously set at $250,000 last week, and the state requested it be raised to $1 million on Monday. The judge raised the bond to $500,000.
$250K bond sparks petition
$250K bond for man accused of murdering wife sparks petition
A Houston man accused of beating his wife to death with a clothes iron is set to appear in court on Monday morning. His bond was set at $250,000 last week, and more than 8,000 people have signed a petition calling for it to be increased. (NOTE: This report is from prior to the hearing on Monday.)
Dig deeper:
A magistrate previously set Chavez's bond at $250,000 during a probable cause hearing last week. He remained in jail on Monday morning, but there were concerns he could post bond ahead of his trial. It sparked an online petition signed by more than 8,000 people wanting to see his bond increased while also looking for the prosecution to seek the maximum sentence.
What they're saying:
"We’re hoping that he remains in jail until the trial and throughout the trial for him to be held accountable for what he’s done," said Laura Bell, Kristen's mother.
Houston crime: Family speaks on woman allegedly killed by her husband
Officials believe Kristen Chavez died after her husband struck her multiple times with an iron. While demanding for justice, Kristen's family tells FOX 26's Jade Flury that they're looking for one of Kristen's dogs who was allegedly dumped on a freeway.
Bond conditions:
If he bonds out of jail, he is to not have any contact with anyone else who may have lived in the household or any member of his wife's family. He is not allowed to possess any firearms, ammunition or weapons. He will have to submit to random urinalysis.
He is not allowed to use, possess or consume alcohol or drugs. He will also be required to be electronically monitored and will have to comply with stipulated curfew and rules. He will be considered under house arrest.
Husband arrested, charged with murder
The backstory:
Just before 7:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Houston police responded to a call about a "suspicious event" at a house in the 5100 block of Emma Forest Street.
When police arrived, 34-year-old Chance Chavez was standing in the doorway with his hands up. He had blood on his arms, legs and clothing, according to police.
He was placed in the back of a patrol car and officers searched the house.
Police found 32-year-old Kristen Chavez unresponsive in a bedroom. The investigation revealed she suffered blunt force trauma to her body and was pronounced dead by paramedics.
Chavez was arrested and booked into the Harris County Jail.
Remembering Kristen Chavez
Kristen's family said she worked as a paralegal with a love of law and dreams of being an attorney. They described her as a strong, loving woman who was full of integrity.
"She was very logical. She was the voice of reason. She was headstrong in a positive way," said Bell.
Kristen's family is now remembering her as the loving sister, daughter, and wife that she was.
"She was my ride or die. She was my goofy twin. She always had a passion for others, helping others," said Cervantes.
"She was able to walk into a room and draw people to her. She had a way of just connecting to people naturally," said Bell.
The Source: The information in this article comes from court records and previous FOX 26 reporting including information from Houston police and interviews with Kristen Chavez's family.