A state appellate court has upheld the maximum murder sentence for a man accused of killing his estranged wife at his rural California Township home. A jury in Starke Circuit Court deliberated for less than two hours in July of 2015 before finding Gary Chavez guilty of murder.
Court documents indicated he sent a text to his estranged wife, Kimberly, on June 6, 2014, stating that he was sick and later told her he thought he was dying. Chavez was not answering his phone, according to court records, so Kim drove from Portage to check on him. She left her phone and purse in her car when she got to his house, according to the court file.
The appellate court opinion reads, “Chavez viciously beat Kim and stabbed her multiple times, puncturing her carotid artery. Chavez continued to beat Kim and fractured her skull in multiple places.”
Chavez was also convicted of kidnapping and carjacking, but only appealed his conviction of murder. The Indiana Court of Appeals will not reweigh evidence. They will only consider whether a sentence is appropriate.
The 65-year sentence Chavez received is the maximum for murder.
The Appellate Court ruling noted “Chavez murdered Kim in a particularly heinous and egregious manner” and that “his lack of criminal history and the effect on his family do not overcome his atrocious acts.”
