A Texas man, Chance Zane Chavez, 34, is on charges of murdering his wife by beating her with a clothing iron before stealing and abandoning her four pet dogs on the highway.
Houston police discovered Chavez covered in blood inside the couple’s home last week, where they also found the battered body of his 32-year-old wife, Kristen Chavez, in the bedroom.
Victim’s Family Speaks Out
Kristen’s grieving mother, Laura Bell, told KRIV-TV News that her daughter had remained in the relationship, hoping for change.
“Even though it was not a good situation, she stayed, hoping things would change. We’re now hoping he stays in jail and is held accountable for what he’s done.”
The Alleged Crime
According to police, Chavez’s violent spree began hours before his arrest when he allegedly stole his wife’s four dogs and dumped them on the Katy Freeway.
- Three of the dogs were later found by volunteers and friends.
- One dog, a Dachshund named Peaches, is still missing.
At around 7:30 a.m. on Wednesday, officers responded to the couple’s Houston home in the Central Northwest neighborhood and found Chavez standing in the doorway, hands raised, with blood covering his arms, legs, and clothing.
Inside, Kristen Chavez was pronounced dead at the scene, having suffered severe blunt force trauma. Investigators believe Chavez repeatedly struck her with a clothing iron.
A Devastating Loss
Kristen’s family described her deep love for her dogs, referring to them as “her babies” since she did not have children.
“We’ve been searching neighborhoods, asking if anyone has seen Peaches,” Bell said. “Finding the other pets was like a miracle.”
