Man ‘beat wife to death with iron’ before dumping her four dogs on the highway

A Texas man is accused of brutally beating his wife to death with a clothing iron before taking her four pet dogs and dumping them on the freeway.

Chance Zane Chavez, 34, was charged with murder after police found him drenched in blood at the couple’s Houston home last week. Inside, officers discovered the battered body of his 32-year-old wife, Kristen Chavez. Officials said they’d been responding to a “call about a suspicious event at the residence” just before 7.30am on Wednesday.

“Upon arrival, they observed a male, Chavez, standing in the doorway with his hands up. The male had blood on his arms, legs and clothing. Officers secured him in the back of a patrol car and then searched the house for anyone injured,” the Houston Police Department said in a statement.

The statement continued: “A female, Chavez’s wife, was discovered unresponsive in a bedroom. She had suffered blunt force trauma to her body and was pronounced deceased by paramedics.” Police believe Chavez used a clothing iron to repeatedly strike and kill Kristen.

Her devastated family said she wasn’t in a “good situation” as they spoke about her relationship. “She tried to see the good in people even though they tried to take advantage of that,” Devin Cervantes, Kristen’s brother, told Fox 26.

Kristen’s mother, Laura Bell, added: “Even though it was not a good situation, staying in it, hoping that things will change.” Kristen’s family said that Chavez also took her four beloved dogs and dumped them on the Katy Freeway.

“She doesn’t have any children, so these dogs are her babies,” Julia Green, Kristen’s sister, said. Three of the four dogs were found on the freeway and taken to shelters but the fourth dog, a Dachshund named Peaches, is still missing as the family pleads for help.

“We’ve just been putting it out there and even going into the neighborhoods seeking to see if anyone has seen her,” Julia said. Kristen was a paralegal who dreamed of becoming an attorney.

Her family has remembered her as a loving sister, daughter and wife that was “headstrong”. Chavez was booked into the Harris County Jail on murder charges, where he is being held on a $250,000 bond.

His next court date is on Monday. “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,” Kristen’s mom said.

Anyone affected by abuse and in need of support can contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline (1-800-799-7233). Advocates are available 24/7 and can also be reached via live chat on thehotline.org or by texting “START” to 88788 or “LOVEIS” to 22522.

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