Louis Chaves
Louis Ralph Chaves | |
|---|---|
| Born | c. 1943 (age 80–81) |
| Status | Released |
| Conviction(s) | Murder x3 |
| Criminal penalty | Life imprisonment |
| Details | |
| Victims | 3 |
Span of crimes | 1968–1987 |
| Country | United States |
| State(s) | California |
Date apprehended | March 25, 1987 |
Louis Ralph Chaves (born c. 1943), also known as Louis Chavez or Louis Notclay,[2] is a Dominican-born American serial killer who murdered a couple in El Monte, California, in 1968, and later a police officer in Hayward in 1987.
Murders
[edit]In 1968, Chaves killed a man and woman in El Monte, California. For this, he served seven years at the California Men's Colony in San Luis Obispo.[1] Manuel Velazquez, who had known Chaves since 1963, said that the victims were his landlords, with whom he had an ongoing dispute. Chaves was known as a religious man who claimed to receive messages from God, who would "come and tell him he was going to be a king."[3] After his 1976 parole, he spent time in mental hospitals in New Jersey.[4] Other friends of Chaves said that he had a history of emotional problems and moved to Hayward, California, in August 1986 after spending years living in an RV in New Jersey and Alaska.[3]
In December 1986, Chaves spent nine days in jail and received two years of probation for biting a police officer and attempting to steal his gun in a San Leandro courtroom.[1][3]
On March 25, 1987, Chaves parked his RV in front of a home in Hayward. Chaves was known by some in the area, and one woman on the street allowed him to use her mailing address. At 6:37 p.m., neighbors became suspicious of the vehicle and called the police. After three officers arrived, Chaves refused to leave his RV, threatening them and igniting spray from a can of carburetor cleaner at them. 29-year-old officer Benjamin Worcester went inside the camper to arrest Chaves, and during a struggle, Chaves picked up a 7-inch hunting knife and stabbed Worcester in the throat, severing a main artery and killing him. The other two officers were unaware of Worcester's death until they were placing Chaves in a police cruiser and noticed Worcester was not present.[3][5][6]
Trial
[edit]At his arraignment, Chaves wept openly and told the court to review his past so he could "rest [his] case" and "condemn [himself] in silence."[1][6] Although originally ruled competent to stand trial,[6] this was overturned in October 1988, and Chaves was sent to Atascadero State Hospital, where he underwent exams.[7] He was again ruled competent to stand trial and was sentenced to 25 years to life imprisonment. In December 2022, Chaves was granted parole on medical grounds.[8]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c d O'Toole, Ken (March 28, 1987). "Suspect in cop's slaying wants to 'condemn' himself". San Francisco Examiner. Retrieved March 13, 2024 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ "Suspect in officer's murder had served time for slayings". The Californian. March 27, 1987. Retrieved March 13, 2024 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c d Evangelista, Benny (March 27, 1987). "Hayward officer's slaying stuns department". Oakland Tribune. Retrieved March 13, 2024 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ Jones, Will (July 28, 1988). "Man accused in cop slaying ruled competent". Oakland Tribune. Retrieved March 13, 2024 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ "Hayward cop found slain after struggle". San Francisco Examiner. March 26, 1987. Retrieved March 13, 2024 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c Coronado, Ramon (August 13, 1987). "Court orders mental tests for suspect in Hayward cop killing". Oakland Tribune. Retrieved March 13, 2024 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ "Cop-killer suspect to undergo mental exams". Oakland Tribune. October 15, 1988. Retrieved March 13, 2024 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ "Officer Benjamin Warren Worcester". Officer Down Memorial Page. Archived from the original on September 29, 2023. Retrieved March 13, 2024.