Louis Chaves

Last updated
Louis Ralph Chaves
Bornc. 1943 (age 80–81)
Dominican Republic [1]
StatusReleased
Conviction(s) Murder x3
Criminal penalty Life imprisonment
Details
Victims3
Span of crimes
1968–1987
CountryUnited 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.

Contents

Murders

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

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

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 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.
  2. ↑ "Suspect in officer's murder had served time for slayings". The Californian . March 27, 1987. Retrieved March 13, 2024– via newspapers.com.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Evangelista, Benny (March 27, 1987). "Hayward officer's slaying stuns department". Oakland Tribune . Retrieved March 13, 2024– via newspapers.com.
  4. ↑ Jones, Will (July 28, 1988). "Man accused in cop slaying ruled competent". Oakland Tribune . Retrieved March 13, 2024– via newspapers.com.
  5. ↑ "Hayward cop found slain after struggle". San Francisco Examiner . March 26, 1987. Retrieved March 13, 2024– via newspapers.com.
  6. 1 2 3 Coronado, Ramon (August 13, 1987). "Court orders mental tests for suspect in Hayward cop killing". Oakland Tribune . Retrieved March 13, 2024– via newspapers.com.
  7. ↑ "Cop-killer suspect to undergo mental exams". Oakland Tribune . October 15, 1988. Retrieved March 13, 2024– via newspapers.com.
  8. ↑ "Officer Benjamin Warren Worcester". Officer Down Memorial Page. Archived from the original on September 29, 2023. Retrieved March 13, 2024.
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