Accused North Andover Killer Could Return To MA Next Week

NORTH ANDOVER, MA -- The man accused of killing 49-year-old Wendi Davidson in North Andover on April 21 could be returned to Massachusetts as early as next week. Brian Chevalier, 51, of Merrimack, NH is being held in Imperial County, CA and fighting extradition to face first degree murder charges. But the Imperial County District Attorney's Office has scheduled an identity hearing for Monday, at which time officials will prove that Chevalier is the man Massachusetts officials are looking for.

"It's a hearing to prove that it's the same person wanted by the other state," said Laura Keenan of the Imperial County DA's office. "If someone's identity is proven, the other state arranges transportation to bring them back. It's just a matter of how quickly that can be organized" once the hearing concludes.

Whether or not Chevalier comes back next week will depend on how quickly the bureaucracy in Massachusetts moves. On Wednesday, Essex County District Attorney spokesperson Carrie Kimball-Monahan said the office still needs to secure a Governor's warrant -- a process that can take up to 60 days.

"The identity hearing is just the first step in the process," she said.

Chevalier was also in court yesterday for a routine, pre-trial hearing on fugitive justice charges "where nothing happened," Keenan said. U.S. Marshalls captured Chevalier in Mexico on April 25. On April 30, he refused to wave extradition proceedings, prompting the Essex County District Attorney's office to seek a Governor's warrant so he can face charges in the April 21 murder of Davidson, his ex-fiance.

Chevalier was paroled in December after serving 14 years of a 10- to 33-year sentence in a 2004 conviction of kidnapping, despite protests by the victim in that 2003 crime. He and Davidson started dating shortly after he was paroled and were engaged in February. In late March, Davidson broke off the engagement. On April 21, police responded to Davidson's home at 50 Lincoln Street in North Andover after her body was discovered in the basement. Investigators say Davidson was strangled.

More on this story:

• Accused North Andover Murderer Back In California Court (5/7/2018)
• 2003 Victim: Prosecutors Partly At Fault In North Andover Murder(5/3/2018)
• Victim Offered Harrowing Account Of Night With Accused Killer(5/2/2018)
• Meet The Men Who Tried To Free The Accused North Andover Killer (5/1/2018)
• Accused Killer Still On West Coast, DA Seeks Gov.'s Warrant(4/30/2018)
• Accused Killer's Record Of Violence Against Women Started In 1990 (4/29/2018)
• North Andover Victim Met Alleged Killer On Dating Site(4/28/2018)
• Ex-Fiance Charged With North Andover Woman's Murder(4/27/2018)
• Murder Victim's Fiance Kidnapped Ex-Girlfriend In 2003(4/24/2018)
• North Andover Murder Victim Was "Kind, Caring" (4/23/2018)
• North Andover Homicide Victim Was Strangled (4/22/2018)
• Police Investigating Homicide In North Andover (4/21/2018)

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Patch file photo of Wendi Davidson.

Dave Copeland can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).