California Court OKs Extradition Of Accused North Andover Killer

NORTH ANDOVER, MA -- A judge in Imperial County, CA affirmed that the man captured by U.S. Marshals near the Mexican border is the same person wanted by authorities in Massachusetts for the murder of 49-year-old Wendi Davidson in her North Andover home on April 21. Brian Chevalier, 51, of Merrimack, NH, appeared in a California courtroom Monday for an identity hearing. Massachusetts still needs to obtain a Governor's warrant to transfer Chevalier back to the state, a process which could take as long as 60 days.

After he was captured on April 25, Chevalier refused to waive extradition proceedings, forcing Monday's identity hearing. "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.

Last week 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.

The DA's office will submit a warrant to Gov. Charlie Baker for his review. If Baker signs off on the warrant, it's sent to California Gov. Jerry Brown. After Brown signs off on the warrant, its forwarded to the California judge handling Chevalier's detainment, who issues an order to turn Chevalier over to Massachusetts officials.

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 Killer Could Return To MA Next Week (5/9/2018)
• 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.

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