Man accused of murdering pregnant wife in Houston Heights in 2024 flees to Italy ahead of trial
HOUSTON – Lee Gilley, the 39-year-old man accused of murdering his pregnant wife Christa in October 2024, has lower off his ankle monitor and “fled the jurisdiction,” in accordance to court docket data and the Harris County District Attorney’s Office.
Gilley was scheduled to be in court docket this week and start his homicide trial later this month, in accordance to court docket data.
Gilley’s protection legal professional Dick DeGuerin on Monday evening advised KPRC 2 News his shopper has been captured in Italy, primarily based on data DeGuerin has obtained from prosecutors.
“It’s very concerning and I’m concerned that the prosecution will try to say that it’s evidence of consciousness of guilt that he’s running from it, but I think he’s just scared,” DeGuerin mentioned.
Officials on the airport in Milan, Italy, didn’t imagine Gilley’s identification data, DeGuerin mentioned, which is when Gilley self-identified, mentioned he was being wrongfully prosecuted in Texas, was topic to the loss of life penalty, and wished asylum.
DeGuerin mentioned Texas has to certify to Italy that he isn’t topic to the loss of life penalty, including that the prosecution has by no means mentioned they’re looking for loss of life for Gilley.
It’ll now be a course of to get him again to the US that may take an undetermined quantity of time, DeGuerin mentioned.
Gilley has been out of jail on a $1 million bond since Oct. 21, 2024, in accordance to data. On Friday night, data present his GPS monitor began producing a “strap tamper” alert, Pretrial Services tried to attain him by telephone, and as of Monday, the alert was nonetheless going off.
Records present a choose has revoked his bail and a warrant has been issued for his arrest.
Initially, police mentioned Gilley advised them his wife Christa overdosed, he discovered her unresponsive, and tried to carry out CPR. He was arrested days later although, as a result of the health worker discovered proof of strangulation.
Christa was 9 weeks pregnant, and Gilley finally admitted his wife was not suicidal or a drug person, in accordance to court docket data. They had been arguing earlier than she died, data present.
Just a pair weeks in the past, Harris County prosecutors filed paperwork in preparation for trial, indicating they deliberate to carry up a 2023 affair Gilley had with a lady in California.
In 2025, whereas on bond for Christa’s homicide, prosecutors wrote that he communicated with the identical lady on quite a few apps and on the telephone, discussing plans to flee to Mexico and different international locations. He additionally “provided a detailed plan” for eradicating his GPS monitor, mentioned the likelihood of marriage in order to acquire a brand new id, data present.
“The Defendant also inquired as to whether she knew of a Mexican identity he could acquire to facilitate his departure from the country,” data present.
Gilley was scheduled to be in court docket on Tuesday morning for a movement listening to, in accordance to data, and the listening to is scheduled to proceed as deliberate, in accordance to the DA’s workplace and DeGuerin.
