Man Facing Trial for Wife's Murder Flees the Country

A Houston man awaiting trial in the death of his pregnant wife allegedly cut off his ankle monitor and escaped to Europe, where he has now requested asylum. Prosecutors say 39-year-old Lee Gilley discussed ditching his monitor, fleeing the country, and obtaining a new identity with a woman he'd had an affair with before leaving Texas just weeks before his scheduled murder trial in the October 2024 killing of his wife, Christa, per KPRC. Court records show his GPS monitor began sending tamper alerts Friday; by Monday, a judge had revoked his $1 million bond and issued a warrant.

Gilley's attorney, Dick DeGuerin, says his client fled to Canada, then flew to Milan, Italy, where he was detained after airport officials questioned his identification, per KHOU. DeGuerin says Gilley then identified himself, claimed he was being wrongly prosecuted in Texas where he faced the death penalty, and requested asylum, per KPRC. DeGuerin notes prosecutors never said they would seek death in the case, but Texas must now assure Italy that capital punishment is off the table before extradition can move forward. DeGuerin adds that his client's fleeing only shows he's "scared." Gilley allegedly told police that his wife had died from an overdose, despite evidence that she was strangled.