Christa Gilley, 38
9 weeks pregnant at the time of her death. Killed in her Houston home; husband initially told police she had overdosed. Medical examiner ruled she had been strangled.
- Original chargeCapital murder (wife and unborn child)October 11, 2024
- Released$1,000,000 bond with GPS ankle monitorNovember 15, 2024
- Before the releaseMurderOctober 7, 2024
What happened
Christa Gilley was strangled in her Houston home on October 7, 2024 while 9 weeks pregnant; her husband Lee called police claiming she had overdosed. He was charged with capital murder, then released on $1M bond. In May 2026, days before trial, he cut off his GPS ankle monitor, used a fake Belgian passport, and flew to Italy via Air Canada. Italian border police arrested him in Milan; he is seeking asylum to avoid extradition since Texas has the death penalty.
The release decision
On October 11, 2024, Lee Gilley was charged with capital murder (wife and unborn child). District Court Judge Pending Identification ordered the release on November 15, 2024. Terms: $1,000,000 bond with gps ankle monitor. Prosecutors had asked for detention without bond. The defendant had 0 prior arrests at the time.
The defendant's record
Clemson alumnus, software engineer. No prior criminal record. Released on $1M bond with GPS ankle monitor after being charged with capital murder of his pregnant wife.