A Texas man charged with the 2024 killing of his pregnant wife fled last week to Italy, where he was found by Italian authorities with fake documents, according to federal complaint.
The man, who could face extradition back to United States, has since claimed asylum in Italy.
The man, Lee Gilley, 39, was charged with capital murder on Oct. 11, 2024, days after he called the police to say his wife was unresponsive, according to court documents. Mr. Gilley was released on bond, and had stayed in the United States until last week. That’s when federal authorities say he fled to Italy in what is believed to have been an attempt to avoid prosecution for the alleged murder of his wife.
It is unclear whether prosecutors in Texas will seek the death penalty or file for Mr. Gilley’s extradition. But the case could create a clash between the Italian and U.S. governments. The two countries have an extradition treaty that dates back to 1983, but Italian law bars extradition when someone could face the death penalty.
The episode at the heart of this case began late on the night of Oct. 7, 2024, when Mr. Gilley called the police from his home in Houston and said that his pregnant wife, Christa Gilley, was not responsive, according to the complaint.
Ms. Gilley was pronounced dead in the early hours of Oct. 8, 2024, and the next day, a Harris County forensic pathologist found that Ms. Gilley’s cause of death was compression of the neck and upper back, the complaint said.
Harris County records show that Mr. Gilley was granted a $1 million bond and released on Oct. 17, 2024. A trial date was scheduled for May 29.
In March, Mr. Gilley asked a Harris County judge for permission to travel to South Carolina for two weeks because his mother had Stage 4 cancer and “a very short time to live,” a Harris County court document said. The judge granted his request.
Then on May 1, Mr. Gilley cut off an ankle monitor that he was required to wear and fled the country, according to the federal complaint. Mr. Gilley traveled to Milan on an Air Canada flight and landed on May 3, according to the complaint.
In Milan, the complaint states, Mr. Gilley showed immigration officials Belgian identification documents, which were found to be forged. Mr. Gilley had been traveling under the name Lejeune Jean Luc Olivier, according to the authorities.
As Mr. Gilley was awaiting deportation, he told Italian authorities his real name and that he was awaiting trial in the United States for his wife’s murder. He then claimed asylum.
Tim Ballengee, a lawyer representing Ms. Gilley’s family, said in a statement that “the family has grappled with the loss of Christa and has struggled to see the man accused of killing her free on bond while the legal system progressed to a trial that the defendant has now attempted to avoid.”
He added, “Christa’s family welcomes a trial based on the truth and evidence that will deliver the justice Christa and her unborn child deserve.”
The United States Marshals Service declined to comment, citing an ongoing investigation.
The Houston Police Department referred questions to the Harris County District Attorney’s Office, which declined to comment, citing an order issued by a Harris County judge barring statements to the media.
Dick DeGuerin, a lawyer representing Mr. Gilley in Houston, said in an email that Mr. Gilley still has a trial date scheduled in his case.
“But that is doubtful because of proceedings in Italy,” said Mr. DeGuerin, who declined to comment further, citing the gag order issued in the case.
Monica Grosso, a lawyer representing Mr. Gilley in Italy, told reporters that Mr. Gilley appeared in court in Turin, Italy, and that he has maintained his innocence.
Mr. Gilley’s next hearing has been scheduled for Friday, Mr. DeGuerin said.
Along with the murder charge in Texas, Mr. Gilley also faces a federal charge of interstate flight to avoid prosecution.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for Southern District of Texas did not immediately respond to a request for comment.