Wealthy Texas man accused of murdering his pregnant wife in $1 million home flees to MILAN as he awaits trial for murder
A wealthy Texas man on the run after allegedly killing his pregnant wife in their home has been captured in Italy, where he claimed he was seeking asylum from “wrongful” persecution.
Lee Gilley, 39, allegedly strangled his wife, Christa, 38, on October 7, 2024, before telling police that the mother of two had tried to kill herself by overdosing in their Houston home.
Gilley was charged with capital murder in 2025 and ordered to wear an ankle monitor, forfeit his passport and be cleared to travel.
On Friday, authorities received an alert that his ankle monitor had been tampered with, but were unable to contact him.
Gilley allegedly cut off his ankle monitor and fled to Milan, where he told authorities he was seeking asylum because he was being “wrongfully persecuted” and feared he would receive the death penalty, Click 2 Houston reported.
He is now in custody in Italy. It is not yet known when he will be extradited to the US.
Gilley is believed to have fled to Canada before catching a flight to Italy, his lawyer Dick DeGuerin said, according to KHOU 11.
A judge has since revoked Gilley’s $1 million bond after the tampering warning, ABC 13 reported.
Lee Gilley, 39, was arrested in Italy after fleeing the US, weeks before his murder trial was due to begin
Gilley allegedly took off his ankle monitor and took a flight to Canada and then to Milan, where he told customs officials he wanted to apply for asylum because he was being wrongfully persecuted.
Prosecutors had previously raised concerns that the husband was a flight risk after requesting to visit his terminally ill mother in South Carolina in March.
Gilley also reportedly discussed fleeing the country, according to court documents. He is said to have talked about traveling to Mexico or another country to obtain a new identity.
DeGuerin said his escape is “very concerning” and that he believes prosecutors will use it against his client.
“I’m afraid the prosecutor will try to say it’s evidence of guilt that he’s running from it, but I think he’s just scared,” the lawyer told Click 2 Houston.
Texas must now declare to Italian officials that it will not seek the death penalty against Gilley. Prosecutors never asked for the death penalty.
His escape may have been prompted by prosecutors filing additional paperwork related to his upcoming trial, which was scheduled to begin later this month. Prosecutors reportedly planned to bring up an alleged affair from 2023, Click 2 Houston reported.
He is also said to have communicated with the woman he was having an affair with about a possible escape to Mexico.
On October 7, 2024, prosecutors said Lee called 911 claiming his wife Christa had attempted suicide by overdosing and that he was performing CPR.
The couple’s $1 million home in Houston is pictured above
Gilley allegedly strangled his pregnant wife on October 7, 2024
Lee told police that he and Christa had an argument before he went to sleep and woke up three hours later to find her unresponsive.
Christa was taken to hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
According to court documents, doctors soon discovered injuries on her body that were inconsistent with a suicide attempt.
Christa’s autopsy revealed that she died “due to neck compression,” as her injuries were consistent with strangulation.
Prosecutors say Lee admitted that Christa was not suicidal or a drug user.
Lee was arrested and charged with the murder of his wife and unborn child.
The alleged killer is listed as the founder of software consultancy Docmo.
For her part, Christa had a doctorate in physical therapy and worked as an adjunct professor at the University of Texas Medical Branch.
He said investigators attempted suicide by overdose in their Houston home. An autopsy later revealed that she had died from strangulation
Christa was taken to hospital, where she was pronounced dead
Her family said in a statement that they were devastated by her death and the death of her unborn child.
“Christa was an amazing mother, full of love and excited to welcome her third child. They were taken from this world unnecessarily and far too soon,” the family said.
“Christa’s family appreciates the outpouring from the community and hopes for justice for their daughter and their unborn grandchild.”
The couple married in 2017 in Charleston, South Carolina, almost a decade after first meeting.
A source who has known Lee since childhood told the Daily Mail in 2024 that a year prior to the murder, Gilley had become fixated on right-wing politics and the idea that women should stay home to care for their families – even though Christa was a successful physiotherapist and professor.
“This clearly seems at odds with being married to a woman with a PhD, two children and a full-time job,” the source said.
Lee’s LinkedIn account shows that he repeatedly liked posts that said women should play a traditional role at home instead of developing a professional career.
Just days before his wife’s death, he liked a post that read, “I no longer trust women in work environments.” Men are easy for me to screen because… I’m one of them.
Christa had a doctorate in physical therapy and worked as an adjunct professor at the University of Texas Medical Branch
Christa was a mother of two children and was pregnant with her third child at the time of her death
‘Women? Not so easy. Especially considering that in modern times they put their happiness above all else and that’s not really clear at first.’
“They are downright dangerous to your business and your family.”
A week before his wife’s death, he liked a post with the following phrases: “Women, forget your stupid careers… We don’t care… society lied… reject modernity… embrace tradition.”