A wealthy Texan, accused of killing his wife, is seeking to remain in Italy, claiming the country’s lifestyle and culture suit him better.
Lee Mongerson Gilley, aged 39, faces charges of capital murder after allegedly strangling his pregnant wife, Christa Gilley, on October 7, 2024, in their million-dollar residence.
Shortly after his arrest, Gilley secured release on bond with a condition to surrender his passport. However, earlier this month, he reportedly removed his GPS ankle monitor and vanished.
Authorities suspect that on May 1, 2026, Gilley departed the U.S. via Canada, using forged Belgian documents and a pseudonym.
Upon landing in Milan on May 3, he was apprehended but made an asylum request to evade the death penalty.
During a session at Italy’s Palace of Justice, when asked by the Court of Appeals Judge if he agreed to extradition, Gilley declined, citing his preference for “the lifestyle, culture, international protection, and a fair trial.”
Gilley Tells the Court He is Innocent
‘My wife is dead, and they wrongly blamed me. I am innocent. I did not kill my wife,’ Gilley told the court, per NBC. ‘The only crime I committed was fleeing. I fled to avoid being killed. I went to great lengths to escape and seek protection in Italy.’
Gilley told authorities he was being ‘wrongfully prosecuted’ and feared he would get the death penalty if the trial continued in Texas, Click 2 Houston reported.
On October 7, 2024, prosecutors said Lee called 911 and claimed his wife, Christa, had tried to kill herself by overdosing, adding that he was performing CPR.
Christa was taken to the hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
Doctors quickly discovered injuries to her body that were not consistent with a [self-murder] attempt, according to court documents.
Autopsy Found Injuries Consistent With Strangulation
Christa’s autopsy determined she died ‘due to compression of the neck’ as her injuries were consistent with strangulation. She was eight weeks pregnant at the time.
Gilley and Christa shared two other children who were one and three at the time of her death, according to People.
In charging documents obtained by KPRC, he allegedly admitted that Christa was not [considering self harm]. The couple had been arguing before her death.
According to police, he previously discussed traveling to Mexico or another country with an unidentified woman.
In communications, he detailed his plans to remove the GPS tracker from his ankle monitor and potentially enter a foreign marriage to obtain a new identity.
The judge asked him on Monday if he wished to relocate to another country while seeking asylum.
Attorney Says Texas Must Assure Italy Death Penalty Will Not Be Sought
‘I chose Europe because of its due process guarantees, and Italy because there is strong public opposition to the death penalty,’ he said.
For Gilley to consent to extradition, one of his attorneys, Dick DeGuerin, explained that Texas prosecutors must assure Italian authorities that Gilley will avoid the death penalty, reported Fox Digital.
Texas now has to certify to Italian officials that it is not seeking the death penalty against Gilley. Prosecutors have never asked for capital punishment.
Gilley’s second attorney, Monica Grosso, told NBC that her client is ‘confident that he will be able to obtain international protection from Italy.’
The Daily Mail contacted Gilley’s attorney, the Harris County District Attorney’s Office for more information.
Report: Wealthy Texas man accused of killing pregnant wife flees to Milan
A wealthy Texas man on the run after allegedly murdering his pregnant wife inside their home has been captured in Italy, where he claimed he was seeking asylum from ‘wrongful’ prosecution.
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 with an overdose in their Houston home.
Gilley was charged with capital murder in 2025 and had been ordered to wear an ankle monitor, forfeit his passport, and get permission to travel.
On Friday, authorities got an alert that his ankle monitor had been tampered with, and they 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 prosecuted’ and feared he would get the death penalty, Click 2 Houston reported.
Read the full story here
