USA - Lee Gilley and Christa Bauer Gilley (TX)

USA - Texas. Lee Mongerson Gilley Cuts Ankle Monitor and Flees to Italy

May 5, 2026:

May 5, 2026

TEXAS

Lee Mongerson Gilley, Accused of Murdering His Pregnant Wife, Cuts Ankle Monitor and Flees to Italy, Attorney Says

The man faces a charge of capital murder in connection with the death of his wife, Christa

Lee Mongerson Gilley, 39, was charged in 2025 with capital murder in connection with the killing of his wife, Christa Bauer Gilley, who was pregnant at the time of her death. On May 4, Gilley’s attorney Dick DeGuerin said that his client had cut off his ankle monitor before boarding a plane to Canada, DeGuerin told KPRC.

Gilley ultimately flew from Canada to Italy, where he was taken into custody by authorities, DeGuerin told KHOU. Upon landing in Italy, Gilley reportedly told authorities that he was seeking asylum in the country because he was being “wrongfully prosecuted” and feared that he would face the death penalty, per KPRC.

Gilley is accused of “intentionally and knowingly” causing the death of Christa and her unborn child by “applying pressure to Christa Gilley’s neck and upper back” on Oct. 7, 2024, according to charging documents obtained by PEOPLE.

At the time of Christa’s death, Gilley initially told police that his wife died of an overdose and that he attempted to perform life-saving measures after finding her unresponsive. She was transported to a local hospital, where she was later pronounced dead, as previously reported by PEOPLE.

When Christa arrived, hospital staff told police she had “bruising and apparent trauma to her face,” according to a bond order obtained by PEOPLE at the time. Her death was ultimately ruled a homicide by the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences, with the cause of death listed as “compression of the neck.”

Gilley later allegedly admitted to police that he and Christa had argued in the hours before her death, and that she was not suicidal or a drug user, KPRC reported. He was arrested on a charge of murder in October 2024, was released on $1 million bail on Oct. 21 and was required to wear an ankle monitor as a condition of the bond. He was also not allowed to leave the state of Texas without prior notification.

Authorities allege that before he left the country, Gilley spoke with a woman about “whether she knew of a Mexican identity he could acquire to facilitate his departure from the country,” KPRC reported, citing court documents.

On Friday, May 1, his ankle monitor sent a “strap tamper” alert, and Gilley was unable to be reached by authorities in the days following.

https://people.com/texas-man-accused-of-murdering-his-pregnant-wife-flees-to-italy-attorney-says-11966713