A Texas man accused of killing his pregnant wife fled the country in early May, reportedly telling an Italian judge that he did it because he was not responsible for her death.
The man, Lee Gilley, had been charged with capital murder in connection with the October 2024 death of his pregnant wife, Krista Bauer Gilley. He was scheduled to appear in court in Texas on May 29, but on May 1, he cut off his court-ordered ankle monitor and flew to Italy, according to court documents obtained by USA TODAY.
On May 11, during an appearance before Judge Marta Sterpos of Italy’s Turin Court of Appeal, Gilly said he fled the country to get a fair trial, Italian newspaper La Repubblica and NBC News, which had reporters in the courtroom that day, reported. He also denied killing his wife, the outlet said.
During the hearing, the judge asked Gilley if he would agree to be extradited to the United States to face charges. According to the outlet, he refused the request and then completely denied killing his wife.
“I ask for protection,” he said during his court appearance, according to La Repubblica newspaper. “My wife died and they falsely accused me. So I no longer believe in justice. I am innocent. I did not kill my wife. The only crime I committed was running away. I ran away to avoid being killed. I worked hard to escape and apply for protection in Italy.”
Report: Man says he fled ‘to get a fair trial’
Gilly told the judge he fled to Italy because he believed it was the only way to “get a fair trial,” La Repubblica reported. When asked if he would like to move to another country, Gilly said he chose Europe because “there are guarantees, and there is a strong public opinion against the death penalty in Italy.”
He now plans to fly interstate to avoid prosecution.
USA TODAY reached out to Gilley’s attorney, Ed McCleese, and the Bauer family’s attorney, Tim Ballengie, on May 12. Lawyers say a Harris County court has imposed a gag order that limits what lawyers can say to the media.
Ballengy said in a statement that Bauer’s family is “devastated to learn that the defendant has fled the United States.”
“They look forward to his return to hold him accountable and receive a fair trial that will bring justice to Krista and her unborn child.” “The family has struggled to come to terms with the loss of Krista and to see the man accused of Krista’s murder released on bail while the justice system has spent a year and a half working its way toward trial, which the defendant is now attempting to avoid.”
USA TODAY contacted Italy’s Turin Court of Appeal for more information about Gilley’s comments, but did not immediately receive a response.
The suspect gave a false name and presented forged documents to Milan airport officials.
According to court documents filed May 5 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Mr. Gilley fled to avoid prosecution. In a written statement, a deputy U.S. marshal with the U.S. Marshals Service said Gilley had his ankle monitor disconnected for the first time on May 1, 28 days before his next hearing.
A few days later, the Harris County District Attorney’s Office asked the Gulf Coast Violent Offender Fugitive Task Force to assist in the search.
Those searching for him learned that he had been traveling until May 3. While traveling that day, he took an Air Canada flight to Milano Malpensa Airport in Milan, Italy, using the name Lejeune Jean-Luc Olivier, according to the documents.
Milan border police stopped him at the airport and showed him his passport and other Belgian identity documents. This document was later found to be forged.
Immigration officials then took him into custody, according to documents.
While waiting to be deported from Italy, Gilly told authorities his true identity and admitted that he was scheduled to stand trial in the United States for the murder of his wife.
What happened in October 2024?
Gilley’s wife, Krista Bauer Gilley, died in October 2024, according to court documents reviewed by USA TODAY. According to court documents, her husband called Houston police just after 11:30 p.m. on Oct. 7, 2024, and said his pregnant wife was unresponsive.
Houston police and television station KTRK said Gilley had attempted suicide by overdosing and performed CPR. According to KTRK, Gilley told police he had gotten into an argument with his wife and when he got ready for bed three hours later, his wife was unresponsive.
Houston Fire Department medics also arrived and rushed the woman to the hospital. She died at 2:25 a.m. on October 8, several hours after the initial report.
Hospital staff said at the time that she had bruising and “obvious trauma to her face.” Doctors at the Harris County Forensic Science Laboratory determined that her death was caused by neck and upper back compression and ruled her death a homicide.
By October 11, 2024, her husband was charged with capital murder. According to the document, he was released on bail on October 17, 2024.
Who is Christa Bauer Gilley?
According to her LinkedIn page, Krista earned a bachelor’s degree in public health from Clemson University and a doctorate in physical therapy from the University of Pittsburgh. She worked at Memorial Hermann Health System and was a rehabilitation educator and senior physical therapist prior to her passing.
Justice for Christa is an online community created in her honor on Facebook. On May 11, community organizers shared a post about her, saying it was a time to support her and her family. The page encouraged supporters to wear purple to represent domestic violence awareness.
“We are devastated by the developments in the criminal case and outraged that justice for Krista and her family feels further away,” the post reads.
Saleen Martin is a reporter on USA TODAY’s Trends team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia – 757. Please send your email to: sdmartin@usatoday.com.
