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.
He is now in custody in Italy. It is unknown when he will be extradited to the US.
Gilley allegedly fled to Canada before taking a flight to Italy, his attorney Dick DeGuerin said, according to KHOU 11.
A judge has since revoked Gilley's $1million bond after the tampering alert, ABC 13 reported.
Lee Gilley, 39, has been arrested in Italy after escaping the US weeks before his murder trial was set to begin
Gilley allegedly took off his ankle monitor and took a flight to Canada and then to Milan, where he told customs he wanted to claim asylum because he was being wrongfully prosecuted
Prosecutors had previously raised concerns about the husband being a flight risk, as he had requested to visit his terminally ill mother in South Carolina in March.
Gilley had also allegedly discussed fleeing the country, according to court documents. He allegedly talked about going 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 concerned that the prosecution will try to say that it’s evidence of consciousness of guilt that he’s running from it, but I think he’s just scared,' the defense attorney told Click 2 Houston.
Texas now has to certify to Italian officials that they are not seeking the death penalty against Gilley. Prosecutors have never asked for capital punishment.
His escape may have been prompted by prosecutors filing additional paperwork regarding his upcoming trial, which was slated to start later this month. Prosecutors reportedly planned on bringing up an alleged 2023 affair, Click 2 Houston reported.
He also allegedly communicated with this woman he had the affair with about potentially escaping to Mexico.
On October 7, 2024, prosecutors said Lee called 911 and claimed his wife Christa had tried to kill herself by overdosing and that he was performing CPR.
The couples $1million home in Houston is pictured above
Gilley allegedly strangled his pregnant wife on October 7, 2024
Lee told police he and Christa had been arguing before he went to sleep and woke up three hours later to find her unresponsive.
Christa was taken to the hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
Doctors quickly discovered injuries to her body that were not consistent with a suicide attempt, according to court documents.
Christa's autopsy determined she died 'due to compression of the neck' as her injuries were consistent with strangulation.
Prosecutors say Lee admitted Christa was not suicidal or a drug user.
Lee was arrested and charged with the murders of his wife and unborn child.
The alleged killer is listed as the founder of software consulting company, Docmo.
Christa, on her part, had a doctorate in physical therapy and worked as an adjunct professor at the University of Texas Medical Branch.
He told investigators tried to kill herself with an overdose in their Houston home. An autopsy later discovered she died by strangulation
Her family said in a statement that they are 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 needlessly and way too early,' 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 Charleston, South Carolina, in 2017, nearly a decade after initially meeting.
A source who has known Lee since childhood told the Daily Mail in 2024 that for a year prior to the murder, Gilley had become fixated with right-wing politics and the idea that women should stay at home to take care of their families – even though Christa was a successful physical therapist and professor.
'This obviously seems at odds with being married to a woman with a doctorate, two kids, and a full-time job,' the source said.
Lee's LinkedIn account shows that he repeatedly liked posts saying women should have a traditional role in the home instead of developing professional careers.
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 cause... 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 and had been expecting at third at the time of her death
'Women? Not as easy. Especially given how in modern times, they put their happiness before anything else and it's not really obvious at first.'
'They are downright dangerous to your business and your family.'
A week before his wife's death, he liked a post that included the phrases: 'Women, forget your stupid career... We could care less about your career.... society lied.... reject modernity... embrace tradition.'