Texas Man Charged With Killing Pregnant Wife Arrested in Italy

Italian authorities arrested Lee Gilley, 39, in Milan on May 11, 2026, following an international manhunt. Gilley was wanted in Texas on capital murder charges in connection with the death of his wife, Christa Gilley, who was eight weeks pregnant at the time of her death.

Christa Gilley, 38, was found unresponsive in their Houston home on October 7, 2025. Hospital staff immediately noted bruising and apparent trauma to her face. An autopsy by the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences determined her manner of death was homicide, with the cause being compression of the neck. The examination also revealed she was carrying an unborn child.

The Crime

Police were initially called to the residence following a report of a suicide. Gilley told investigators he had been asleep and found his wife unresponsive a few hours later. He initially claimed she had overdosed. Later, during interrogation, his account changed. He told detectives he and his wife had gotten into an argument but denied responsibility for her death.

Harris County District Attorney’s Office charged Gilley with capital murder-homicide of a pregnant woman. The charge carries potential life imprisonment or the death penalty under Texas law.

Flight and International Custody

Following his arrest in Texas in October 2025, Gilley posted bail and was released. He subsequently fled the jurisdiction, evading U.S. law enforcement authorities for months. His location remained unknown until Italian police detained him in Milan on May 11.

The circumstances of his apprehension in Italy remain under investigation. U.S. authorities have opened extradition proceedings to return Gilley to Texas for trial.

The Family

Victims’ advocates have noted that incidents of domestic violence resulting in homicide are on the rise in Harris County. Crime Stoppers of Houston Director of Victims Services Andy Kahan stated that pregnant women often become targets for their partners during pregnancy, a pattern that appears consistent with Christa Gilley’s case.

The Gilley family had two other children living in the home at the time of Christa’s death. The case has drawn attention from law enforcement and victims’ rights organizations in Texas and nationally.

Legal Status

Gilley faces capital murder charges in Texas. He is currently in Italian custody pending extradition proceedings. The Harris County District Attorney’s Office is prepared to prosecute the case once Gilley is returned to the United States. No trial date has been set, and the case remains in early procedural stages.

References: Texas Man Charged With Killing Pregnant Wife Arrested in Italy