Texas man accused of killing pregnant spouse claims innocence in Italy

A Texas man accused of killing his pregnant spouse then chopping off his ankle monitor and fleeing the nation informed a choose in Italy that he’s harmless and doesn’t need to return to the United States.

Lee Mongerson Gilley appeared Monday in a Milan courtroom after his arrest earlier this month, the place he refused to consent to extradition and as a substitute sought to stay in Italy whereas pursuing asylum.

“My wife is dead, and they wrongly blamed me. I am innocent. I did not kill my wife,” Gilley informed the court docket, according to NBC News. “The only crime I committed was fleeing.”

Gilley informed the choose he fled as a result of he feared for his life and mentioned he doesn’t belief the U.S. justice system. He added that he selected Italy partially due to what he described as stronger due course of protections and opposition to the demise penalty.

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Defense lawyer Ed McClees and his shopper, Lee Mongerson Gilley, seem within the 497th District Court on the Harris County Justice Center in Houston on Oct. 17, 2024. Gilley is charged with capital homicide within the demise of his spouse, Christa Gilley. (Melissa Phillip/Houston Chronicle through Getty Images)

In court docket Monday, Gilley informed the choose that he want to stay in Italy “because of the lifestyle, the culture, the international protection, and to receive a fair trial,” in line with NBC News.

Italian officers haven’t but determined whether or not to extradite him again to the United States, the outlet reported.

Gilley, 39, is charged with capital homicide within the 2024 demise of his spouse, Christa Bauer Gilley, who was discovered unresponsive within the couple’s Houston house on Oct. 7, 2024.

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Lee Mongerson Gilley and his protection lawyer, Ed McClees, proper, are proven within the 497th District Court on the Harris County Justice Center, 1201 Franklin, Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024, in Houston. He is charged with capital homicide in demise of his spouse, Christa Gilley. (Melissa Phillip/Houston Chronicle through Getty Images)

Authorities initially responded to a reported overdose or suicide, however investigators later decided she died from strangulation. An post-mortem discovered she was pregnant on the time.

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Charging paperwork obtained by KPRC allege Gilley prompted her demise by making use of strain to her neck and higher physique. Prosecutors have mentioned he gave inconsistent accounts of what occurred and initially claimed he tried to save lots of his spouse with CPR. He later acknowledged she was not suicidal and that the couple had been arguing earlier than her demise, in line with the outlet.

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Gilley was arrested days after the incident however later launched on bond. His trial had been scheduled to start this month.

Authorities say Gilley lower off his court-ordered GPS ankle monitor and fled the nation forward of a scheduled court docket look. The monitor alerted authorities after it was tampered with, in line with KPRC.

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Lee Mongerson Gilley, 39, is accused of murdering his spouse, Christa Bauer Gilley, and their unborn little one in Houston in 2024, in line with KPRC. (Christa Bauer Gilley/Facebook)

Investigators consider Gilley traveled from Texas to Canada after which on to Italy, the place he was detained upon arrival in Milan. Court filings cited by NBC News state he was touring below a pseudonym and carrying solid Belgian identification paperwork.

Prosecutors have additionally alleged that whereas out on bond, Gilley mentioned plans to flee the nation and procure a brand new id, together with inquiries about securing overseas identification and devising a plan to take away his GPS monitor.

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Prosecutors allege Lee Mongerson Gilley killed his spouse, Christa Bauer Gilley, who was 9 months pregnant, in Houston in 2024. (Christa Bauer Gilley/Facebook)

Instead of returning to Texas, Gilley is now searching for asylum in Italy, arguing he’s being “wrongfully prosecuted” and fears the demise penalty. His lawyer, Dick DeGuerin, informed KPRC that Gilley’s choice to flee shouldn’t be interpreted as an act of contrition.

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“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,” DeGuerin mentioned.

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DeGuerin has additionally indicated that Texas authorities could must guarantee Italian officers that Gilley is not going to face the demise penalty in an effort to safe extradition, although he has mentioned prosecutors should not at the moment searching for it.

A U.S. choose has issued a gag order within the case, limiting what attorneys can publicly say. Italian officers have additionally signaled they’re unlikely to remark publicly whereas the case is pending.

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Fox News Digital has reached out to Gilley’s attorneys and the Harris County District Attorney’s Office for remark.

Fox News Digital’s Julia Bonavita contributed to this report.