Texas Man Flees After Being Accused of Killing Pregnant Wife

A man from Texas, Lee Mongerson Gilley, 39, is facing serious allegations after he allegedly murdered his pregnant wife, Krista Bauer Gilley, along with their unborn child in Houston back in 2024. The situation intensifies as Gilley reportedly cut off his ankle monitor and left the country.

Gilley was supposed to appear in court on a Tuesday but instead flew from Texas to Canada and then to Italy. During this escape, he informed authorities that he was seeking asylum, claiming he was “wrongfully prosecuted” and feared facing the death penalty. His lawyer, Dick DeGuerin, expressed concern, stating, “I’m worried that the prosecution will argue that he’s running away as evidence of guilt, but I think he’s just scared.”

As of now, Gilley’s murder trial is set to begin later this month, and he is currently in custody in Italy. Reports indicate that authorities learned on Friday of the tampering with his ankle monitor.

According to DeGuerin, before Gilley can be extradited back to Texas, the state has to demonstrate to Italy that he is not eligible for the death penalty, although prosecutors have stated they are not pursuing that option in this case.

The charges against Gilley include allegedly pressuring his wife into a fatal situation where she died due to strangulation, as detailed in charging documents. Initially, Gilley had claimed that Krista, who was nine months pregnant, had overdosed and tried to revive her with CPR. However, a medical examination later determined that her death was a homicide.

After his arrest a few days post-incident, Gilley admitted that Krista was neither a drug user nor suicidal and that the couple had had an argument right before her death. While he was out on bail in 2025, prosecutors alleged that he was involved in a scheme with an unnamed woman to escape to Mexico and other countries.

Allegations also suggest Gilley had a plan to fake a marriage and obtain a new identity. He even inquired about acquiring a Mexican identity to aid in his getaway, illustrating a troubling intent.

At this point, authorities are taking steps to extradite Gilley back to Texas, while both his attorney and the Harris County District Attorney’s Office have not yet provided comments on the situation.