A Texas man facing capital murder charges for the death of his pregnant wife refused extradition to the United States during a court appearance in Italy on Monday, May 12, 2026, claiming he is innocent and seeking asylum.
Lee Mongerson Gilley appeared at the Palace of Justice in Milan following his arrest on May 3, 2026. During the hearing, Judge Marta Sterpos of the Turin Court of Appeals asked Gilley if he consented to be extradited to the U.S. Or if he wished for his application for international protection to proceed.
Gilley told the judge he did not consent to the extradition, stating that he no longer had faith in the American justice system and feared for his life.
My wife is dead, and they wrongly blamed me. That’s why I no longer have faith in the justice system. I am innocent. I did not kill my wife. The only crime I committed was fleeing. I fled to avoid being killed. I went to great lengths to escape and seek protection in Italy.
Lee Mongerson Gilley
Gilley, 39, told the court that he chose Italy specifically because of the country’s culture, lifestyle, and what he described as stronger protections for due process. He also cited Italy’s opposition to the death penalty as a factor in his decision to seek refuge there.
Flight and Arrest
Authorities say Gilley fled the United States after cutting off an ankle monitor. He reportedly used a fake name and a fake passport to enter Europe before he was apprehended by Italian officials in Milan on May 3, 2026.
Italian officials have not yet reached a decision regarding whether Gilley will be extradited back to the United States to face trial.
Background of the Case
The charges against Gilley stem from the death of his wife, 38-year-old Christa Bauer Gilley. On October 7, 2024, police received a call regarding a possible suicide at the couple’s home in Houston, Texas, where Christa Gilley was found unresponsive.
She was pronounced dead at a hospital on October 8, 2024. According to court documents, hospital staff observed bruising and apparent trauma to her face. An autopsy later determined the cause of death was a homicide resulting from compression of the neck. The medical examination also revealed that she was approximately eight weeks pregnant at the time of her death.
Lee Gilley was initially arrested on October 11, 2024, and charged with capital murder. He was released on bond several days after his initial arrest before eventually fleeing the country.