A Texas man, Lee Mongerson Gilley, who has been accused of killing his pregnant wife in 2024, cut his ankle monitor off on Friday and left the country ahead of his trial, according to his lawyer, who claimed his client was “just scared.”
“It’s very concerning, and 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,” Gilley’s attorney Dick DeGuerin told KPRC 2 News.
The 39-year-old was charged with capital murder in connection with the death of Christa Bauer Gilley, and accused of intentionally “applying pressure” to her “neck and upper back,” according to a probable cause document reviewed by JS.
Bauer Gilley was found unresponsive on Oct. 7, 2024, and Gilley told police at the time that his wife died from an overdose and that he attempted life-saving measures, according to a press release by the Houston Police Department.
However, when Bauer Gilley was taken to the hospital, staff noticed bruising and apparent trauma to her face, police said. An autopsy revealed that her manner of death was a homicide caused by compression of the neck.
Gilley was granted bond that year following his arrest and was scheduled to appear in court this week, but according to a bond condition violation report reviewed by JS, he did not show up.
The report alleged that Gilley’s GPS monitor sent a signal indicating it had been tampered with on Friday night, and no one responded when a call was sent to his phone to report the device for inspection.
His GPS monitor continued to send a tamper alert for days without inspection.
Court documents filed just weeks before his alleged escape and reviewed by KPRC 2 News accused Gilley of keeping in contact with a woman in California, with whom he reportedly had an affair in 2023, and made plans together to flee the U.S.
Prosecutors alleged the two “provided a detailed plan” for removing his GPS monitor, along with marrying to obtain a new identity, according to the outlet.
DeGuerin confirmed with local news station KHOU that his client did remove his ankle monitor before fleeing to Canada, then flying to Italy, where he has been detained.
Officials in Milan did not believe Gilley’s identification information, DeGuerin told KPRC 2 News, and Gilley eventually identified himself and asked officials for asylum.
According to DeGuerin, Gilley claimed that he was being wrongfully prosecuted in the U.S., and he would face the death penalty if taken back.
It’s unclear when or if Gilley will return to the U.S. DeGuerin told the outlet that prosecutors in Texas will have to certify to Italian officials that his client was not subject to the death penalty.