Lee Gilley, a Harris County man accused of the capital murder of his pregnant wife, Christa Bauer, remains at large after fleeing the United States in May 2026. Gilley is wanted for the October 2024 strangulation death of Bauer. According to court records and law enforcement sources, Gilley’s GPS ankle monitor generated a tamper alert around 9 p.m. on May 1. He left his home in the Heights area of Houston on a bicycle and subsequently traveled to Memphis, Tennessee. From there, he boarded a private jet to Canada. Federal investigators report that Gilley used a fake name and forged travel documents to board a commercial flight from Canada to Milan, Italy. Upon arrival in Italy, border police detained him due to identity concerns. Gilley subsequently claimed asylum in Italy. The FBI in Rome contacted Harris County authorities after his detention. Gilley has pleaded not guilty to the charges, claiming he fled because he believed he was being wrongfully prosecuted and had lost faith in the justice system. The U.S. government is currently seeking his extradition from Italy, while Italian authorities are reviewing the request. A key point of contention is the potential imposition of the death penalty in Texas; prosecutors have confirmed they do not intend to seek the death penalty, which is a requirement for extradition under Italian law. An Italian court has heard new testimony regarding the extradition request, but no ruling has been issued. Meanwhile, a family court judge in Harris County is scheduled to hear testimony on June 18 regarding the custody of Gilley and Bauer’s children, who are currently living with Bauer’s parents in South Carolina. Bauer’s family has also filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Gilley to prevent him from benefiting financially from her alleged murder. Harris County has implemented 24/7 monitoring for ankle monitor alerts following the incident. Law enforcement continues to investigate how Gilley facilitated his escape and whether others assisted him, though no other individuals have been charged in connection with his flight.