Lee Gilley, 39, is currently a fugitive wanted by U.S. authorities on capital murder charges related to the October 2024 death of his pregnant wife, Christa Bauer. Gilley was originally scheduled to stand trial in Harris County, Texas, but fled the United States before his scheduled court date. Authorities report that while out on a $1 million bond, Gilley cut off his ankle monitor and utilized forged travel documents and a false identity to board an international flight to Milan, Italy. The U.S. Department of Justice has formally submitted an extradition request to the Italian government, which has now received the paperwork. This development confirms earlier reports that the request was finalized within the statutory 45-day window following May 8. The Harris County District Attorney’s Office has declined further comment due to a gag order in the case, and it remains unclear what the immediate next steps will be within Italy’s legal extradition process. No new trial date has been set for Gilley in the Texas court system. Concurrently, a separate legal battle is unfolding in Harris County Family Court regarding the custody of the couple’s children, who have been living with Bauer’s parents in South Carolina since the murder. Judge Angela Lancelin is expected to hear testimony on whether the children must return to Houston, a decision that has been contested by Bauer’s family attorneys who argue that returning the children to Texas is not in their best interest given their father’s status as a fugitive and the absence of their mother. The investigation into how Gilley managed to leave the country continues, with concerns raised about potential assistance from others.