American who fled US after allegedly killing pregnant wife could return within days with murder charge dropped
Italy has granted Texas murder suspect Lee Gilley "partial extradition" after months of back and forth with U.S.courts.
Fox News Digital has confirmed.Gilley is accused of killing his pregnant wife Christa Bauer Gilley and their unborn child back in 2024; he was supposed to face trial in Harris County earlier this year – but instead cut his ankle monitor off and fled the U.S.to Italy.
He reportedly left his home on a bicycle before boarding a private jet in Memphis, Tennessee according to KPRC, leading authorities to suspect he had help fleeing the country.In the motion obtained by Fox News Digital and translated to English – the Italian court granted the extradition on one charge of murder, not capital murder.Christa Bauer Gilley was pregnant when she was found dead insider her Houston, Texas home.Prosecutors say her husband, Lee Gilley is responsible for her death.
(Facebook: Christa Bauer Gilley)PARENTS OF SLAIN PREGNANT MOM CHRISTA GILLEY DEMAND LEE GILLEY'S RETURN FROM ITALY FOR MURDER CASEThe motion also spelled out that Italy would only grant Gilley's extradition on the condition that he faces a reduced charge of first-degree murder for killing his wife and not their unborn child.SIGN UP TO GET THE LATEST TRUE CRIME NEWSFOLLOW THE FOX TRUE CRIME TEAM ON XFox News Digital previously reported that Italy denied requests to extradite Gilley back to the U.S.with concerns that the murder suspect would face capital murder punishment – including possible death pentalty or life without possibility of parole – if convicted.CLICK HERE FOR MORE FROM THE FOX TRUE CRIME HUBTEXAS LAWMAKER WARNS ACCUSED WIFE-KILLER'S ITALY ESCAPE COULD OPEN 'PANDORA'S BOX' FOR FUTURE SUSPECTSLee Gilley, 39, is accused of murdering his pregnant wife and fleeing to Italy right before his trial was set to start in Texas.
(Getty Images: Melissa Phillip/Houston Chronicle)LISTEN TO THE NEW 'CRIME & JUSTICE WITH DONNA ROTUNNO' PODCASTSEND US A TIPWith the newly reduced charge – th...