American who fled US after allegedly killing pregnant wife could return within days with murder charge dropped

Lee Gilley, the Texas murder suspect who fled the U.S. to Italy after cutting off his ankle monitor, may be headed back within days, after an Italian court required Texas prosecutors to drop a capital murder charge. Italian authorities granted “partial extradition,” Fox News Digital reported. Gilley is accused of killing his pregnant wife, Christa Bauer Gilley, and their unborn child in 2024. Before his scheduled Harris County trial earlier this year, he escaped, allegedly leaving home by bicycle before boarding a private jet in Memphis, Tennessee. Italy agreed to extradite him only if Texas proceeds with first-degree murder rather than capital murder. Under Texas law, that could mean 5 to 99 years, and a defense appeal is expected.