16 hours ago
NEWYou tin now perceive to Fox News articles!
As Lee Gilley fights extradition from Italy to look a superior execution complaint successful nan decease of his pregnant wife, a disputed declare to nan couple's vacant Houston home has triggered a abstracted criminal investigation.
The Houston Police Department confirmed to Fox News Digital that officers responded to Gilley's location successful nan 800 artifact of Allston Street astir 6:30 p.m. June 17 aft receiving a reported trespassing complaint. A man astatine nan spot told officers he had a correct to beryllium location and was consenting to "go to court" to beryllium his claim, constabulary said.
HPD contacted nan Harris County District Attorney's Office, which referred nan conflict to nan Harris County Precinct 1 Constable's Office arsenic a civilian matter. No criminal charges resulted from nan first constabulary response.
The different spot conflict surfaced months aft authorities opportunity Gilley trim disconnected his court-ordered ankle show and fled nan United States up of his execution trial, leaving nan Houston Heights location vacant.
TEXAS MAN ACCUSED IN PREGNANT WIFE'S MURDER FIGHTS TO REMAIN IN ITALY, CITING 'LIFESTYLE AND CULTURE'
Defense lawyer Ed McClees and his client, Lee Mongerson Gilley, look successful nan 497th District Court astatine nan Harris County Justice Center successful Houston connected Oct. 17, 2024. Gilley is charged pinch superior execution successful nan decease of his wife, Christa Gilley. (Melissa Phillip/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images)
Records reviewed by Fox News Digital show Lee and Christa Gilley purchased nan Allston Street property successful 2018. However, PEOPLE magazine reported that a abstracted warranty deed signed May 8 and revenge May 21 purported to transportation nan location to Save a Life Houses LLC. Matthew Jackson signed nan archive arsenic an authorized typical of nan Missouri-based company, according to nan outlet.
What constabulary initially treated arsenic a civilian conflict later drew criminal scrutiny. Harris County Precinct 1 Constable Alan Rosen announced July 6 that his agency had opened a criminal investigation into nan attempted takeover.
TEXAS MAN ACCUSED OF KILLING PREGNANT WIFE ALLEGEDLY CUTS OFF ANKLE MONITOR AND FLEES TO ITALY
Rosen said nary 1 was wrong erstwhile investigators entered nan location and thing instantly appeared to person been stolen. Deputies removed recently installed surveillance cameras, paperwork from nan windows and astatine slightest 2 boxes of imaginable evidence, KPRC reported. A locksmith besides changed nan locks.
Rosen said investigators were examining whether nan spot declare was connected to akin claims involving different vacant homes. The Harris County Attorney's Office was besides investigating nan matter connected nan civilian side, according to KPRC. Rosen did not publically place Jackson arsenic a suspect, and nary criminal charges person been announced successful relationship pinch nan property.
FOLLOW THE FOX TRUE CRIME TEAM ON X
Prosecutors allege Lee Mongerson Gilley killed his wife, Christa Bauer Gilley, who was 9 months pregnant, successful Houston successful 2024. (Christa Bauer Gilley/Facebook)
SIGN UP TO GET THE LATEST TRUE CRIME NEWS
While Texas authorities investigated nan disputed spot claim, Gilley, 39, remained jailed successful Italy.
LIKE WHAT YOU'RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE
Gilley is charged pinch superior execution successful nan October 2024 decease of Christa, who was 9 weeks pregnant. The Harris County aesculapian examiner's agency ruled her decease a homicide caused by cervix compression. Gilley has pleaded not guilty, and his attorneys person challenged that conclusion.
Federal investigators allege Gilley removed his ankle show May 1 and fled Texas before his scheduled trial. He later arrived astatine Milan Malpensa Airport utilizing a mendacious sanction and forged recreation documents, according to tribunal records, and was taken into custody by Italian authorities.
SEND US A TIP
Lee Mongerson Gilley, 39, is accused of murdering his wife, Christa Bauer Gilley, and their unborn kid successful Houston successful 2024. (Christa Bauer Gilley/Facebook)
During a July 15 proceeding earlier nan Turin Court of Appeal, Gilley asked judges to artifact his return to nan United States and said he was seeking protection successful Italy for himself and his children, according to NBC News.
GOT A TIP?
"I americium seeking protection successful Italy," Gilley said, according to NBC News. "They want to punish me, and I americium asking for protection for myself and my children."
Gilley's Italian attorney, Monica Grosso, told NBC News that Texas authorities had not provided a general written guarantee that prosecutors would return nan decease punishment disconnected nan table. Grosso said nan defense had alternatively received an embassy statement offering assurances.
LISTEN TO THE NEW 'CRIME & JUSTICE WITH DONNA ROTUNNO' PODCAST
Grosso besides told NBC News that nan defense believes Christa suffered from a humor upset and that humor recovered successful nan couple's chamber was inconsistent pinch nan prosecution's relationship of her death.
Lee Mongerson Gilley and his defense attorney, Ed McClees, right, are shown successful nan 497th District Court astatine nan Harris County Justice Center, 1201 Franklin, Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024, successful Houston. He is charged pinch superior execution successful nan decease of his wife, Christa Gilley. (Melissa Phillip/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images)
GET BREAKING NEWS BY EMAIL
On July 20, nan Turin tribunal temporarily blocked nan extradition petition and sought further assurances from nan U.S. authorities regarding nan decease punishment and a imaginable condemnation of life without parole, according to Italian tribunal records obtained by KPRC.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
The tribunal group an Aug. 31 deadline for a consequence and scheduled different proceeding for early September, KPRC reported.
Fox News Digital has reached retired to Gilley's lawyer and nan Harris County Precinct 1 Constable's Office for comment.
