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“We believe in the sanctity of human life.”
The parents of murdered Texas mother Christa Bauer Gilley, 38, have made their first public statements following their daughter’s killing.
Prosecutors say her husband, Lee Gilley, 39, is responsible for her death. His wife, who was pregnant at the time, was found dead inside the family’s home in October 2024.
Lee Mongerson Gilley is accused of murdering his wife, Christa Bauer Gilley, and their unborn child in Houston in 2024. (Christa Bauer Gilley/Facebook; Melissa Phillip/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images)
LEE GILLEY BEGS FOR ITALIAN PROTECTION AS ALLEGED SQUATTER TARGETS HOME WHERE PREGNANT WIFE WAS KILLED
Investigators say the murder suspect cut off his ankle monitor and fled from the U.S. to Italy in May, weeks before his trial was supposed to start – which Lee Gilley’s attorney, Dick DeGuerin, said poses a possible challenge for his client’s defense.
Speaking to Fox News Digital, DeGuerin said, “It does complicate the criminal case in Houston if he is returned here because flight can be used as evidence of consciousness of guilt.”
FRIEND OF SLAIN PREGNANT TEXAS WOMAN CALLS DEATH PENALTY REMOVAL THE ‘BIGGEST RELIEF IN MONTHS’
Meanwhile, Ed and Sharon Bauer, Christa’s parents, have been waiting tirelessly for any developments on Gilley’s extradition.
They explained their anguish in an op-ed published in The Wall Street Journal.
Lee Gilley and his wife, Christa, who was nine weeks pregnant when she died in October 2024. Gilley is charged with capital murder in her death. (Christa Bauer Gilley/Facebook)
“We didn’t have time to grieve before legal battles began. What’s kept us going is faith that we would see accountability for the precious lives taken from us,” they wrote.
Gilley’s extradition has been a saga in and of itself.
TEXAS PROSECUTORS TAKE DEATH PENALTY OFF THE TABLE FOR MAN ACCUSED OF MURDERING WIFE AND FLEEING TO ITALY
When he was captured and arrested by the Italian government, there was concern from Italian courts that if they did release Gilley from Italian custody and allow his to return to U.S. soil, he would face the death penalty – which is abolished in their country.
Lee Gilley has been housed inside a jail cell in Turin, Italy following his arrest by Italian officials. (Getty Images: FilippoBacci)
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The Bauers have also expressed their opposition to the punishment.
FRIEND OF SLAIN PREGNANT TEXAS WOMAN CALLS DEATH PENALTY REMOVAL THE ‘BIGGEST RELIEF IN MONTHS’
They wrote, “We are Roman Catholic and believe in the sanctity of human life. We don’t believe justice for Christa involves taking another life. For us, justice means improving the well-being of women like her. It means confronting the global problem of violence against women.”
Christa Bauer Gilley was pregnant when she was found dead in her home in October 2024. Her husband is charged with her murder. (Facebook: Christa Bauer Gilley)
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Texas prosecutors took the death penalty off the table and have been waiting for approval from Italy to begin the extradition process.
TEXAS PROSECUTORS TAKE DEATH PENALTY OFF THE TABLE FOR MAN ACCUSED OF MURDERING WIFE AND FLEEING TO ITALY
On Wednesday, Gilley appeared in court in Italy. Initially the courts were going to decide on his extradition back to the U.S. – but no decision was made, Gilley’s attorney confirmed to Fox News Digital.
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Although he is still overseas, a preliminary hearing for Gilley is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 9.
LEE GILLEY’S TEXAS ATTORNEY ‘NEVER HAD ONE LIKE THIS’ AS ACCUSED WIFE KILLER CLINGS TO ITALIAN LIFELINE
Defense attorney Ed McClees and his client, Lee Mongerson Gilley, appear in the 497th District Court at the Harris County Justice Center in Houston on Oct. 17, 2024. Gilley is charged with capital murder in the death of his wife, Christa Gilley. (Melissa Phillip/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images)
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DeGuerin said his client “has insisted from the very beginning that he had nothing to do with his wife’s death.”
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He went on to say that Christa’s death was caused by a “pre-existing medical condition.”
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As for the Bauer family, they said, “We are asking that Italian and U.S. authorities work together to grant extradition. Our family doesn’t seek Lee’s death. We seek justice for Christa’s.”
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Christa Bauer Gilley’s family is demanding justice for their daughter, who was pregnant at the time she was found dead inside her Houston, Texas home. Her husband is accused of her murder. (Facebook: Christa Bauer Gilley)
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Gilley’s defense attorney maintains his client is innocent.