Houston, TX – A Texas man faces accusations of murdering his pregnant wife, with their young children reportedly present in the home during the incident.
Authorities report that Lee Mongerson Gilley, 38, is accused of strangling his wife, 38-year-old Christa Bauer Gilley, to death at their residence in Houston on October 7, resulting in the tragic loss of both her and their unborn child.
“The circumstances have been nothing short of gut-wrenching,” friends of Christa wrote on a fundraising page on behalf of her family. “But the loss for everyone who knew and loved her is more than the nightmarish details of her death.”
Authorities reported that officers responded to the Gilley residence on the evening of October 7 following a call regarding a suicide. Christa was transported to a hospital, where she was declared deceased. Medical personnel reported that she exhibited bruising and visible injuries to her face.
Gilley initially informed officials that Christa had deliberately attempted to overdose and that he discovered her unresponsive, but a subsequent autopsy revealed injuries indicative of strangulation.
Her death has been classified as a homicide, with the cause identified as “compression of the neck.”
Gilley faced arrest on October 11 and was taken to the Harris County Jail in Houston. Christa, approximately eight weeks pregnant during the reported incident, is survived by two young children.
In child custody hearings, it was reported that Gilley mentioned to two family members his thoughts of leaving with the children shortly after being questioned by authorities regarding his wife’s death, as stated by the Houston Chronicle.
A judge had earlier barred Gilley from contacting his two children, who were present during their mother’s passing, and mandated that he surrender his passport, the outlet reported.
Gilley faces capital murder charges in connection with his wife’s death. After posting $1 million bail, he was released from custody. A judge has temporarily granted joint conservatorship of the children to their maternal grandparents and Gilley’s sister-in-law.