HOUSTON — The Italian government received a formal extradition request for Lee Gilley, a 39-year-old Houston man. Gilley is accused of capital murder in the October 2024 death of his pregnant wife, Christa Bauer.

Gilley removed his ankle monitor while released on a $1 million bond and subsequently used forged travel documents and a false identity to board an international flight to Milan, Italy. He was previously scheduled to stand trial in June 2026 in Harris County on the capital murder charge, but no new trial date has been scheduled.

Separately, a hearing regarding the custody of Gilley and Bauer's children is scheduled in Harris County Family Court. The children have resided with Bauer's parents in South Carolina since October 2024. Bauer's parents are contesting a court order directing the children to return to Houston.

Attorneys for Bauer's family filed a motion to suspend monthly visitation between the children and Gilley's brother and sister-in-law. They cited potential safety concerns regarding the visitation while an investigation into Gilley's departure from the U.S. is ongoing. Judge Angela Lancelin, who is presiding over the family court case, indicated that returning the children to Houston would address concerns about the current visitation arrangement. Attorneys for Bauer's family countered that relocating the children to Texas is not in their best interest, citing their mother's death, their father's detention in Italy, and the lack of family housing in Houston. Judge Lancelin will hear testimony on the custody dispute and consider the continuation of visitation with Gilley's relatives. The Harris County District Attorney's Office declined further comment on the case due to a gag order.