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

October 20, 2026

Italy granted Lee Gilley partial extradition on a reduced first-degree murder charge, but his defense attorney says an appeal is likely coming.

Italy has granted Texas murder suspect Lee Gilley "partial extradition" after months of back and forth with U.S. courts. Fox News Digital has confirmed.

Gilley is accused of killing his pregnant wife, Christa Bauer Gilley, and their unborn child back in 2024; he was supposed to face trial in Harris County earlier this year – but instead cut his ankle monitor off and fled the U.S. to Italy. He reportedly left his home on a bicycle before boarding a private jet in Memphis, Tennessee, according to newly reduced charge — the suspect, if convicted, would now face a possible punishment of 5 to 99 years behind bars, according to Texas law.

This new motion by Italian courts isn't an automatic ticket back to the U.S.

Gilley's defense attorney, Dick DeGeurin, confirmed to Fox News Digital it is likely that Gilley's defense attorneys will appeal in the coming days.

This could extend the already lengthy process of getting the suspect back to the U.S. to face charges. Gilley's attorney did not detail an exact timeline of when his client would be returning to U.S. soil.