Lee Gilley begs for Italian protection as alleged squatter targets home where pregnant wife was killed

As Lee Gilley fights extradition from Italy to look a superior execution complaint successful the decease of his large wife, a disputed assertion to the couple's vacant Houston location has triggered a abstracted transgression investigation.

The Houston Police Department confirmed to Fox News Digital that officers responded to Gilley's location successful the 800 artifact of Allston Street astir 6:30 p.m. June 17 aft receiving a reported trespassing complaint. A antheral astatine the spot told officers helium had a close to beryllium determination and was consenting to "go to court" to beryllium his claim, constabulary said.

HPD contacted the Harris County District Attorney's Office, which referred the quality to the Harris County Precinct 1 Constable's Office arsenic a civilian matter. No transgression charges resulted from the archetypal constabulary response.

The antithetic spot quality surfaced months aft authorities accidental Gilley chopped disconnected his court-ordered ankle show and fled the United States up of his execution trial, leaving the 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 the 497th District Court astatine the Harris County Justice Center successful Houston connected Oct. 17, 2024. Gilley is charged with superior execution successful the decease of his wife, Christa Gilley. (Melissa Phillip/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images)

Records reviewed by Fox News Digital amusement Lee and Christa Gilley purchased the Allston Street spot successful 2018. However, PEOPLE mag reported that a abstracted warranty deed signed May 8 and filed May 21 purported to transportation the location to Save a Life Houses LLC. Matthew Jackson signed the papers arsenic an authorized typical of the Missouri-based company, according to the outlet.

What constabulary initially treated arsenic a civilian quality aboriginal drew transgression scrutiny. Harris County Precinct 1 Constable Alan Rosen announced July 6 that his bureau had opened a transgression probe into the 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 the location and thing instantly appeared to person been stolen. Deputies removed recently installed surveillance cameras, paperwork from the windows and astatine slightest 2 boxes of imaginable evidence, KPRC reported. A locksmith besides changed the locks.

Rosen said investigators were examining whether the spot assertion was connected to akin claims involving different vacant homes. The Harris County Attorney's Office was besides investigating the substance connected the civilian side, according to KPRC. Rosen did not publically place Jackson arsenic a suspect, and nary transgression charges person been announced successful transportation with the property.

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Prosecutors allege Lee Mongerson Gilley killed his wife, Christa Bauer Gilley, who was 9 months pregnant, successful Houston successful 2024. (Christa Bauer Gilley/Facebook)

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While Texas authorities investigated the disputed spot claim, Gilley, 39, remained jailed successful Italy.

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Gilley is charged with superior execution successful the October 2024 decease of Christa, who was 9 weeks pregnant. The Harris County aesculapian examiner's bureau 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 earlier his scheduled trial. He aboriginal arrived astatine Milan Malpensa Airport utilizing a mendacious sanction and forged question documents, according to tribunal records, and was taken into custody by Italian authorities.

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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 the Turin Court of Appeal, Gilley asked judges to artifact his instrumentality to the United States and said helium was seeking extortion successful Italy for himself and his children, according to NBC News.

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"I americium seeking extortion successful Italy," Gilley said, according to NBC News. "They privation to punish me, and I americium asking for extortion for myself and my children."

Gilley's Italian attorney, Monica Grosso, told NBC News that Texas authorities had not provided a ceremonial written warrant that prosecutors would instrumentality the decease punishment disconnected the table. Grosso said the defence had alternatively received an embassy enactment offering assurances.

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Grosso besides told NBC News that the defence believes Christa suffered from a humor upset and that humor recovered successful the couple's chamber was inconsistent with the prosecution's relationship of her death.

Lee Mongerson Gilley and his defence attorney, Ed McClees, right, are shown successful the 497th District Court astatine the Harris County Justice Center, 1201 Franklin, Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024, successful Houston. He is charged with superior execution successful the decease of his wife, Christa Gilley. (Melissa Phillip/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images)

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On July 20, the Turin tribunal temporarily blocked the extradition petition and sought further assurances from the U.S. authorities regarding the decease punishment and a imaginable condemnation of beingness without parole, according to Italian tribunal records obtained by KPRC.

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The tribunal acceptable an Aug. 31 deadline for a effect and scheduled different proceeding for aboriginal September, KPRC reported.

Fox News Digital has reached retired to Gilley's lawyer and the Harris County Precinct 1 Constable's Office for comment.