(LibertySociety.com) – A Texas man has been charged with the murder of his pregnant wife, who was a physical therapist, in a case that has shocked their Houston community. Authorities allege that 38-year-old Lee Mongerson Gilley strangled his wife, Christa Bauer Gilley, also 38, in their home on October 7. The incident, which occurred while the couple’s young children were reportedly present, resulted in the deaths of both Christa and her unborn child.
Police responded to the Gilley home after receiving a report of a suicide. Christa was rushed to a hospital but was pronounced dead upon arrival. Medical personnel noted visible bruising and trauma to her face, raising immediate questions about the circumstances surrounding her death. Initially, Lee Gilley claimed that his wife had attempted to intentionally overdose, but an autopsy later revealed that she had died from strangulation. The Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences ruled her death a homicide caused by “compression of the neck.”
Following the findings, Gilley was arrested on October 11 and charged with capital murder. He was taken to the Harris County Jail but was released after posting $1 million bail. Testimony during subsequent child custody hearings suggested Gilley had considered leaving with the children shortly after being questioned by authorities. However, his defense attorney, Ed McClees, dismissed claims that his client intended to flee, stating that Gilley had only been considering a trip to visit family in South Carolina.
Christa, who was about eight weeks pregnant at the time of her death, was a respected physical therapist specializing in cardiovascular and pulmonary care. She was also a professor and a devoted mother to her two surviving children, aged nearly two and four. Friends described her as a deeply caring individual who excelled in her profession and cherished her role as a mother.
“Christa, at her core, was a caregiver,” her friends wrote on a fundraising page created to support her children. “Most importantly, she was a loving mother who had already started planning her children’s upcoming birthday celebrations.”
Lee Gilley’s attorney emphasized his client’s grief and the defense team’s commitment to uncovering the truth. “Mr. Gilley is devastated at the loss of his wife and the mother of his children, and we are working hard to get to the bottom of what actually occurred,” McClees said.
The case remains under investigation as the community mourns the loss of a beloved professional and mother.
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