HOUSTON – A Houston man has been charged with capital murder in the death of his pregnant wife.
Lee Mongerson Gilley, 38, is accused of killing his wife, Christa Gilley, 38.
Officers first went to a home on Allston Street in The Heights on October 7 to the report of a suicide, where Gilley reportedly told officers he found his wife unresponsive.
Court records show Gilley said his wife had overdosed and he attempted CPR.
Paramedics rushed the woman to the hospital where she died.
Hospital staff indicated Christa Gilley had bruising and apparent trauma to her face.
An autopsy by the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences ruled Christa Gilley’s death was a homicide “due to compression of the neck,” or injuries consistent with strangulation.
The autopsy also revealed Christa Gilley was about eight weeks pregnant.
Lee Mongerson Gilley was arrested on Friday and booked into the Harris County Jail without bond.
Records show he later admitted his wife was not suicidal and was not a drug user. He reportedly told police he and his wife had been arguing and then she went to bed. Three hours later, he says he found her unresponsive. The records also show two small children were inside the house when this all occurred.
Christian Capitaine is an attorney not affiliated this case. He says Gilley’s movements after his wife’s death and before his arrest will be pivotal for the case.
“The prosecution is very much going to tell a story as to whether or not was he really acting as though someone who was mourning, who was really sad about what transpired or was really, really acting as someone who had consciousness of guilt, someone who was really trying to hide something or preparing to escape,” Capitaine said.
Capitaine said the capital murder charge includes both the woman and her unborn child.
“So basically, under Texas law and the DA’s office has procured a capital murder charge, which basically takes into account the death of the unborn child under the circumstances, that the killing of the mother and the child are both taken into account with this charge,” he said.