d not kill his wife, he loved his wife - but if he were convicted under the charges now, the only possible punishments are death or life without the possibility of parole. And neither one of those are acceptable to Italy,  DeGuerin said.

Lee Gilley accused of killing his wife, Christa Gilley

The backstory:

Authorities were called out to Allston Street on Oct. 7, 2024, in a Houston Heights neighborhood.

According to police, Lee Gilley called EMS claiming his wife committed suicide, but her injuries contradicted his story.

Hospital physicians and the medical examiner said her injuries were consistent with strangulation. Court documents state Lee Gilley intentionally caused his wife's death by applying pressure to Christa Gilley's neck and upper back.

Gilley posted a $1 million bond.

However, prosecutors alleged Gilley cut off his ankle monitor, used forged documents, and fled to Italy while out on bond.