Lee Mongerson Gilley, 40, is accused of strangling his pregnant wife, Christa Bauer Gilley, in Texas in 2024. He fled to Italy shortly before his trial and remains detained there, while authorities negotiate extradition because Italian law bars transfers where the suspect could face execution or life imprisonment without parole.

Gilley allegedly travelled via Canada using forged documents and was arrested at Milan Malpensa Airport under another identity. He denies the accusation, saying he fled because he feared the US justice system; an autopsy found Bauer died by strangulation and was at least eight weeks pregnant, while Texas prosecutors have not pursued the death penalty in the case.