Harris County judge issues gag order in Lee Gilley murder case, according to court documents

HARRIS COUNTY, Texas (KTRK) -- According to court records, a Harris County judge has issued a gag order in the murder case of Lee Gilley, a Houston man accused of strangling his pregnant wife to death in 2024.

The video above is from a previous report.

Gilley was set to go on trial at a Harris County courthouse for the 2024 death of his wife, Christa Gilley, when he fled to Italy after removing his ankle monitor on May 1, according to authorities.

RELATED: Houston man fled US, tried using fake ID to enter Italy before murder trial, documents allege

Court documents obtained by ABC13 show that Harris County Judge Peyton Peebles issued the gag order on Friday. The order limits what attorneys and others involved in the case can say to the press and to the public.

This order comes after Gilley's attorney, Dick DeGuerin, told ABC13 on Thursday that his client's fleeing to Italy could jeopardize his defense.

"When you flee, it can be taken as consciousness of guilt," DeGuerin said. "I'm concerned about that."

Court records show that Gilley went through Canada before flying to Milan, Italy. Investigators said he used fake Belgian ID documents with the name "Lejeune Jean Luc Olivier."

On Wednesday, investigators said they towed Gilley's vehicle from his family's home as they kept looking into how he may have left the United States before his trial.

According to his defense team, Gilley has hired an attorney in Italy and is seeking political asylum there.

Gilley appeared before an Italian judge on Friday, where he was described as a flight risk determined to evade US authorities, according to an official translation of the Italian court hearing.

The Italian court ordered Gilley to stay behind bars in Italy. He's back in court on Monday for a hearing.