Judge rules that children of man accused of murdering wife will stay with grandparents in Texas

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- An emergency hearing was granted on Thursday in the case of Lee Gilley, the man who is accused of murdering his pregnant wife in 2024, according to officials.

The video above is from a previous report.

A judge ruled that Gilley's children will remain in the care of his now deceased wife's parents, but they will have to relocate to Texas from South Carolina, where they currently live.

SEE ALSO: Man accused of murdering pregnant wife, fleeing country appears in Italian courtroom

During the hearing, Christa Bauer Gilley's parents asked the judge to bar Lee's parents from seeing the children, as they claimed they helped him flee to Italy right as he was being tried for Christa's murder. A judge did bar Lee's brother from seeing the children, but his wife, the children's aunt, can visit them.

Officials said Lee is accused of strangling Christa in their Houston-area home two years ago, while their children were inside.

Lee is currently in custody in Milan, Italy, after it was revealed he tampered with his ankle monitor and obtained fake documents to travel earlier in May. Although once he was charged, he was released under strict bond conditions, including surrendering his passport and remaining in Texas unless he was given permission to travel.

A hearing will be held on Friday to determine whether Lee will be sent back to Houston.