A Houston man has been arrested and charged with capital murder after allegedly attempting to convince police that his wife had died by suicide. Lee Mongerson Gilley, 38, was taken into custody by Houston police four days after his wife, Christa Gilley, was reported dead, as per KHOU-11 reports.
Gilley called 911 on October 7 to report that his wife had overdosed and that he had been performing CPR to revive her. Christa, 38, was nine weeks pregnant at the time of her death, according to medical examiner’s records, and their two children were present at home when she passed away. She was pronounced dead at a local hospital.
Upon examining Christa’s body, it was discovered that she had injuries consistent with strangulation. An autopsy confirmed that she died from “compression of the neck,” as detailed by NBC-2 Houston. When questioned by investigators, Gilley reportedly admitted that his wife was not a drug user and had not expressed any suicidal thoughts to him.
Further investigations revealed that the couple had been arguing prior to Christa’s death. Gilley informed police that they had fought earlier in the evening and that he had gone to sleep. Upon waking up, he found her unresponsive. Gilley was arrested on Friday and held in the Harris County Jail after his bond request was denied. His first court appearance is scheduled for Monday.
In honour of Christa, the Houston Heights Association will be holding a vigil in Marion Park on Tuesday as a means to celebrate her life and offer support to her family and loved ones during this challenging time. The event is set to begin at 7 pm local time.