Texas husband held on $1M bond in wife’s strangulation death that was first reported as suicide

A Texas man accused of strangling his pregnant wife is being held on $1 million bond in the capital murder case.

Houston officials say Lee Gilley, 38, killed his wife, Christa Gilley, 38 at their home on Oct. 7.

Police were called to the couple’s house on a report of a suicide and found the woman “unresponsive,” officials said. She was pronounced dead at an area hospital, police said.

Hospital staff noticed “bruising and apparent trauma to her face,” according to police.

“An autopsy by the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences ruled Ms. Gilley’s manner of death as a homicide and the cause due to compression of the neck. The autopsy also revealed Ms. Gilley was about eight weeks pregnant,” police said.

Lee Gilley was arrested Oct. 11 and remains in the Harris County Jail on $1 million bond, according to jail records.

Gilley’s attorney, Ed McClees, said Friday his client is “devastated” by the death of his wife, and mother of two children they had together.

“We are working diligently to try to get to the bottom of what actually happened,” McClees said.

He declined further comment.

Christa Gilley’s relatives could not immediately be reached for comment Friday afternoon.

But they told NBC News affiliate KPRC of Houston that they are seeking justice in her death.

“Christa was an amazing mother, full of love, and excited to welcome her third child,” the family said in a statement to the news outlet. “They were taken from this world needlessly and way too early. Christa’s family appreciates the outpouring from the community and hopes for justice for their daughter and their unborn grandchild.”

According to court records, if Gilley posts bond, he will be subject to GPS monitoring and cannot have contact with his children, unless allowed by family court, or members of his wife’s family.