Christa Bauer Gilley, 38, was nine weeks pregnant with her third child when her husband, Lee Gilley, 38, allegedly killed her, authorities say

Christa Bauer Gilley

Christa Bauer Gilley.Credit : Christa Bauer Gilley/Facebook

Lee Gilley, accused of murdering his pregnant wife Christa, fled the U.S. weeks before he was scheduled to stand trial. Now, an attorney for Christa’s family says his escape has been “devastating” to her family.

“Obviously, it was devastating to the family, and I think that they were hoping to have the trial and to have him held accountable,” Tim Ballengee, the attorney who represents Christa Bauer Gilley’s family, tells PEOPLE.

Gilley, who is charged with capital murder, was set to stand trial in June in the October 2024 death of his 38-year-old wife. But according to a federal complaint obtained by PEOPLE, Gilley cut off his court-ordered ankle monitor on Friday, May 1, and fled to Canada before flying to Italy, where he is currently in custody and seeking asylum.

Ballengee says the news of 39-year-old Gilley’s whereabouts “was definitely a surprise.”

“I think we’re dealing with a lot of unknown. And we’re trying to figure out how quickly we’re able to go from here and get back to the whole purpose, which was the trial process, and to hold him accountable for what happened,” he says.

The case came to light on Monday, Oct. 7, 2024, when Houston police officers responded to a report of a suicide at the home of the couple, the Houston Police Department said in a statement.

Lee Gilley; Christa Bauer Gilley

Lee and Christa Gilley.Christa Bauer Gilley/Facebook

Gilley, who is listed on LinkedIn as the founder and product architect of Excel Engineering, told police his wife died by suicide from an overdose.

However, an autopsy later ruled her death was a homicide caused by compression of the neck.

He was arrested four days later and later charged.

According to a federal criminal complaint accusing Gilley of interstate flight to avoid prosecution, he allegedly traveled to Italy under a forged identity — Lejeune Jean Luc Olivier — arriving at Milan’s Malpensa Airport on an Air Canada flight.

Lee Mongerson Gilley and his defense attorney, Ed McClees, right, are shown in the 497th District Court at the Harris County Justice Center, 1201 Franklin, Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024, in Houston. He is charged with capital murder in death of his wife, Christa Gilley.

Lee Gilley.Melissa Phillip/Houston Chronicle via Getty

The complaint alleges he presented a false and forged passport and other Belgian identification documents to the Milan Border Police, and was denied entry. He is currently in detention in Italy.

Gilley’s attorney, Dick DeGuerin, said the federal charge against Gilley was “customary.”

“That’s to be expected,” he says. “It’s a federal statute. And the purpose for doing it is so the U.S. Marshals will have jurisdiction also. And in 60 years of practice, I’ve never seen one of those prosecuted. It’s just a method to give the U.S. Marshals jurisdiction.”

If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or go to thehotline.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.