American who fled US after allegedly killing pregnant wife could return within days with murder charge dropped

Italy has granted Texas murder suspect Lee Gilley "partial extradition" after months of back and forth with U.S. courts.

Fox News Digital has confirmed.

Gilley is accused of killing his pregnant wife Christa Bauer Gilley and their unborn child back in 2024; he was supposed to face trial in Harris County earlier this year – but instead cut his ankle monitor off and fled the U.S. to Italy.

He reportedly left his home on a bicycle before boarding a private jet in Memphis, Tennessee according to KPRC , leading authorities to suspect he had help fleeing the country.

In the motion obtained by Fox News Digital and translated to English – the Italian court granted the extradition on one charge of murder, not capital murder.

PARENTS OF SLAIN PREGNANT MOM CHRISTA GILLEY DEMAND LEE GILLEY'S RETURN FROM ITALY FOR MURDER CASE The motion also spelled out that Italy would only grant Gilley's extradition on the condition that he faces a reduced charge of first-degree murder for killing his wife and not their unborn child.

SIGN UP TO GET THE LATEST TRUE CRIME NEWS FOLLOW THE FOX TRUE CRIME TEAM ON X Fox News Digital previously reported that Italy denied requests to extradite Gilley back to the U.S. with concerns that the murder suspect would face capital murder punishment – including possible death pentalty or life without possibility of parole – if convicted.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE FROM THE FOX TRUE CRIME HUB TEXAS LAWMAKER WARNS ACCUSED WIFE-KILLER'S ITALY ESCAPE COULD OPEN 'PANDORA'S BOX' FOR FUTURE SUSPECTS LISTEN TO THE NEW 'CRIME & JUSTICE WITH DONNA ROTUNNO' PODCAST SEND US A TIP With the newly reduced charge – the suspect, if convicted would now face a possible punishment of 5 to 99 years behind bars, according to Texas law.

GET BREAKING NEWS BY EMAIL GOT A TIP? This new motion by Italian courts isn't an automatic ticket back to the U.S. – Gilley's defense attorney Dick DeGeurin confirmed to Fox News Digital it is likely that Gilley's defense attorneys will appeal in the coming days.

TEXAS MAN ACCUSED IN PREGNANT WIFE'S MURDER FIGHTS TO REMAIN IN ITALY, CITING 'LIFESTYLE AND CULTURE' This could extend the already lengthy process of getting the suspect back to the U.S. to face charges.

Gilley's attorney did not detail an exact timeline of when his client would be returning to U.S. soil.