# Lee Gilley Custody Trial Begins

> Houston man accused of killing wife in 2024 faces child custody battle with family over two young children.
- Title: Lee Gilley Custody Trial Begins · Houstonchronicle | Shortify
- Summary: Houston man accused of killing wife in 2024 faces child custody battle with family over two young children. Lee Gilley, accused of murdering his wife in…
- Keywords: lee gilley, christa gilley, matt gilley, cristin gilley, chris bauer, sharon bauer, harris county civil courthouse, child custody trial, conservatorship, italy, capital murder charge, houston
- Source: Houstonchronicle — https://houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/crime/article/lee-gilley-custody-battle-22484488.php
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: lee gilley, christa gilley, matt gilley, cristin gilley, chris bauer, sharon bauer, harris county civil courthouse, child custody trial, conservatorship, italy, capital murder charge, houston
## Custody Trial Starts
A civil trial over who will care for Lee Gilley's two children begins at the Harris County Civil Courthouse in Houston on Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026.
## Lee Gilley's Wife Murder
Authorities suspected Lee Gilley of strangling his wife in October 2024 and arrested him days later on a capital murder charge.
## Two Sides in Custody Battle
Lee Gilley's brother and sister-in-law seek joint conservatorship while Christa Gilley's parents seek sole conservatorship of the children.
## Legal Representation
Dennis Slate represents Matt and Cristin Gilley while Tim Ballengee and Wendy Burgower represent Chris and Sharon Bauer.
## Lee Gilley's Current Status
Lee Gilley fled to Italy after being accused of killing his wife in 2024 and claims asylum from prosecution there.
## Opening Statements
Angela Stout, attorney for grandparents, told jurors the Bauers have done nothing but do what's best for the children.
## Juror Concerns
Some potential jurors worried the grandparents would be too old to handle two young children.
## Uncle's Defense
Dennis Slate, attorney for Matt and Cristin Gilley, told the jury to scrutinize evidence for signs the uncle knew about his brother's activities.
## Children's Ages
The children are ages 3 and 5, now living in a custody dispute after Lee Gilley's criminal court barred contact with them.
## Trial Timeline
The trial, expected to last two weeks, will end with the jury deciding custody between the grandparents in South Carolina and Lee Gilley's family in North Carolina.
## Uncle's Claim
Matt Gilley's attorney said, 'Matt isn't Lee,' to distinguish the uncle from the accused.

> Matt isn't Lee
## Children's Safety
Christa Gilley's parents expressed concerns that Gilley's brother and sister-in-law could take the children to Italy.
## Key takeaway

Lee Gilley, accused of murdering his wife in 2024, is in a child custody trial with his brother and sister-in-law versus his wife's parents for his two children.