A Texas man who claimed to police his pregnant wife died of an overdose is now charged with capital murder, according to authorities.
According to a statement from the Houston Police Department, officers responded to a suicide report at the residence of Lee Gilley, 38, and his wife, Christa Bauer Gilley, 38, on Monday, October 7.
According to a bond order obtained by PEOPLE, Lee claimed he and Christa, who was pregnant with their third child, were arguing at home that day with their two young children.
Lee, who is identified on LinkedIn as the creator and product architect of Excel Engineering, told police that his wife went to bed, and three hours later he discovered her unresponsive and contacted 911 while performing CPR, according to the bond order. Christa was transported to a local hospital and pronounced dead.
According to a bail document obtained by PEOPLE, Lee informed authorities that his wife had overdosed.
However, hospital officials informed authorities that Christa suffered “bruising and apparent trauma to her face,” according to the statement.
Aside from that, a “hospital physician” and the medical examiner “detail injuries consistent with strangulation,” according to the bond ruling.
According to the police statement, the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences determined that her death was a homicide with neck compression as the cause.
The bond order said that Christa was nine weeks pregnant and that Lee “admitted wife is not suicidal or a drug user.” Lee was detained on Friday, October 11, and charged with capital murder, according to a probable cause finding and order obtained by PEOPLE.
He was booked into the Harris County Jail and remains there after being denied bond. His attorney did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
Christa’s family released a statement saying, “Christa was an amazing mother, full of love, and excited to welcome her third child,” KBTX reported. “They were taken from this world needlessly and way too early.”
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Texas Man Claimed Pregnant Wife Died of Overdose. Now Police Allege He Strangled Her