transcript

Speaker 1:
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Speaker 2:
[00:27] Mark is a Mochi member compensated for his story.

Speaker 3:
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Speaker 2:
[01:06] This is part two of this week's True Sunlight, a podcast exposing crime and corruption previously known as the Murdaugh Murders Podcast. True Sunlight is a Luna Shark production written with journalist Liz Farrell. Well, hello, and welcome to part two of this week's True Sunlight Podcast, episode number 145, where we will be covering the latest of the Horry County Police Department and the Christa Bauer Gilley case. Let's get into it. Over the past two years, all of you have had a front row seat as we have told you about some of the most corrupt policing in South Carolina and likely the nation. Take a bow, Horry County Police Department. We're talking about you. We have told y'all about how the Horry County Police, along with Myrtle Beach Police, contributed to, in our opinions, Mica Francis' feelings of hopelessness as she learned over and over that the very agency that was meant to protect citizens was all but colluding with her alleged abuser, her estranged husband, JP. Miller, who, again, in our opinions, seemed to flaunt his access to the automatic power and credibility that police officers gave him with whatever it was he was, allegedly, doing to Mica that day, whether it be getting her involuntarily committed to a mental facility or kept away from her means of transportation or have a criminal charge against her to hold on in his back pocket. We have told you about the Scott Spivey investigation and how Horry County Police helped co-killers, Weldon Boyd and Bradley Williams, do the math so that their shooting and killing of Scott would not add up to criminal charges. And how they did things like say, send the right people to the scene ostensibly to guide the investigation and how one officer at the scene even wrote a secret message to Weldon, instructing him to act like a victim for the cameras. And how another officer warned Weldon to not speak on the record, lest his stories not match up to the evidence. And how another officer completely mischaracterized what an eyewitness said in a police report. We could talk for a decade about all of the stories of misconduct we've learned about the Horry County Police since we have started covering Mica Francis. It all makes you wonder what in the heck is going on with that agency, right? Like, how is it that there's a department so consistently rotten that it has to change leadership often and re-up its commitment to what are basic expectations of law enforcement agencies? Like, you know, not allowing an officer to force domestic violence and sexual assault victims to wrestle each other. We will talk about that on another episode.

Speaker 4:
[04:12] One of the issues with Horry County Police is that it is the only police department in the state that is countywide. All the other counties have a sheriff's department, meaning a single reader who is beholden to voters. Horry County Police are beholden to the county administrator who is beholden to county council, which means the county council has extraordinary power and influence over how the police department operates. It used to be about 70 years ago or so that the Horry County Sheriff's Office had jurisdiction over investigations countywide. But in the late 1950s, a state senator from Lora, South Carolina, James P. Stevens, had beef with the sheriff at the time. And to show him who was boss, Stevens fast-tracked a bill through the legislature that created the Horry County Police Department. When you are born from such corrupt and self-serving circumstances, it would follow that you, without proper nurturing, become corrupt and self-serving as well. Which Horry County Police Department did. Because of the past few years and the never-ending scandal that comes from Horry County Police, namely fake and real sex scandals, the conversation has again come to the forefront. Is it time to go back to the old and more common way of doing police business in Horry County? Is it time to let voters decide what kind of policing they want in their county? On April 21st, Horry County Council heard public comment on this. And today, we want to share some of that, starting with Kevin Suggs, who is related to Scott Spivey and Scott's sister, Jennifer Spivey Foley, who has led the charge on getting justice for her brother and really the entire community.

Speaker 5:
[05:51] Good evening. I'd like to go be the first to say thank you for allowing me to be here today to speak. My name is Kevin Suggs. Council, I'm here because someone needs to address the systemic issues that continue to plague the Horry County Police Department. I want to first thank this council for everything that you've done thus far to address those issues specifically as it relates to the Scott Spivey case. However, I want to know what is your plan to fix the Horry County Police Department? What's the plan? It has been almost three years since that shooting, the Horry County Police Department, determined within minutes it was a clear case of self-defense. Since then, we have seen no indication of any meaningful moves to change the culture. I find it interesting that many of the individuals responsible for overseeing that case were later promoted. How do you explain this? Did you even know that this had occurred? I have been in law enforcement for 23 years. I spent 10 of those years with the Horry County Police Department. I know there are good people in that police department. I have no doubt of that. But I also know there are deep-seated issues and problems. How many times have officers been involved in scandals? How many times have they been allowed to resign just to prevent a public scandal in and of itself? Under various chiefs, whether they are internal or external, these things keep occurring. The real question is why do people feel so comfortable doing these things? Whether it's the handling of a homicide or the arrest of an officer just this month for soliciting money to fix a ticket. There's a culture of what can I get away with instead of who do I serve? I am ployer of this council to give the people back their voice. There are 12 of you. You hold our trust. You hold the power we have entrusted in you to wield on our behalf. It is time to return the authority taken from the Sheriff's Office, not by the voters of this county, but by the Legislative Act 21 of 1959. I say this as a veteran of the Horry County Police Department. The Sheriff is answerable to all the people. If another Scott Spivey occurs, there is no finger pointing. The accountability starts and ends with the Sheriff. I look at you tonight and I see leaders. I have voted for and trusted. I am asking you to lead us now by letting go of a system that is not working. While some may argue over the technical path to reform, you have the absolute power to facilitate the solution. If you are unable to fix the Horry County Police Department, I ask you to please, let's work together to return power to the people of Horry County. Let's return accountability to our law enforcement. Let us empower our sheriff so that like you, he is one of us chosen by us and accountable to all of us. And I thank you for your time.

Speaker 6:
[09:48] Thank you, sir. Thank you for coming out.

Speaker 2:
[09:51] Next up was Scott's sister, Jennifer. In the audience was Scott's mother and Jennifer's husband.

Speaker 7:
[09:58] Good evening, Chairman and the members of the council. My name is Jennifer Foley and I reside in Fairbluff, North Carolina. I am not a resident or a voting citizen of Horry County. However, my life has been completely changed about what happened in this county. And I want to speak to that today, if you don't mind. Almost a year ago, I stood at the same exact podium and I expressed my concern of the tragic loss of my brother and how it was handled in this county. And since then, we have made strides, great strides to try and fix some of those injustices. But I want to come to you tonight to talk about a much different experience that we have experienced last year. So after fighting really hard to get Scott's case reopened and re-investigated, we have actually, through the civil courts, been able to get, Scott's case has finally seen a courtroom, finally this February. During this four day stand your ground hearing that was held here in the Horry County Courthouse, my family had a much different interaction with county law enforcement. We would like to thank the Horry County Sheriff's Office for the professionalism and respect that everyone in attendance received. Given the tense and sensitive matter of the hearing, the Sheriff's Office took extra precautions to ensure everyone's safety. They conducted themselves in a manner that protect the procedures of the court and they took their job seriously. This type of professionalism is not created by quick staff meeting to help review the dog and pony show. This is a culture that was created and nurtured through years of reflected accountability, through mandated use of policies and procedures, and from leadership that has led by example. The deputies on duty those four days carried the weight of their badge with respect and honor. They knew that the job they did would be a reflection on how the community would see them and respect them. This speaks volumes on their leadership. Horry County's dual law enforcement agencies have given me starkly different experiences. My family has unfortunately met lots of other families that have been denied justice for their loved ones and have had similarly horrific experiences with Horry County Police Department. Horry County Police Department has presented itself to my family as a department with a culture that lacks boundaries or accountability. They prefer cover-ups over transparency, and they have weak leadership. This department does not have to answer to the people that it serves. They are not held accountable by those who call on them for help. The words above those doors, professionals that work for you, who's the you? The citizens of this great county? No, because the citizens don't have a voice on who the leadership is in that department. It is clear that the leadership makes a big difference. And again, I'm not a citizen of your county, but I have always considered Horry County home. Every single day I cross that state line into your county. So it does feel like my second home. I no longer see Horry County the same since the events that unfolded since losing my brother and the undue hurt that was caused by an unchecked police department. I will continue to share my story and my concerns because I value the safety and well-being of all who live and travel in Horry County. Since last year, nothing has been done to hold Horry County Police Department accountable for their actions of denying justice to take its course. In fact, two of the officers that were directly involved have been promoted to some of the highest offices in that department. Confidence in the county police has been compromised and there is no outward transparency of a plan to restore the public's trust. You have hardworking citizens in this county, and they clearly are very capable of putting the right people into very important leadership positions, like you guys. Public elections make these leaders accountable to the citizens. This county's population continues to explode, and the time has come to prioritize efficiency, accountability, and a unified command. By merging the Horry County Police Department under the Sheriff's Office, the ultimate authority over countywide law enforcement is held by person directly accountable to the citizens at a ballot box. This isn't about politics. This is about who do we call when we're in crisis, and who comes to answer those calls. Thank you so much for listening to me tonight. I really do appreciate it.

Speaker 2:
[14:30] Thank you.

Speaker 6:
[14:30] Yes ma'am. Thank you for coming out. Thank you for that.

Speaker 2:
[14:34] So a few things. One is the horrifying fact that the Horry County Police promoted officers who were involved in the Scott Spivey investigation, including lead detective Alan Jones, who ordered that another officer give Bradley his bag without it being entered into evidence, and who did not take Weldon's or Bradley's phones. He not only still works there, while there is an ongoing grand jury investigation into how he and other officers handled the Scott Spivey case, he was promoted. And two is that the last time Jennifer spoke in front of County Council in May of last year, asking them, pleading with them, to help her get Scott's case looked at by a special prosecutor and take action against the police department, she was almost scolded by Council Chairman Johnny Gardner at the end. After she finished speaking, the large crowd applauded her. And this is what Johnny Gardner, a man whose flat top hairstyle and glasses would be at home in the McCarthy era, said, Thank you.

Speaker 6:
[15:45] Thank you, man. Hold on a minute. I guess you don't want me to talk.

Speaker 7:
[16:06] Step in for Scott.

Speaker 6:
[16:09] What I was trying to say was, thank you for coming out, thank you for speaking with us. We understand your situation. We've tried to help. The police have tried to help. Mr. Administrator, if you have still been there, I would have asked him to hand you a copy of this letter that the delegation has done doing the same thing that we've done, and we'll see what happens from there. Okay.

Speaker 2:
[16:33] On Tuesday evening, Chairman Gardner could not resist two things. One was making this remark to a man while he was in the middle of making a comment to the chamber about wetlands or something completely different.

Speaker 6:
[16:50] Excuse me, sir. Yes, sir. Did you realize you were wearing a hat? Yes, sir. I didn't know if you realized that or not. Yes, sir. Okay. I'll take it off for you. Sorry to interrupt you.

Speaker 4:
[16:59] Okay. So I love how that speaker just rolled with that passive aggressiveness from Chairman Gardner. Now, the second thing Gardner couldn't resist doing was after making a production of telling the entire audience that, hey, public comment is for you guys. We don't weigh in. We don't debate the issues. We don't. It's just for you. He decided to weigh in on the Horry County Police Department issue, the police department, that he has a nearly direct hand in running as chairman.

Speaker 6:
[17:26] We've been working on this for a while now. I mean, not just recently. This has been something that's been kicked about a little bit, and we're getting into it. So I don't know what the answer is. I don't know if anybody knows what the answer is, but it's something that we will look at like we do all things. We're stewards of your money, of your life, your safety, and we take it seriously. And I'm reminded of an old anecdote about picking up trash on 501. If somebody says, are you in favor of getting rid of a litter on 501, 100 out of 100 people would say, yes, I'm absolutely in favor of that. But if you say, it's only going to cost you $500 a year, then the numbers dropped down a little bit. So I don't know what it's going to cost. Nobody does. We'll get into all that. We'll figure out what we're doing. And if it gets put on a referendum, when you vote up or down on it, you'll know what you're voting for.

Speaker 2:
[18:18] Hey, Horry County, your county chairman just compared having a historically corrupt police department with picking up trash off the road, which is a big sign that he does not want to let go of control. He also asked if any other council members wanted to speak. Only one said yes.

Speaker 8:
[18:40] We're blessed to have Sheriff Thompson.

Speaker 6:
[18:43] No doubt.

Speaker 8:
[18:44] And I agree with your sentiments about the professionalism of the sheriff's department. Another logistical concern I have about folding the police department into the sheriff's department is what happens if Mr. Thompson is one day replaced by an individual who is more akin to the 17 sheriffs in this state that have been arrested over the last five years for abuse of power. We have probably the ability to move quicker, to affect change in the form that we have right now as opposed to having to wait for the sheriff to be re-elected in four years and that would be the only thing that I could see as problematic in a culture where there is an abuse of power under the sheriff's department. It's not to speak to our sheriff because our sheriff is magnificent, but these are all things that need to be weighed and considered when we're making these decisions. I think there are other alternatives that don't necessarily involve folding one department into another that might require additional positions added to the county government that I've discussed with David and having him start to explore that. But nobody here is saying that there isn't stuff that needs to be done. Just give us some opportunity to do it and also investigate what your solution would look like as well. It's not necessarily saying it's not a viable alternative. It's just one that has to be thoroughly investigated.

Speaker 6:
[20:11] Good point. Anybody else?

Speaker 4:
[20:12] That was Councilman Dennis DeSabato, an attorney you might remember from True Sunlight episode 127 when we talked about how Horry County Council and administration bungled and hid a sexual harassment case involving their longtime director of public safety and emergency management, Randy Webster, which also involved Horry County Police Department. Because of course, it's a mess. But when WBTW reporter Adriana Lawrence asked Dennis DeSabato, who was vice chairman of the council at the time, about this scandal in October of last year, he responded with his hands in his pockets and shoulders up by his ears by saying that Randy was a good guy and they'd be really lucky to get another Randy. And then as far as he knows, Randy left the county on good terms, which was untrue. So it's no surprise that Dennis DeSabato would feel the need to make a terrible point here about, well, what if the people elect a corrupt sheriff? Right now we can just remove police chiefs when we want. Oh yeah, Dennis, that's the problem. Y'all shouldn't have a hint in that. Also, if a sheriff is corrupt, the remedies to that are arrest him, charge him, vote him out of office. Anyway, neither Johnny G nor Dennis D seemed enthusiastic about the idea of handing the power back over to the people. And other than the money it would take to add a referendum to the ballot, I'm not sure how or why Horry County Police Department's giant budget wouldn't just transfer to the Consolidated Sheriff's Office. The question everyone in Horry County and beyond needs to be asking right now is, why does Horry County Council want this form of police department? It would be a headache, right? So why do they want it under their purview? I'm serious. If you know the answer to that question, like a specific answer, definitely share that with us because we suspect it's not a good one.

Speaker 2:
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Speaker 4:
[26:49] Lee's story quickly fell apart with authorities on the night of October 8th at the hospital where Christa was pronounced dead. Lee tried to change his story at this point and said Christa wasn't suicidal and didn't take drugs. He backtracked as soon as he was caught. A medical examiner saw significant signs of trauma on Christa's body, particularly on her face, neck, and shoulder blades, indicating that she had been strangled, according to court records. Her hyoid bone in her neck was fractured, which definitely couldn't have happened from an overdose. It's typically fractured from extreme trauma and force, like from a car accident or strangulation. When the results came back from the medical examiner's office four days later, Lee Gilley was arrested and charged with capital murder. Capital murder is a more serious charge than first degree murder in that the sentencing guidelines are pretty black and white. If you're guilty of capital murder, you're either sentenced to prison for life or to death row. Lee was likely charged with capital murder because he's accused of taking both Christa's life and the life of their nine-week-old fetus. One would think that in Texas, a man charged with capital murder certainly couldn't get bond. But Lee is a privileged white man supported by his privileged white family and the expensive defense attorneys they can afford to pay. Less than 10 days after Christa's alleged murder, Lee was released on a million-dollar surety bond with an ankle monitor and few conditions. He's been pretty much free to Rome ever since, minus a few restrictions. Lee's legal team is headed by one of the most famed attorneys in the Lone Star State, Dick DeGaron, the Dick DeGaron who represented Robert Durst and David Koresh. Like we said, this trial is going to be big. Soon after we started looking into Lee Gilley in the fall of 2024, we found several red flags from Lee's LinkedIn page of all places, where he frequently commented about right-wing rhetoric. He appeared to be against women in the workplace and for what he called traditional family values. Yes, the man accused of brutally strangling his wife and unborn child made it clear on social media that he was in fact a family man. By the way, it's important to note that several sources have told us that Christa was the breadwinner in the family, so that's an interesting take from Lee, right? Also a predictable one. Weak men like Lee think they're manly men when they suppress the rights and freedoms of their wives, and well, just about everybody else who doesn't look like them. The red flags in Lee's case in our opinions flew all the way up, however, when we found something we have never seen before in a murder case, an AI slop of a website built to advocate for Lee's innocence. Someone connected to Lee published a whole website called Lee Gilley, colon, a husband and father wrongly accused, with the subtitle, Real Life, Happening Now, Not a Documentary. It is really hard to get through reading that without laughing. Let me have David read the opening paragraph of this website that has been deleted from the Internet.

Speaker 9:
[29:58] A dedicated husband, father, and respected entrepreneur, Lee Gilley is now in a battle not just for his reputation, but for the love he shares with his children. Despite facing severe accusations, substantial evidence shows his innocence, the absence of physical signs to support the charges against Lee, three past polygraph tests, and an undeniable record of a loving family life. We stand here not just to defend a man's capacity to be a contributing and loving member of the world, but to fight for the truth and the right of two young children to grow up with their father, whom they love and who loves them. This situation has torn a family apart, leaving young lives in uncertainty, a well-documented recipe for disaster, for developing minds, and it's our human responsibility to seek justice and goodness. Together, we can make a difference. We invite you to stand with us, to support Lee Gilley in his quest for the restoration of justice and family. Your involvement, your voice, can light the way to truth and healing. Be the voice for justice. Be the hope for reunion.

Speaker 2:
[31:30] Okay. It's important to remember some of these phrases in a minute, when we tell you about the explosive evidence the prosecution has in this case. Remember, undeniable record and loving family life and loving member of the world are just a few to hold on to. Now, let's have David read one more part of the website.

Speaker 9:
[31:52] Lee has been wrongly charged with capital murder. He is forbidden to contact his children. What to know? Number one, no physical evidence. Number two, no motive. Their marriage was one of love, clearly shown by countless date nights, pictures and love notes. Number three, polygraph innocence. Three extensive polygraph tests conducted by a world-renowned expert show complete innocence. Number four, impeccable record in his 38 years. Lee has no criminal record, no misdemeanors, nor felonies. Number five, impact on his children. Unnecessarily growing up without a loving father is a mental health and developmental crisis for his young children. Number six, community support. There's significant community backing for Lee. Join us, share your voice, and be a positive impact on the world.

Speaker 2:
[33:02] So, we'll get back to that polygraph test that was on the website and the clues that it left behind in a minute. But community backing for Lee? We have yet to see anyone beyond his mother think that he is a stand-up man. A few more phrases to remember from that. Marriage, one of love, clearly shown by countless date night, pictures and love notes, and loving father, and impeccable record in 38 years. Now, let's remove the facetune filter from all of that, shall we? Because here is who prosecutors say Lee really is. On April 13th, Harris County prosecutors released a notice of intention to use evidence that appears to completely destroy everything about Lee Gilley being a family man and a good husband. This document was filed to establish the nature of Christa and Lee's marriage, to impeach Lee's testimony and or enhance the range of punishment for Lee. The document said that the evidence we are about to discuss quote may further be admissible for other purposes, including but not limited to proving motive, intent, preparation, knowledge, identity, or absence of mistake or accident. So first bombshell, the document accuses Lee Gilley of cheating on Christa and being disgusting with other women and overall just disrespecting Christa and their marriage. The prosecution listed a number of incidents to show this. I'll have David read the accusations. Keep in mind, Christa and Lee got married in 2017 and had their first baby in 2020.

Speaker 9:
[34:52] On or about 2019, the defendant sent an inappropriate direct message via Instagram to Izzy, a friend of the complainant's cousin who was 20 years old. On or about December 2021, the defendant contacted KSM, who had recently opened up a physical therapy clinic. The defendant made KSM uncomfortable by refusing to participate in a physical therapy evaluation and instead bringing food and alcoholic beverages into the clinic. Later, the defendant went to a bar with KSM and a mutual friend LN. While at the bar, the defendant expressed a desire to go to LN's apartment and repeatedly kept eyeing LN's keys. After leaving the bar, the defendant attempted to contact LN by phone and text message, asking about LN's whereabouts. Defense Council has a copy of this in their interviews. On or about 2023, in San Diego, California, the defendant had a sexual affair with a woman. On or about March 18, 2024, the defendant published a post on the social media platform Reddit, stating that he was in a quote, bored marriage and was seeking a college-aged female for a friends with benefits arrangement.

Speaker 2:
[36:32] Okay, eww. Like I said, he is accused of being a creep and an unfaithful husband. This paints a much different picture of Lee from the website, right? Within two years of marriage, there's already an allegation of him trying to cheat on Christa. I wouldn't call that an impeccable record. But wait, there is a Reddit post published seven months before he allegedly killed his wife Christa in just a few months before he impregnated her that is actually worse than what was described. Thanks to some of Christa's pesky and resourceful friends, we found this post. And I just want to say before we dive into this post that ladies, live your life like Christa so you leave behind a circle of women who support you even in death like Christas do. May we all have friends like Christa who crawl through the bowels of the Internet to find disgusting Reddit posts from the men who claim to love their friends. Now, this post, well, I'll just have David read it so you can hear it yourself.

Speaker 9:
[37:43] 33, M4F, that's male for female, tall, white, handsome consultant seeking FWB. That's friends with benefits, discreet, clean, DDF, that's drug and disease free. College girl, meet a few times per month, need flexible hours. I can occasionally host downtown at my office. I'm 6 foot 4, 185 pounds, handsome with Northern European blood in a bored marriage. I'm attracted to all healthy females, petite or curvy. I'm tight on time, so if you're interested in seeing, if we might vibe, please send a message with a pick of your hand, holding up your thumb and index finger.

Speaker 4:
[38:54] No wonder whoever made that website for him really wanted to push the narrative that he was a loving husband and father, and to make that point had to create AI images of a man who looks like Lee cooking for his two kids. I always thought that was telling. Only reason to create AI replicas of Lee being an intent of dad is because you don't actually have real life photos that show that, which you likely would if it were true. Anyway, I want to share with you what we hear when we read Lee's posts. Ready? I'm a 33-year-old man who is so familiar with dating ads that I know the shorthand code. I value my whiteness because it's the only thing I've ever actually achieved in my life. Being born white, I am passably average-looking at best. If you can ignore that I look like my mom dressed me this morning, and that I have a perpetual look in my eye that indicates, I know I bring nothing to the table. Ever. Nothing. Not a thing. I am looking for sex without any nagging from you or expectations of me. Preferably, you are a college girl whose brain isn't fully formed and whose self-esteem I can ruin for my own pleasure. Because who doesn't love that stereotype? You can't do drugs because I don't want you to get high and decide to call my wife one night. Also, you can't have the bubonic plague. Oh, and I'm a consultant, a word I use for my wife earns the money while I doodle around and wait for time traveling clients who need spreadsheet help. Did I mention I'm white? Like colonizer white, not Greek, not Turkish, not Italian. I'd like to see you no more than when I want to and at my beck and call. Maybe we can even do it in my office because I'm a consultant. Did I mention that? As for your body, I'm open to all of it as long as you eat salads, run daily and take vitamins. If you want to experience my dullness, send me a picture. Remember, I'm an expert at dating ads, so don't you try to trick me with a catfishing shot. Make a hand gesture so I know you're real. See how smart I am? I'm a consultant.

Speaker 10:
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Speaker 11:
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Speaker 4:
[42:45] Anyway, the prosecution's document included accusations from multiple people in the Houston area in the days leading up to and around the murder. David is not going to read the names for the sake of privacy.

Speaker 9:
[42:58] On or about October 6, 2024, two people encountered the defendant at the walking stick, during which the defendant made a derogatory statement about his own son, referring to him as, quote, a fucking F-A-G-G-O-T, end quote. During the same encounter, the defendant made an additional derogatory remark about another child to a man. On or about October 5, 2024, members of the Douglas family observed the defendant engaging in unusual behavior, in that he appeared distant and quiet while at a party with a local family. On or about October 7, 2024, the defendant purchased a 2025 Kia Telluride from Archer Kia without the knowledge or consent of the complainant.

Speaker 2:
[43:59] Remember, this is the same Lee Gilley that his innocence website claimed was a loving father. What a way to talk about his child and not loving. And I am so sorry we had to read that part to anyone who knows Christa's children, but I think the public needs to hear the exact words used in the accusation about his own child. Now, the document also claimed that the prosecution had evidence of Lee making plans of fleeing right after Christa's death.

Speaker 9:
[44:34] On or about October 8, 2024, a local family observed the defendant engaging in unusual behavior and making inconsistent statements. The defendant indicated that he intended to flee or leave the country. The defendant further stated the situation was a quote, set up, that he was being targeted, and that he needed to take care of himself by leaving. The defendant reiterated his intent to leave the country while also expressing concern for his children on or about April 2025 to May 2025. The defendant communicated with the woman he had an affair with via numerous apps on the phone. In these communications, the defendant discussed plans to flee to Mexico and other countries. The defendant stated that he could remove his GPS monitor and provided a detailed plan to do so. The defendant also discussed the possibility of marriage in order to obtain a new identity. The defendant also inquired as to whether she knew of a Mexican identity he could acquire to facilitate his departure from the country.

Speaker 4:
[45:52] Lee Gilley as a Mexican. Oh my goodness. Given the quality of the great Lee Gilley ideas so far, such as tell police my wife killed herself despite the marks of alleged strangulation around her neck, change my story when they find out I was wrong about that, create a website using AI to persuade the world of my innocence. I can only assume that Lee already bought a Pancho and a Sobrero and started asking more questions at his favorite Cantina, like in Mexico, do they have consultants? I think Russell Lafitte would have a better chance of acquiring a Mexican identity, whatever that means. Now, there is one more accusation that we need to talk about in this document. Are you ready for this bombshell? David.

Speaker 9:
[46:43] On or about May 1st, 2023, the complainant became ill after consuming a meal prepared by the defendant that evening. The defendant stated the complainant appeared fine. However, the complainant's father and medically trained neighbor observed that she did not appear fine. The complainant was subsequently treated at hospital, where she was diagnosed with a rare condition known as Methamoglobinemia or METHB. Doctors ruled out any genetic predisposition or known underlying cause. Doctors were unable to determine the cause of the condition.

Speaker 4:
[47:33] Let's unpack that. We have heard the accusation from multiple sources that Lee Gilley possibly poisoned Christa before her death, and that is a big deal that these accusations are apparently going to be a part of the trial. Remember how we said that Christa's medical records would likely be a big part of this trial? This is why. Going back to Lee's weird innocence website that was quickly taken down after we asked about it, it included a PDF of one of Lee's polygraph results, which he got through his lawyer and paid for. As y'all know, polygraphs are worthless for a number of reasons, but Lee's polygraph report provided something very interesting. While attempting to explain why Christa had bruises on her face and ruptured blood vessels when she was found unresponsive on the night of October 7, 2024, Lee told the polygrapher that she quote had previously suffered an incident of hemoglobin anemia. Lee also said, quote, in 2023, Christa had a medical episode of hemoglobin anemia where the blood cells don't transport oxygen, which caused her to be hospitalized. But as we previously reported, sources have told us that this is incorrect. Although Christa did have a serious medical issue that caused her to be hospitalized multiple times in 2023, it wasn't due to hemoglobin anemia and to our knowledge, she had no such blood condition at the time of her death. However, according to the Harris County District Attorney, Christa had a condition called methemoglobinemia, and that condition can arise when one is being poisoned by toxins like lidocaine or benzocaine, specifically the latter. Now, Christa was a physical therapist, and these are agents that PTs use in their day-to-day practice. But it is rare for a physical therapist or anyone really to acquire this condition. In fact, online resources point to it being something that physical therapists know to look out for with their patients.

Speaker 2:
[49:21] Now, it is likely that Lee's legal team will point to this as a hazard of Christa's profession. The one he didn't want her working at anymore. Because, in our opinions, she was outshining him. We have reported that she was hospitalized multiple times before her death, and her doctors were perplexed by the cause of her medical condition. Now, Harris County prosecutors are indicating that they have linked the emergence of Christa's life-threatening condition to a dinner that Lee cooked for her. And also interesting, Lee's choice of AIR for his website was of him in bot form cooking dinner for their children. Are prosecutors going to suggest that Lee was poisoning his wife Christa to either weaken or kill her? Because he was bored in his marriage? Christa's career as a physical therapist was soaring at the time of her death, and Lee's career as an Excel spreadsheet consultant, a job that was likely gobbled up and spit out by AI, appeared to be tanking. Christa was the breadwinner, and sources say that made Lee Gilley angry and jealous of his wife. If Lee Gilley was poisoning Christa before her death, and prosecutors can prove it, well, Lee's stacked defense team is going to have a huge hurdle to get over at trial. Prosecutors would then be painting Lee as a cheating husband who wanted to get rid of his wife and had tried to do that before the night of October 7th. That is not at all a loving husband who might have snapped. And we still don't know about the physical evidence in this case. Like, at what point was the crime scene preserved? How long did police treat this case like a suicide? And did they lose any evidence by believing that alleged lie? This case is getting crazy, and we cannot wait to report on this trial live from Houston if we are allowed to do so in June. Until next time, stay tuned, stay pesky, and stay in the sunlight. True Sunlight is a LUNASHARK production created by me, Mandy Matney. Co-hosted and reported by journalist Liz Farrell. Research support provided by Beth Braden. Audio production support provided by Jamie Hoffman and Grace Hills. Case file management provided by Kate Thomas. Learn more about our mission and membership at lunasharkmedia.com. Interruptions provided by Luna and Joe Pesky. Together, Campside and Luna Shark present Pursuing Justice, launching later this year to shine a light on active and cold cases through the eyes of the world's best investigative experts. Pursuing Justice delivers expertise and real-world experience to families and advocates falling through the cracks of the justice system. Each episode tackles a different angle of the most intriguing, most frustrating, and most heartbreaking cases. Submitted from you, our audience, with expert analysis from around the country and the globe. How do you interact with law enforcement during the height of tragedy to get them to care as much as you do? How do families navigate media relationships during their struggle for answers? What's the threshold necessary to cross over from mild suspicion into actionable evidence? If you know the answers or want to submit a case to us, please email info at lunasharkmedia.com. And if you want the answers and education, stay tuned. Pursuing Justice premieres in 2026, wherever you get your podcasts.