At Marmion Park in the Heights, a community came together to remember Christa Bauer Gilley, a 38-year-old mother of two, whose life was cut tragically short. Over a hundred friends, family, and community members gathered, many donned in purple to not only mourn but to raise awareness for domestic violence, as reported by the Houston Chronicle.
Christa Gilley’s husband, Lee Mongerson Gilley, also 38, has been arrested and charged with her capital murder. According to court documents mentioned by the KHOU 11 News, Christa was nine weeks pregnant at the time of her death. The vigil served as a stark reminder that pregnant women in the U.S. are more likely to die from homicide than from birth-related issues, a reality underscored by a Harvard study.
During the vigil, an online counterpart was held, with social media support pouring in under the hashtag #forchrista. Lead pastor at Village Heights Church, Hannah White, who was instrumental in organizing the service, recalled to the Houston Chronicle, "Krista was incredibly loved, and that she also did a lot of loving herself, and so many people showed up in support of her and her family."
Lee Gilley still awaits a bail assessment that is expected to occur tomorrow, remaining in Harris County Jail. On the evening of Oct. 7, Lee Gilley had claimed to authorities that Christa had potentially overdosed and taken her own life, as outlined by KHOU 11 News. However, findings from the medical examiner's office indicated that the injuries Christa sustained were consistent with strangulation. In the wake of this event, the couple's other children are currently staying with other family members.
An attorney for Christa's family conveyed to KHOU 11 News, "Christa's family is devastated by her tragic death and the death of her unborn child. Christa was an amazing mother, full of love, and excited to welcome her third child. They were taken from this world needlessly and way too early. Christa's family appreciates the outpouring from the community and hopes for justice for their daughter and their unborn grandchild. They are here to support Christa's children and to focus on the memory of their daughter." As for Christa's contribution to healthcare, several of her students from her faculty position at the University of Texas Medical Branch were present at the vigil.
