The family of Christa Gilley, the pregnant woman allegedly murdered by her husband Lee Gilley, is grappling with a new distressing development. Strangers have taken up residence in the couple’s home on Allston Street in Houston’s Heights neighborhood, leaving the family and authorities baffled.
Lee Gilley, accused of capital murder, is currently in custody in Italy after fleeing the country in May 2026. His case remains on hold as Italian authorities review the U.S. extradition request. Meanwhile, the Gilley home, the scene of the alleged crime, has become the center of a peculiar dispute.
The mysterious occupants and their claims
Christa Gilley’s father, Christopher Bauer, testified in a child custody hearing that he recently visited the Allston Street home and found strangers living there. The property was adorned with closed blinds, “No Trespassing” signs and security cameras according to Bauer’s account.
The Houston Police Department confirmed that officers responded to a trespassing call at the residence on Wednesday, June 18, 2026. A man inside the home refused to come out but communicated through a doorbell speaker, claiming he was in possession of the home and could prove it in court. The home is currently in probate due to the ongoing murder trial.
An investigation by ABC13 revealed new security cameras, additional “No Trespassing” signs and a posted notice stating the home was under the “possession and control” of an LLC called Save a Life Homes. Court records show that the company filed an affidavit of adverse possession and a warranty deed on May 21, 2026, approximately three weeks after Lee Gilley fled the country. Despite the filing, Harris County appraisal records still list Christa and Lee Gilley as the legal owners.
The man behind the mysterious LLC
The strange case has led investigators to a man named Matthew Jackson and his company, Save a Life Homes, LLC. Real estate attorney Dennis McQueen, who reviewed the court filings, stated that Jackson’s company had no legitimate interest in the property. “He would have to get a note from the Gilleys or their family to have interest in the property, so it’s just made-up documents,” McQueen said.
Court records reveal that Jackson has filed documents for adverse possession of the Gilley house in May 2026. However, this is far from the only home he claims to own. McQueen discovered that Jackson has filed deeds for nine properties, all involving Save a Life LLC as both the grantor and grantee.
One of the properties in dispute is a home on Coltwood Drive in Spring, Texas. Darin Kurtz, whose family inherited the home after their father’s death, discovered that Jackson had filed documents claiming ownership of the property. The home is now the subject of an ongoing civil lawsuit that remains unresolved.
Another home located in the 8000 block of Glen Valley is also among the properties Jackson says he owns. ABC13 visited the house and found cameras and doorbell systems similar to those on the Gilley property, along with signs posted on the door claiming Jackson as the owner. The Glen Valley property is also the subject of a federal court case involving ownership disputes.
The matter was referred from the district attorney’s office to the constable’s office to be handled as a civil dispute. During a court hearing this week, members of the Gilley family did not specify what legal steps they plan to take to remove Jackson or Save a Life Homes from the property.
Jackson has faced trespassing charges connected to another property associated with Save a Life Homes. McQueen believes the allegations go beyond civil disagreements, stating, “It’s real bold. Like I said, it’s a crime.”
As the legal battle unfolds, the Gilley family continues to care for the couple’s two young children, who are in the care of their maternal grandparents. The family’s focus remains on seeking justice for Christa Gilley while navigating the complexities of the ongoing dispute over their daughter’s home.
