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5d ago

Deputies Repossess Heights Home After Man Tried to Claim Lee Gilley Property

The repossession opens a criminal probe into possible felony conduct tied to adverse-possession filings on multiple Houston properties.

Deputies entered the home of Lee Gilley with the help of a locksmith Monday after a man attempted to take ownership of the Heights residence. The house in the 800 block of Allston Street was left vacant following Gilley’s escape from the U.S. to seek asylum in Italy. He was facing a capital murder trial in Houston in connection with the death of his pregnant wife.
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Authorities have launched a criminal investigation after a disputed deed was filed for the Heights home connected to the Lee Gilley murder case. Matthew Jackson and Save A Life Homes LLC claimed ownership, but the family of Christa Bauer, the victim, disputed this, asserting ongoing partial ownership.

Overview

  • Precinct 1 deputies entered the vacant Allston Street house on Monday after a man allegedly changed the locks, installed cameras and posted documents claiming ownership.
  • Court records show a Houston man identified as Matthew Jackson and a company called Save a Life Homes, LLC filed adverse-possession paperwork for the Gilley house.
  • Constable Alan Rosen said deputies, working with the victim’s family attorney, repossessed the home and are conducting an active criminal investigation with possible felony charges.
  • Reporting by the Houston Chronicle and other outlets found the same man has tried to claim roughly a dozen Harris County properties, including two linked to other homicide cases.
  • Adverse possession is a legal claim that can transfer title only after strict conditions are met, but officials said the alleged acts of entering the home and changing locks triggered criminal review and used new Texas removal laws to restore the property to the family.