Capital murder suspects out on bond keep fleeing Harris County

Added: 2026-05-22

[00:00:00]New tonight, we have learned a status hearing is scheduled for June 5th for the Houston man accused of seeking asylum in Italy to avoid his upcoming capital murder trial for the death of his pregnant wife. Lee Gillie's case has received worldwide attention after he cut off his ankle monitor and left and fled the country with a fake passport and ID. And his case is one of many when it comes to capital murder suspects getting out on bond in Harris County and running from the law. Now, crime victims advocates are pushing for tougher legislation to keep better track of violent suspects. Here's Anayeli Ruiz with more. In the last month alone, at least two people being charged with serious violent crimes have gone on the run. Lee Gillie, charged with capital murder in the death of his pregnant wife, was out on a million-dollar bond before fleeing to Italy. And this week, Walter Bozos, charged with murder after investigators say he killed a passenger while street racing, was out on a $25,000 bond. And he cut off his ankle monitor before his trial. Is an ankle monitor is as good as the person who wants to honor it. And that's the problem, Andy Kahan says. He believes there needs to be a faster and more aggressive response when violent offenders tamper with their monitors. Then, there needs to be some sort of signal sent to law enforcement for them to check and see if they can find this particular individual. After recent conversations about the issue, Kahan said he started digging into the numbers. He says 37 capital murder suspects are currently out on bond in Harris County.

[00:01:32]>> highest possible degree of offense that you can be charged with. And Kahan says nearly all of those suspects have bonds under $500,000.

[00:01:43]Some as low as 50,000. He also says several have already violated their bond conditions or tampered with their ankle monitors. One example, Jacory Randolph.

[00:01:52]Investigators say Randolph killed a 15-year-old during a robbery back in 2018.

[00:01:57]He was originally charged with capital murder and given a $50,000 bond, but prosecutors later reduced the charge to aggravated robbery as part of a plea deal. Randolph was supposed to appear for sentencing. Instead, records say he cut off his GPS monitor and disappeared.

[00:02:13]Well, if you're on bond for capital murder and you're looking at a potential life without life without parole or one lengthy prison sentence, would you show up? That's why Kahn says he plans to do more than just track these cases. He wants lawmakers to strengthen the system during the next legislative session. That eliminates law enforcement entities from having to file court records asking for data on defendants who have removed their ankle monitor. That's absurd. That has to end.

[00:02:43]That needs to be given to law enforcement immediately. And he's not alone. Commissioner Adrian Garcia says he'll also bring a plan to Commissioners Court to further strengthen the county's electronic monitoring program.

[00:02:55]Specifically, when it involves violent offenders. On I-45 East, KHOU 11 News.