Found Deceased CO - Gannon Stauch, 11, Colorado Springs, El Paso County, 27 Jan 2020 **ARREST** #46

[Seattle1]

The fact that keeps jumping out at me is this:

Gannon was dead by Jan 27th

TS does interview with back to camera on Jan 28th (or 29th?)

LE has a tracking device on the rented (by Aunt), Altima - but LE does not know Gannon was dumped in Florida.

^^sbm

Actually, the interview was on January 31, 2020.

I think it's safe to assume that the moving van was driven to SC and/or Florida but I don't recall if there's any evidence that the Altima was driven outside of Colorado. MOO

Ganon Stauch's Stepmother speaks out on allegations, the hunt for her stepson




Spencer Wilson - KKTV 11 News
January 31 ·
It's an interview you'll only see on KKTV.

The hunt for #GannonStauch has gone on for 4 days now, with a desprate search to find out what happened.

After the sheriff's office reported his stepmother was not cooperating with the investigation, theories and rumors started to fly online.

Now she's addressing those rumors, and what happened that day he disapeared.

 

[wyome]

I'm not convinced TS had an active murder plan until after 4 am on that Monday.... though more than likely she had all kinds of passive murder plans that date back years....

But let's say she realized on Monday morning that there was no turning back, Gannon was already severely injured. She leaves with him. Possibly she's seen leaving with a weapon, concealed in the bag. There's a reason she took the truck. There's a reason she took Gannon but not her phone. There's a reason she's off the grid between 11 and 1, that's no accident. She was SOMEWHERE.

It doesn't click for me that she'd bring him home to COMPLETE a murder. You'd arrange THAT in a bathtub... somewhere to contain the damage.

I think we're looking at TWO acts of violence. At least two. Sunday night, blunt force injury, hardly survivable. This was the only point of reference the DA had. IMO the autopsy revealed a bullet wound of such they'd earlier had no indication, suspicion or evidence. If the blood spatter in his bedroom was consistent with a gunshot and/or there was, say, damage to his headboard from a bullet, those charges would've been immediate, not add-ons post-autopsy! Surely the DA has more-than-considered the possibility/ likelihood he was first injured at home and secondarily shot elsewhere.

Without his body, they may never have known he'd been shot.

If his vision was at all impaired by the Sunday injury, she could easily have driven to a location, told Gannon they were going to the hospital, walked him out of the truck, and shot him. From behind.

The location and trajectory of that bullet entry will tell a major story.

I've never fired a gun. We'd speculated TS tried to bury him and we based that on the bandaid we think she's hiding under her sleeve in the Cousin It interview. Is it possible, when firing a gun, a long gun, to get your webbing pinched?

I think now it's MOST likely she injured her hand when she FIRST injured Gannon because she presplained her blood and his, on the walls, on the cover....

Me, I take greater satisfaction imagining Gannon injuring her. I hope he bit her. Not likely but it just makes me so angry, so sad that she overpowered a wholly defenseless, kind-hearted, loving little boy.

I hope she's finding jail to be absolutely miserable.

And that prison will be even worse.

JMO

This is a really good and thoughtful take.

Whatever happened Sunday night kept her up all night. I highly doubt this is normal for her as an "educator" on a school night.

It makes so much more sense that she led him to his death Monday and he never returned.

Does anyone know what time Laina left for school on Monday? And what time did Harley leave the house that day?

 

[Hatfield]

There was never flooding in the area. The flooding of Escambia River happens 25 to 40 miles upstream. The area where the bridge in question crosses the river is where the river flows into Escambia Bay which in turn empties into the Gulf of Mexico. It is very wide and the area he was found was very far from the water's edge in both distance and height. I am local, live 3 miles from said bridge. There was no flooding there. It is impossible to see what is beneath the bridge when driving. She stopped and dropped him off the side, probably not realizing she was missing the river altogether.

JMO
I agree and I believe she was heading South on 90 on this map which is the lane on the left side of the screen (her right lane going south) and she would be going downward South on the map. Not sure if others will be seeing this map as close up as I have it blown up.

The way I see it, she was heading south (down) in that left side of screen lane and if you notice when zooming out, she passes over the River first, so if she kept going to where the South and Northbound lanes get real close together, then there is hard ground between the two parts of the same highway 90.

When we saw LE at the scene, it is just like that where the two opposing lanes are very close together and the higher elevated lane is the one on left side of screen going South (down) if driving it. The description from news articles is " around U.S. 90 and the Escambia River Bridge in Pace", so this map matches up to that and looks just like the pictures we saw of LE vehicles when they found the suitcase.

I think she saw the water in the river first when she crossed over the river and she thought because the road is still elevated that she thought it was all still water below because it was dark out when she dumped the suitcase.

Hope this shows up like I am seeing it. You can zoom in and out if it doesnt show. The area where she dumped the suitcase is just south of the "Swamphouse Boat Ramp" which is labeled on this map.

ETA - If you zoom in real close with Satelite view you will even see the large rocks and boulders between the north and southbound lanes.

Google Maps

 

[H73]

Pinky Promise
It is said that the “pinky promise” or “pinky swear” originated in Japan where it is known as yubikiri, which means “finger cut-off.” This is because in Japan the person that broke the "pinky promise" had to cut off their pinky finger

 

[Geneic]

I think the DA said finding his body changes things because 1.) proof he is no longer living 2.) cause of death 3.) can gather more evidence from autopsy, body, clothing, suitcase, etc. 4.) link her to that area. And I’m sure more reasons that bolster their case she murdered him. I think she did murder him in the home because of the blood spatter and pool of blood. If bludgeoned, she would have had to hit him at least twice to get any spatter with the initial blow causing an open wound. Something happened Sunday night but in the video she posted LS was awake so I doubt she done too much to him because she was awake to witness it. She could have done something after she went to sleep but I don’t think so. I also believe she done it in the house because she keeps saying something happened in the house. Never elsewhere. Whether the candle or either supposed rapist scenario all happened in the home. She was explaining away why said evidence was there and why she was innocent and a victim vs cold blooded murderer. Just like other guilty people do for example: I had consensual sex with her, I didn’t rape her to explain dna in rape case. Or JA two strangers attacked us and I fought back and grabbed at the knife to try to explain her blood being there.

 

[Boxer]

The fact that keeps jumping out at me is this:

Gannon was dead by Jan 27th

TS does interview with back to camera on Jan 28th (or 29th?)

LE has a tracking device on the rented (by Aunt), Altima - but LE does not know Gannon was dumped in Florida.

However, after Gannon's body was located, LE asks for witnesses seeing TS in Florida between Feb. 3 and 5th to come forward. 6-8 days after Gannon died!

I think the timeline is explained by the Altima and caravan going all the way to South Carolina, and then unbelievably, TS making a separate run to Florida with Gannon's body. Because there is no way it took 5 days to travel from Colorado to Pace, Florida. It could take 5 days to drive to SC, unload a van, make an excuse to go to Florida (job, etc) get another car, and then haul him to the spot he was found.

I think she drove straight over to South Carolina, ditched the family and the rented car (and in turn, the tracking device), and then made the journey to Florida by herself to dump Gannon. Otherwise, we could expect to see her in Florida on Feb 1 or 2nd at the latest. JMO

edited for clarity

22 hour drive... So two and a half days.
Interview ends around 3:30 1/31
Goes to Perry Park Rd. Takes off for Pace around 5pm 1/31.
1/31 - drive 4 hours.
Feb 1 - drive 10 hours
Feb 2 - drive 6 hours
Feb 2 -Arrive Ecambia River afternoon or evening.

So yes if she left 1/31 she arrives Feb 2. in Pace.
Leaving 2/1 she gets to Pace on Feb 3.

South Carolina first works too.

What sedan was with the truck? I thought the Altima was returned in Co Sprgs before they left.

 

[Seattle1]

RSandBBM

Yes! Especially given the cleaning agents she [allegedly] used to clean up the "burns" with brushes. Makes no sense if it were burns.

Agree! Although I think there was a burning, scented candle that spilled and left candle wax on the carpet and/or couch, I have to discount LS allegations about a fire in the basement. I think she intentionally made that allegation and related searches to interfere with an expected investigation. It seems she tried out "fire" on AS but abandoned it for alleged rape(s) when talking to LE. MOO

 

[Cindizzi]

22 hour drive... So two and a half days.
Interview ends around 3:30 1/31
Goes to Perry Park Rd. Takes off for Pace around 5pm 1/31.
1/31 - drive 4 hours.
Feb 1 - drive 10 hours
Feb 2 - drive 6 hours
Feb 2 -Arrive Ecambia River afternoon or evening.

So yes if she left 1/31 she arrives Feb 1. in Pace.
Leaving 2/21 she gets to Pace on Feb 3.

South Carolina first works too.

What sedan was with the truck? I thought the Altima was returned in Co Sprgs before they left.

The AA states that the rented Nissan Altima was “ utilized by LS from January 30 to February 1.”

To me that kinda sounds like it was returned here in COS on Saturday Feb 1.
If she had retrieved his body on Friday January 31, I would imagine she would get on the road out of town as fast as she could. I don’t think she went to South Carolina first, but straight to Florida. JMO.
Now if we only knew what she drove and if anyone was with her.

 

[MassGuy]

The AA states that the rented Nissan Altima was “ utilized by LS from January 30 to February 1.”

To me that kinda sounds like it was returned here in COS on Saturday Feb 1.
If she had retrieved his body on Friday January 31, I would imagine she would get on the road out of town as fast as she could. I don’t think she went to South Carolina first, but straight to Florida. JMO.
Now if we only knew what she drove and if anyone was with her.

Yeah, I don’t think she doubled back either. I think she hit the road on the morning of the 1st, which jibes with her arrival in the Pace area on the dates they believe she was there.

We should have many of the gaps filled in during the preliminary hearing, to include the logistics of her travels to Florida and SC.

 

[Seattle1]

22 hour drive... So two and a half days.
Interview ends around 3:30 1/31
Goes to Perry Park Rd. Takes off for Pace around 5pm 1/31.
1/31 - drive 4 hours.
Feb 1 - drive 10 hours
Feb 2 - drive 6 hours
Feb 2 -Arrive Ecambia River afternoon or evening.

So yes if she left 1/31 she arrives Feb 1. in Pace.
Leaving 2/21 she gets to Pace on Feb 3.

South Carolina first works too.

What sedan was with the truck? I thought the Altima was returned in Co Sprgs before they left.

^^bbm

I agree LS could not depart before her live TV interview on 1/31/2020.

I think you want to edit post dates (?) emboldened above.

Agree -- no evidence the Altima rented by LS aunt left the state of Colorado.

 

[95EerWVU]

Hi guys. I’ve lurked for a long time, finally feel the need to comment on this insane case. I first heard of this case on a different site that had posted the Cousin It video. The narcissism is strong in this one.

One of you said something a ways back that nails it: your narc ex-husband had once told you “this is my world, you only exist in it.” This is TS’s world as well, and means that anyone in it can be used to her best interest.

This is what makes me wonder if her “best” defence (if she’s permitted to present it) is to throw HH under the bus and say HH killed him and every act and lie committed by TS was done to protect her child. Not saying it would work, but it could happen.

It reminds me of a case presented on Forensic Files once. I don’t remember the names, but a woman poisoned her husband with antifreeze, and as they investigated they exhumed her previous husband to find that he also had been killed by antifreeze. Once she knew they were closing in, she drugged her teenage daughter in an attempt to set it up as a suicide including a typed “suicide note” supposedly from the teen admitting both murders (“I know they think you did it, Mommy, but I did it”-horrible crap like that.)

One of the things that caught the wife is that she is an idiot who thought “antifreeze” was actually pronounced “anti-free” and that’s how she said it in an interview and also wrote in the suicide note. (The daughter survived, the mom was convicted).

TS reminds me of that woman.

 

[Seattle1]

JMO
I agree and I believe she was heading South on 90 on this map which is the lane on the left side of the screen (her right lane going south) and she would be going downward South on the map. Not sure if others will be seeing this map as close up as I have it blown up.

The way I see it, she was heading south (down) in that left side of screen lane and if you notice when zooming out, she passes over the River first, so if she kept going to where the South and Northbound lanes get real close together, then there is hard ground between the two parts of the same highway 90.

When we saw LE at the scene, it is just like that where the two opposing lanes are very close together and the higher elevated lane is the one on left side of screen going South (down) if driving it. The description from news articles is " around U.S. 90 and the Escambia River Bridge in Pace", so this map matches up to that and looks just like the pictures we saw of LE vehicles when they found the suitcase.

I think she saw the water in the river first when she crossed over the river and she thought because the road is still elevated that she thought it was all still water below because it was dark out when she dumped the suitcase.

Hope this shows up like I am seeing it. You can zoom in and out if it doesnt show. The area where she dumped the suitcase is just south of the "Swamphouse Boat Ramp" which is labeled on this map.

ETA - If you zoom in real close with Satelite view you will even see the large rocks and boulders between the north and southbound lanes.

Google Maps

I recall news reports emphasized the suitcase was located on the 'Santa Rosa side' of the Escambia bridge. Would that be south where map populates or the quiet side of the bridge map?

 

[MassGuy]

Hi guys. I’ve lurked for a long time, finally feel the need to comment on this insane case. I first heard of this case on a different site that had posted the Cousin It video. The narcissism is strong in this one.

One of you said something a ways back that nails it: your narc ex-husband had once told you “this is my world, you only exist in it.” This is TS’s world as well, and means that anyone in it can be used to her best interest.

This is what makes me wonder if her “best” defence (if she’s permitted to present it) is to throw HH under the bus and say HH killed him and every act and lie committed by TS was done to protect her child. Not saying it would work, but it could happen.

It reminds me of a case presented on Forensic Files once. I don’t remember the names, but a woman poisoned her husband with antifreeze, and as they investigated they exhumed her previous husband to find that he also had been killed by antifreeze. Once she knew they were closing in, she drugged her teenage daughter in an attempt to set it up as a suicide including a typed “suicide note” supposedly from the teen admitting both murders (“I know they think you did it, Mommy, but I did it”-horrible crap like that.)

One of the things that caught the wife is that she is an idiot who thought “antifreeze” was actually pronounced “anti-free” and that’s how she said it in an interview and also wrote in the suicide note. (The daughter survived, the mom was convicted).

TS reminds me of that woman.

Yup, Stacey Castor. It wouldn’t surprise me if TS attempted to do the same, and I think this is a good angle for the authorities to use in order to compel HH’s cooperation.

“Tell us what your mom did, otherwise she might try to point the finger at you.”

 

[95EerWVU]

A few other things:

IMO,

If GS had already bled significantly in the bedroom before their afternoon excursion in the truck, I think she would have bought the vinegar and baking sofa during that time rather than texting HH later for it;

One of the best ways to move a heavy item up/down carpeted stairs is if it’s in or on cardboard;

The board could have been used as a ramp to get the box/suitcase into the VW.

Also FWIW a twin mattress is 39x75 and a full is 54x75. Not sure what GS slept on. A platform bed (no box spring) base would be similar to those measurements.

(I worked in furniture/mattress industries for years)

 

[Hatfield]

I recall news reports emphasized the suitcase was located on the 'Santa Rosa side' of the Escambia bridge. Would that be south where map populates or the quiet side of the bridge map?

The north quieter side. I just looked at a Santa Rosa county map and I may have had that backwards in which way I was thinking she had come across the river. There are boulders and rocks between the highway on the North side of the river too. So depending on the way she was coming across, the situation would be about the same as she crossed the river and mistakingly thought she still had water below.

Sorry if I had that backwards in describing where I thought they found the suitcase. It could have been on that northern side of the river. Im not sure now.

 

[kittythehare]

There was never flooding in the area. The flooding of Escambia River happens 25 to 40 miles upstream. The area where the bridge in question crosses the river is where the river flows into Escambia Bay which in turn empties into the Gulf of Mexico. It is very wide and the area he was found was very far from the water's edge in both distance and height. I am local, live 3 miles from said bridge. There was no flooding there. It is impossible to see what is beneath the bridge when driving. She stopped and dropped him off the side, probably not realizing she was missing the river altogether.

Yet the suitcase remained concealed until March 17. Why would it not have been visible?

 

[watergirl62]

Hi guys. I’ve lurked for a long time, finally feel the need to comment on this insane case. I first heard of this case on a different site that had posted the Cousin It video. The narcissism is strong in this one.

One of you said something a ways back that nails it: your narc ex-husband had once told you “this is my world, you only exist in it.” This is TS’s world as well, and means that anyone in it can be used to her best interest.

This is what makes me wonder if her “best” defence (if she’s permitted to present it) is to throw HH under the bus and say HH killed him and every act and lie committed by TS was done to protect her child. Not saying it would work, but it could happen.

It reminds me of a case presented on Forensic Files once. I don’t remember the names, but a woman poisoned her husband with antifreeze, and as they investigated they exhumed her previous husband to find that he also had been killed by antifreeze. Once she knew they were closing in, she drugged her teenage daughter in an attempt to set it up as a suicide including a typed “suicide note” supposedly from the teen admitting both murders (“I know they think you did it, Mommy, but I did it”-horrible crap like that.)

One of the things that caught the wife is that she is an idiot who thought “antifreeze” was actually pronounced “anti-free” and that’s how she said it in an interview and also wrote in the suicide note. (The daughter survived, the mom was convicted).

TS reminds me of that woman.

Great post! Stacey Castor? eta: Funny, because I just listened to a podcast about SC and I thought the exact same thing.

Welcome to Websleuths.

 

[Seattle1]

Hi guys. I’ve lurked for a long time, finally feel the need to comment on this insane case. I first heard of this case on a different site that had posted the Cousin It video. The narcissism is strong in this one.

One of you said something a ways back that nails it: your narc ex-husband had once told you “this is my world, you only exist in it.” This is TS’s world as well, and means that anyone in it can be used to her best interest.

This is what makes me wonder if her “best” defence (if she’s permitted to present it) is to throw HH under the bus and say HH killed him and every act and lie committed by TS was done to protect her child. Not saying it would work, but it could happen.

It reminds me of a case presented on Forensic Files once. I don’t remember the names, but a woman poisoned her husband with antifreeze, and as they investigated they exhumed her previous husband to find that he also had been killed by antifreeze. Once she knew they were closing in, she drugged her teenage daughter in an attempt to set it up as a suicide including a typed “suicide note” supposedly from the teen admitting both murders (“I know they think you did it, Mommy, but I did it”-horrible crap like that.)

One of the things that caught the wife is that she is an idiot who thought “antifreeze” was actually pronounced “anti-free” and that’s how she said it in an interview and also wrote in the suicide note. (The daughter survived, the mom was convicted).

TS reminds me of that woman.

Welcome to WS @95EerWVU. Great first post and I follow your idea.

To be clear, I'm not alleging HH a participant or guilty of any criminal act here but have long believed that whether or not LS testifies or accepts plea deal will hinge on how she feels about HH at the time of trial.

Given her actions, evidence, and pre-arrest statements, LS has already painted herself in a tiny defense box. I very much agree her defense will be the alternate suspect theory.

If HH is cooperating with investigators and expected to be a witness for the prosecution, LS will not act out of truth, protection, or sympathy for her only child but will base her actions on how she sees her jurors. LS already murdered one minor, can she risk attacking the credibility of another minor on the stand? In her head, LS has a significant investment in making herself look good (scholarly, accomplished, hero).

However, if LS believes she's still in control of HH, I think she'll let her lawyer put forth the alternate suspect theory defense without taking the stand. She'll attempt to control and manipulate, squarely from the defense table.

Once convicted, I think it's a given that LS will spend her remaining days retaliating against anybody that looked sideways at her while collecting a posse of inmate supporters -- emphasis on male supporters.

Justice can't come too soon.

MOO

 

[Lori Cooper]

Yet the suitcase remained concealed until March 17. Why would it not have been visible?

You can't see anything over the concrete barrier, while driving. Especially true since it was down the embankment with foliage also concealing it.

 

[Seattle1]

The north quieter side. I just looked at a Santa Rosa county map and I may have had that backwards in which way I was thinking she had come across the river. There are boulders and rocks between the highway on the North side of the river too. So depending on the way she was coming across, the situation would be about the same as she crossed the river and mistakingly thought she still had water below.

Sorry if I had that backwards in describing where I thought they found the suitcase. It could have been on that northern side of the river. Im not sure now.

Thank you. Yes, I think the quieter, (darker - less illuminated) side makes sense.