Transcript.
This was posted by an anonymous on a blog.
I = interviewer, T = Tecia, H = Harley
Transcript Part 1
I: Uh, You are
T: I am Tecia Stauch, which is Gannon’s stepmother. Wearing sunglasses, facing away from camera.
I: Uh. You’ve been a part of the investigation since the very first time you were the last person to see him. Is that right?
T: Correct
I: Uh, what, what did you see when you last saw him?
T: Well, I’m not allowed to talk about anything with the case. I would moreso be, willing to talk about how the community needs to have faith and continue to work together and not make these false accusations, like the things that have been said - that I disappeared - from the community. I haven’t been there to help, but there’s lots of reasons behind that.
I: Uh, reasons like death threats. Right?
T: Right. Death threats are one of them. My family is getting lots of death threats. We counted over 20 some, death threats already. Um, two, my husband’s ex-wife is living in our home and of course I’m not coming home, to do these things. And to help with the family, when I was kind of like, told, I couldn’t. Um. And then, many other things that happened with the El Paso County Police Department, you know. And then, doing the investigation, I was told I wasn’t complying. And i- Can I elaborate on that?
I: Please do.
T: Yes. So, I asked for a attorney during the interview. Ah. And, I was denied that by them. I was held, because they were blocking the door, and I was told I couldn’t leave, and that if I would have touched them, they would have probably, you know, said I still wasn’t complying, or said I was, you know, trying to run away or something but; during the interview I asked several times could I stop the interview, could I get an attorney, could I stop the interview, could I get a- an attorney. I was denied. I was told I couldn’t get nothing to drink. I couldn’t go to the bathroom. I mean, it’s continuously, that my constitutional rights were violated.
I: And, that’s why you, say that they said then, you weren’t cooperating.
T: That’s why they said I wasn’t cooperating at that time. Correct.
I: And, why did you ask for an attorney at the time?
T: Well, I asked for an attorney at the time because there was one individual, er there was two, really good detectives, and so I’m not, you know, going to talk bad about detectives, but the tactics they started to get when I would answer questions they try to, you know. They’re detectives, they’re supposed to twist. Their one main goal is to find Gannon. But, during that time, some of those things made me feel uncomfortable, the way they were saying things. So I immediately stopped and it felt like, felt like an attorney would help me with some of the vocabulary and things like that, that I needed help with, in understanding some of the things that they were asking.
I: I’m going to shift gears, to, what has become a huge online presence of people
T: Right
I: Obviously trying to do the right thing
T: Mm hm
Transcript Part 2
I: Help find Gannon. But at the same time sometimes it just feels like (unintelligible). Have you seen any of those comments yourself?
T: We have. And, see, that’s one of the main things we haven’t, uh, been around in the public eye because we did- I didn’t want to expose my family to it if all these things were going on. You know, there was comments about Gannon getting pushed off (looks awar from interviewer), the hike, and there was comments about this. And that’s just not true. I took care of Gannon for the last 2 years in our home because his mother didn't want to do it. And I would never never ever hurt this child. And I know there are some questions out there about, okay, so tell me what happened. That's up to the investigations when they end up letting you guys know, but I've cooperated with them, even to the point that we were held with a gun; and my daughter, a 17 year old who serves our country in the United States Air Force , who has never committed a crime or done anything wrong in her life , was put in hand cuffs over the keys that was in her purse, so they could take her car.
I: And they weren’t in there
T: They weren't even in her car, I mean, in her purse.
I: And you
T: They were in my pocket.
I: You originally didn’t even know it was the, um, law enforcement, officer at this point?
T: I didn’t know it was a law enforcement officer, because when he came out; I guess he was putting his jacket on and it, it wasn't necessarily his fault, he was adjusting and happened to catch me; but I saw the gun and I panicked originally and kind of thought oh gosh, I got to- Who is this guy? And then once I realized it was the Sheriff’s office I was totally okay, but they still had a gun and told me they were gonna shoot me. But I was really concerned about my daughter asking why she was being detained in handcuffs, and things like that, when that shouldn't even happen for a child. That shouldn't happen for someone who was standing inside of a store shopping, because we couldn't have any clothes because all of our clothes were here. If we came here and got clothes, you know, we would be harassed; so she went to purchase some, underwear and things like that and was, put in the handcuffs in the store. You know, and then brought out with me and the guns, and there was- That's just not okay, you know. They could have approached me and said Hi, I'm with El Paso County. Can I please get this, instead of the way that it happened.
I: I’m just going to check our time. You’re doing great. (checks camera) I, I should try and clarify here. Not necessarily crime rates, but; the way that people are reacting online to rumors about you at the source.
T: Oh, oh yes. Wow. The rumors have gotten so bad. Um. I pretty much have been told, at least ten different ways, that these people have these conspiracy theories. I guess they watch a lot of law shows and maybe they have all these theories on, how, um, Gannon is dead. And that’s what they’re saying. So, I’m like why are you saying Gannon is dead. He is not dead. We are going to find Gannon. And that’s the main goal that we all have. My family has. Just because you haven’t seen us, we have that same goal. We’ve been out searching. My, Aunt has been out searching. My family has been out searching. We all have been doing that together, so that we could protect each other.
Transcript Part 3
I: How does it feel, when not only you have a lost child, you are in care of, but then people blaming you for that child not being here?
T: You know, I, I’m just ready for Gannon to come home. Most importantly, for him to see his family, but second, I am going to be so ecstatic when I’m able to say, to people that I hope they have a really sincere apology for all these theories that have came out online. For all the things they said that I have done, or people have done. I just want everyone to know that, (moves head side to side) we’re going to find Gannon. And I love him so much. I helped taking care of him for so long.
I: Can you talk to me a little bit about him? I don’t know him.
T: Gannon is so kind and - he loves to play video games. That’s one of his favorite things, he loves Sonic, and Mario and, you know. He’s always helpful - I and I- he was always so helpful, with the dogs, around the house, and we have two Loki(?) dogs. And he was always like a person I could say, Gannon, can you go do this, and he would do it right away. You know, sometimes with kids, we have to remind ‘em and things like that, and that’s ok, but, he was so sweet and able to help anyone; he could notice when you’re sick, and say, are you ok, and – such a kind heart.
I: Um. I know you just said that you can’t say anything about the investigation, so you can just say so again if you can’t answer this, but, is there anything we can hear about the hike? Was there a hike? You don’t, like just, it seems irreverent right now.
T: You know what? Um (looks away from interviewer). Could we bring uh, my daughter up here, ‘cause she can per- She can go and say that, you know, she came home, from work, after the hike, and she can verify that Gannon was at our home.
I: OK, yeah. That’s fine with me. Eh, if she doesn’t want to that’s ok but you’re allowed to...
T: That’s fine. I need Harley. I need Harley. ‘Cause they want you to verify was Gannon home after the hike. ‘Cause you didn’t go to the hike but you came home from work. Hm?
H: Do you want me to say that-?
T: No. Just answer the question yes. Y-, you came home from work. And you can verify Gannon was at home. Yeah. I told her she didn’t have to be too in depth ‘cause she is still, you know, a child. But I want to make sure that someone knows that there’s another, person to verify that Gannon.
I: Sure
T: Does she need to hold this?
I: No.
H: Yes, so I came home, later that evening. I was at work and I can verify that he was there that night. Sniff.
I: So, there, there was a hike that you guys went on. But, then, you guys came home.
H: Yes.
I: Where’d you guys go hiking?
T: Garden of the Gods
I: Garden of the Gods. OK. Um. I guess we-
T: And then we ate Burger King afterwards. So. You know. Ahuh.
I: There you go.
T: Yeah.
Transcript Part 4
I: Um. And then it just, was I’m gonna go to go play at a friend’s house.
(video jump – Harley has left – interviewer asks same question to stepmom alone)
And then it was just, ah, uh, I’m off to go to play at a friend’s house.
T: Unfortunately I’m not able to, like comment on that anymore. And, for that reason is ‘cause some things have been turned and twisted and- You know, that was one of those stories you were talking about where people say things, um. We had to hear things like, who would let their child go out at dark. And, and things like that, and that- And that’s just why I don’t want to answer that. Um. If I had to give- n- I’m not going to say that part.
I: That’s OK.
T: Never mind.
I: It’s alright.
T: You can take that out.
I: I understand that it, it gets tricky with (unintelligible)
T: Yeah.
I: Sigh. Do you feel like I asked you what I need to? Do you feel like this is going to help, kinda, turn the tide of, what feels like a witch hunt, in my opinion?
T: I hope. Is, am I on camera now?
I: You are still.
T: Ok. Ok. Um, I think that a lot of people can see that I'm not missing, and see that I am being cooperative, and, but, to me it's okay that they think those things because my, the way someone thinks about me, I don't have a problem with that. My main thing is; I would never want someone to think that I would hurt Gannon, or any of the children in our home ‘cause that's just not the case. I've spent my whole entire life working so hard in education, um, there's even things online that was talking about my education license and I shouldn't even be a teacher, and they just didn't know that. Like, we moved on a military move, and I didn't finish out my contract so, I gave up my license in that state. Um, it had nothing to do with any criminal activity, you know, or any of those things, and it just got blown out of proportion on my professional status you know and-
I: Do you feel like these are just internet detectives who think they know what they’re doing?
T: It definitely is, and you know, here’s the thing that kind of saddens me. It’s like, if you’re gonna talk about someone like that, have a witch hunt out for them, why would you even care, like, about doing those things because this is a child. You’re telling me that you’re just as mean. You’re just as hateful to talk about someone else like that. That’s how I feel. Like, we just should not. We should all come together. Wait until the end and, and see what happens, because Gannon’s going to come home.
I: Any message for Gannon?
T: The message for Gannon I have is, Gannon, when you get here, you’ll be able to truly tell what happened. And then I really hope, I get a sincere apology from everyone who has made all those things, especially for my husband.
(video jump – Interviewer is no longer visible)
T: We just wanted to add a message to Gannon from my family, is that we love you we miss you and we want you to come home soon. Sniff. And Gannon I can’t wait you can, come home and let everyone know that you’re ok. We love you.
