CO - Gannon Stauch, 11, found deceased, Colorado Springs, El Paso County, 27 Jan 2020 *Arrest* #54

[Cindizzi]

I've been trying to write about this story in my blog and I really would love to include every detail and be as accurate as possible with sources. That being said, does anyone have any link to the rental car and the receipt with the mileages put on? Thank you!

Gannon Stauch: Stepmom explains rental car as search for missing Colorado boy continues [EXCLUSIVE PART 2]

It’s been one month since 11-year-old Gannon Stauch vanished from his Colorado home. CrimeOnline spoke exclusively with the last known person to see him. Tecia Stauch, the stepmother of Gannon, admits the boy was under her care when he disappeared. She said she last saw Gannon on January 27...

www.crimeonline.com

 

[Cindizzi]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1643081076309635073

 

[kittythehare]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1643081076309635073

Sounds like a bout of an exorcism as opposed to a bout of insanity.
Put her on the stand and ask her how often she believes she is an exorcist and whether there is an exorcist in the room at present, or even a demon...

I don't think we will ever know the depths of the depravity to which she sunk in her treatment of wee Gannon.

Problem is, I doubt very much she will either.
Cos this was fine, all of it.
Perfectly fine.
For her.
and nothing suggests this will not always be the case.

 

[Cindizzi]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1643069410540933120

 

[kittythehare]

Sgt. Yoder attended the autopsy. He says the body was severely decomposed, wrapped in blankets, which were soiled along with the clothing. The body was in a fetal position. Dr. Susan Ignacio, a forensic pathologist, performed the autopsy. Sgt. Yoder saw injuries to the body.

Sgt. Yoder learned it was the body of #GannonStauch through DNA analysis. Dr. Ignacio noted all the injuries discussed. She noted one gunshot wound, one skull fracture, and eighteen sharp force wounds (including those on the arms and hands).

The gunshot wound was to #Gannon's lower left jaw area. There was a projectile recovered from his skull. That was sent to the El Paso County Sheriff's Office. During an X-ray, two projectiles were found in a pillow.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1435988839424741380

Tweet thread from Prelim.

 

[iamshadow21]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1643069410540933120

View attachment 412853View attachment 412854

"They said her actions in January 2020 didn't make sense, and therefore she wasn't sane."

More 'if this, then that'. Garbage.

People commit horrific crimes against children all the time, and they aren't insane. They just use the child as an object of their rage, their frustration, their selfishness, to feel catharsis. They beat their toddler because they blame the kid for their own life problems. They starve their six year old because it makes them feel powerful. It's depravity, not mental illness, and I don't see any different here.

MOO

 

[kittythehare]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1643069410540933120

View attachment 412853View attachment 412854

The bit about
'her actions didn't make sense and therefore she was insane'
is antithetical.
It's assuming that they won't make sense to the jury either when they probably make perfect sense as the cruel sadistic torture and murder of a tiny child for her own pleasure and entitlement.

And he's had longer than most to try to make sense of them.

Murder never makes sense yet all murderers are not insane.
Many of them are just mean and cruel by nature.

 

[Cindizzi]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1643065381840629761

 

[Cindizzi]

 

[heartandsoul]

Murder never makes sense yet all murderers are not insane.
Many of them are just mean and cruel by nature.

THIS! The defence are really gonna struggle to convince anyone that this specific murder only happened because LS was "insane". Sometimes murder has no motive (although I think this one did) and they rarely make sense - but they happen every day.

 

[Niner]

Tuesday, April 4th:
*Trial continues (Day 2) (@ 9am MT) – CO – Gannon Jacob Stauch (11) (reported missing Jan. 27, 2020, Colorado Springs; found in a suitcase along the Escambia River Bridge on Mar. 17, 2020 in Pace, FL., Santa Rosa County; ID’d on June 6, 2020) – *Letecia Lynn (or Leann) Stauch (36/now 39) akas Letecia “Tecia” Lynn Hardin (maiden name) & Letecia Lynn Hunt (1st married name), Tiffany Taylor Stauch & Taylor Swift arrested (in Myrtle Beach, S.C. on 3/2/20) & advised of charges (3/5/20) & charged (re-filed 3/20/20) & arraigned (11/4/21) with 2 counts of 1st degree felony murder (after intent & deliberation), 2nd degree felony child abuse resulting in death (this count dismissed, 4/3/23), 3rd degree felony tampering with deceased human body, 6th degree felony tampering with physical evidence & 8 counts of crime of violence (special enhancer: firearm, blunt instrument, knife or sharp instrument & causing the death of Gannon). Held without bond. Plead not guilty. On 2/11/22 changed plea to not guilty by reason of insanity. (for original charges (3/5/20) see post 362 page 19 of thread #54).
*Charged (filed 5/20/20) & charged (6/5/20) with solicitation to commit escape. $2K bond. Plead not guilty.
Stauch faces a second case in which she is accused of attempting to escape from the El Paso County jail in May 2020. The second case against Stauch is on hold until the completion of the 1st degree murder trial.
Gannon suffered from a fractured skull, a gunshot wound to the lower jaw, eighteen sharp force wounds & what appeared to be defensive wounds on his hands. The cause of death was determined to be a gunshot wound with blunt-force trauma to the head.
Trial began on 3/20/23 with jury selection & ended on 4/3/23 for final jury selection with 11 men & 7 women. 12 jurors & 6 alternates.
Trial began on 4/3/23 with opening statements.
Trial will be from 9am to 5pm on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday each week. No Trial on Thursdays as Judge has other commitments. No trial on 5/12/23.
Case & court info from 3/2/20 to 3/20/23 & Jury Selection Day 1-6 (3/20-3/28/23) & 4/3/23 reference post #517 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...o-county-27-jan-2020-arrest-54.670811/page-26
4/3/23 Monday, Day 7, Final Jury Selection: The first group of 75 called back to start today. 10 people have informed Judge Gregory Werner that their circumstances have changed since their first appearance in court & that for a variety of reasons they may not be able to serve on this jury. Judge says trial maybe done by 5/25/23. 20 people were dismissed by the Judge for a variety of hardships. Leaving 55. The 18-person jury to be selected of the 55 people remaining in the room. This process is done by attorneys passing a sheet back & forth, picking a potential jury member to remove each time they get the sheet of paper. This will be done until there are only 18 people left & those 18 people will be the jury for trial. 18-person jury has been selected, consists of 11 men & 7 women. Six of these jurors will be deemed alternates once evidence and testimony is concluded. Jury has been sworn in. Defense wants a bench trial & waive a jury trial AFTER the judge has already sworn in a jury. Judge denies their request as he has determined that a fair & impartial jury was found today. And change of venue-denied.
for more info see post #652 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...o-county-27-jan-2020-arrest-54.670811/page-33
Trial, Monday Day 1: A last-minute defense motion to eliminate the public viewing of the proceedings (via WebEx) (change venue?) is denied by Judge Werner. The Court cited Dylan Redwine and James Holmes cases where the public interest in the trial did not impact the defendant receiving a fair trial. LS also agreed that the jury will decide her fate and this will not be a bench trial (decision by the Court). And Judge gives jury instructions.
Opening statements by prosecutor DA Michael Allen.
for more info see post #788 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...o-county-27-jan-2020-arrest-54.670811/page-40
Opening statements by defense attorney Will Cook.
for more info see post #918 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...o-county-27-jan-2020-arrest-54.670811/page-46
Judge addressed the jurors (post #926. Prosecutors are dismissing Count #-Child abuse resulting in death-which requires an accumulation of injurires not having proper care, which Allen says was charged before Gannon's body was discovered (posts #937 & 938)
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...o-county-27-jan-2020-arrest-54.670811/page-47
Jury will be going home at 3:30pm today & start fresh tomorrow.
Trial continues on Tuesday, 4/4/23.

 

[squish]

THIS! The defence are really gonna struggle to convince anyone that this specific murder only happened because LS was "insane". Sometimes murder has no motive (although I think this one did) and they rarely make sense - but they happen every day.

I think the motive was just that she became enraged after Gannon damaged something in the house. There was that audio of him crying and pleading, and Letecia saying to herself “Ok. Ok.” as if she was trying to calm herself down.

I think she lashed out at him and assaulted him, and caused him significant injuries. She realised she would definitely get in trouble for this, so she killed Gannon to cover her assault.

 

[heartandsoul]

I think the motive was just that she became enraged after Gannon damaged something in the house. There was that audio of him crying and pleading, and Letecia saying to herself “Ok. Ok.” as if she was trying to calm herself down.

I think she lashed out at him and assaulted him, and caused him significant injuries. She realised she would definitely get in trouble for this, so she killed Gannon to cover her assault.

Absolutely possible. She also held huge resentment towards both his parents, the state of her marriage, and the fact that AS was away for work leaving her as a "babysitter" for his kids. We know from those devastating and heart wrenching videos the abuse and mistreatment of Gannon existed before his death.

There's plenty of motive. She's not "insane" and she knew what she was doing to a child. She's evil.

 

[Kiranerys]

I think the motive was just that she became enraged after Gannon damaged something in the house. There was that audio of him crying and pleading, and Letecia saying to herself “Ok. Ok.” as if she was trying to calm herself down.

I think she lashed out at him and assaulted him, and caused him significant injuries. She realised she would definitely get in trouble for this, so she killed Gannon to cover her assault.

Yes. I'm convinced that the fractured skull occurred that night, I think she lost it when he was trying to tell her he was worried about his burns, she was trying to get him to focus and probably apologise, shaming him and ignoring his distress and in think she snapped and hit him, maybe harder than she intended and by the morning she realised it was bad and she wasnt getting out of hurting him this time. JMO

 

[GRT]

I'm not at all ashamed to admit I did try really hard to give her the benefit of doubt at the time.
I wanted Gannon's missing status to be a mistake, and that he'd be home in no time.
I no longer give the benefit of the doubt in cases like this and Gannon's case is a huge reason why.

You have a good and pure heart.

We all wanted the same thing.

The first I heard anything about Gannon going missing was here on Websleuths, and there was a link to the LS interview. As I watched it, I got a sick feeling and sensed something was very wrong.

I still hoped that he would be found, perhaps injured but still alive. As the days passed, that hope faded. When I heard the audio LS made and posted, it was like someone hit me in the stomach. That was the point I felt he was gone forever, and LS made it happen.

I don't think she'll be found NGRI but I'm worried there is a chance, given her contorted history.

 

[girlhasnoname]

Here for Gannon. I just couldn't listen to some of the opening statements, it makes me too angry and also too sad. I have no doubts that she will be found guilty NOT by reason of insanity and will sit in a tiny, dark cell for the rest of her miserable life.

Moo

 

[iamshadow21]

Here for Gannon. I just couldn't listen to some of the opening statements, it makes me too angry and also too sad. I have no doubts that she will be found guilty NOT by reason of insanity and will sit in a tiny, dark cell for the rest of her miserable life.

Moo

I couldn't listen either, because a) I'm half a world away, and b) one of my fur babies has been sick today so it's been an incredibly stressful day.

Does anyone know if there are transcripts going to be made available at any point? I know there's a court reporter writing everything down, but is there someone out there listening along and transcribing bits, or a video feed that has autocaptions that aren't just a jumbled mess? I can probably handle reading, but not listening right now. If not, I'll just rely on what you folks are saying about what's going down here on the threads, and that's fine. It's just my first trial, so I didn't know if there was stuff out there that others here know about that I don't.

 

[kittythehare]

THIS! The defence are really gonna struggle to convince anyone that this specific murder only happened because LS was "insane". Sometimes murder has no motive (although I think this one did) and they rarely make sense - but they happen every day.

MPD was her choice of disorder, her multi-choice.
I should stop.!
I think it's going to be a difficult and triggering trial for many of us.
I also imagine that she has spent her incarceration studying this particular syndrome so we're in for the entire chocolate box.
She will be the star, not the victim and that has already started with the opening remarks.

I'd hate to be the judge and i'd hate to be the jury.
She has the cunning of a rat and it looks like this will be a game of lWOP in a prison or a nice cushy institution.
Future dangerousness.

Bearing in mind it is a truism that one can be batshid cray cray with long periods of lucidity while still being bats.
Like you I too believe she was highly motivated to kill this child in so many ways, not just one because she believed she would kill his parents in the process, her marriage was destroyed, her career was destroyed.

 

[ex-stat]

You can be severely mentally ill and not insane. I hope they define insanity for the jurors and everyone in the court room, insanity as it legally stands in the state/country this is in.

I don't really understand how DID would automatically qualify as insane. It's a dissociative disorder. It is not housed in the same area as the other disorders that you typically see in insanity. You could have e.g. four personalities and all could be reasonable. Are they saying in this state that having a split personality is not reality? Having a fractured personality in itself to me does not actually meet the definition of insanity, whereas something like psychosis clearly would. If DID automatically qualifies as insane then they are saying that everyone with a DID diagnosis is insane which seems bizarre. I don't know. I have views on this that I don't think are a good idea to put here. I'm not saying that someone with DID couldn't be insane but I don't think they automatically are.

Regarding 'not guilty by reason of insanity' I would have no problem with that being the end result of a trial no matter how vile the crime IF the truth is that the person was psychotic in the true sense at the time and was not operating in reality as we know it. However, that typically does not involve cover up attempts and it has a totally different pattern. In most things other than a first time psychotic break or onset of various things it would also have a history. I hope they emphasise the difference between being severely mentally ill and insane. They are not the same thing.

To the people who are worried that she may end up in the institution alternative to prison that was mentioned in this thread - if it's any consolation, as others have already pointed out, these places are often worse than prison. People often want to be removed from these places and go back to prison. It should not be like this actually, as I do not think that anyone who is truly insane should be punished (just want to clarify, I mean examples such as if someone literally sees a monster and kills it but it turns out to be a person), but I know a lot of people will disagree with me. I don't think that is the likely outcome in this trial, but I'm not massively familiar with the US legal system or medical system and so I don't really want to offer an opinion.

It sounds like all of this stuff was completely irrelevant to this case anyway.

RIP Gannon, I am so sad that this happened.

 

[katydid23]

Her Defense attorney says it doesn't make sense. Smiling photo of them, Gannon smiling, and the next day Gannon's gone, says her attorney. He says there's no explanation. Ha!

Well, it does make sense when you hear how resentful she was feeling towards her husband off to do his National Guard duty. It'll make sense when you hear how resentful and spiteful she was thinking. There is an explanation. She was feeling evil hatred and put it on a innocent little boy. ​

And I hope they hear how much she resented Gannon's mother, and how jealous she was of her. And how angry she was that she felt she had the burdens of being a caretaker for her husband's ex wive's children. She bitterly resented Gannon for all of that.