When asked what Letecia’s demeanor was like during the interview, Bethel said, “She was calm and collected.” She also added that Letecia’s personality was consistent throughout.
Bethel said she spoke to Letecia several times on January 28, through text message, phone call, and FaceTime. She said Letecia declined to show up for an interview because she said her stomach was hurting.
We also heard audio from a FaceTime from around 10 p.m. on January 28 between Bethel and Letecia. Letecia was mad because she said her daughter, Harley, was left at the Stauch home by herself while detectives were there. Letecia asked, “she can’t go get food or go get coffee?”
On the FaceTime, Bethel continued asking about information or updates so she could find Gannon. Letecia said, “Why are you asking me this? You keep asking me this over and over and over… I’m not going to talk to you without an attorney, when I already talked to you earlier.”
Bethel described the interaction saying, “She was angry with me… I’m not sure exactly why she was angry with me, but she was angry with me.” Bethel said many of the text messages from Letecia were focused on her, and not on helping find Gannon.
Bethel testified saying Letecia said something bad happened to her and she couldn’t tell detectives while Al was around. She said Letecia also said the family was getting death threats.
Bethel said she set up an in-person interview with Letecia at 10 a.m. the next day, but Letecia was late and didn’t show up until noon.
We’re now watching a video recording of the interview between Letecia and Bethel conducted at the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office around noon on January 29. This interview is more than four hours long.
Before the interview begins, Letecia is seen in the room by herself sitting on the couch with her arms and legs crosses, humming at times. District Attorney Michael Allen paused the recording to say he wanted jurors to see her demeanor as it regards to any mental health concerns.
Letecia said she knew the conversation was being recorded, and she asked if it’ll stay private and within the Sheriff’s Office, “because I’m going to have to tell you some very personal things,” said Letecia. She also said she hadn’t eaten, so detectives gave her refreshments.
Letecia described Sunday, January 26 including the hike at Garden of the Gods, Gannon’s stomach hurting, getting dinner, then going home. She said it was a normal Sunday night.
She then described the alarm going off saying, “fire, fire, fire.” She said she saw smoke coming from the downstairs. She then ran downstairs and put out a small fire which was on the floor. She said Gannon was sleeping on the couch right next to the fire.
Letecia said they were able to get everyone out of the home, and when they got back, they talked about a plan to fix the carpet the next day. She said Gannon stayed home from school the next day because of his stomach problems, and to help fix the carpet.
Letecia said on Monday she noticed marks and burns on Gannon’s arm that began peeling and bleeding. She said she was scared and freaking out because she didn’t want Al to know. She became emotional saying, “I made a mistake, I swear to y’all, I didn’t know they were that bad.”
The court is taking a break. The trial will resume at 1:20.
