CO - Gannon Stauch, 11, found deceased, Colorado Springs, El Paso County, 27 Jan 2020 *Arrest* #57

[iamshadow21]

Now Joshua Johnson from truck rental at GOTG.

 

[arielilane]

https://twitter.com/AshleyPorteeyo

The murder trial for #LeteciaStauch has resumed this morning in El Paso County. She's the woman accused of murdering her 11-year-old stepson Gannon Stauch in January 2020. I’ll be in the courtroom bringing you updates throughout the day.

Dakota Lowery, Letecia’s brother is the first witness to testify this morning. Before his testimony began, he yelled, “Why Letecia?!” He was very emotional, with tears in his eyes.

Lowery testified saying he flew to Colorado on January 30 to meet up with Letecia and her daughter, Harley. He said, “We felt like she was being wrongly accused for something we thought she’d never do… We also wanted to come out here and look for him,” referring to Gannon.

Lowery talked about them staying at a hotel, renting a van, and then on January 31, helping to move items belonging to Letecia and Harley out of the Stauch home.

He said police officers were at the Stauch home, and they were keeping a close eye on things being brought out of the home. He said I was, “just aggravated, because I feel like we was getting looked at as criminals… They were looking at the whole family.”

Lowery said, “she (Letecia) said she was ready to leave… I thought it was to South Carolina.” Lowery also said they never ended up searching for Gannon when they were in Colorado Springs because they felt like they weren’t being treated fairly by people and the police.

On February 1, 2020, Lowery said he and Letecia rented another van, and unloaded suitcases from the other van, and into the newly-rented van. Lowery testified saying he saw Letecia moving and carrying one suitcase that looked heavy.

Lowery said when he saw the heavy suitcase, “I didn’t feel right about it.” Lowery said he asked Letecia what was in the suitcase, and she said softballs.

A photo of the suitcase that Gannon’s body was found in was then shown in the courtroom. Lowery, very emotional, said that’s the suitcase that Letecia was struggling with, that he didn’t feel right about.

Lowery said he was ready to go home after that, and he said that was the last time he saw Letecia until today. When asked if Letecia knew right from wrong, Lowery said he thought she did, and that she was too smart.

When asked, what he thought about Letecia pleading not guilty be reason if insanity, Lowery said, “When everything first happened and we found out about the body, and we found out where we was found, at that point I knew she did it…”

Lowery when asked about the not guilty by reason of insanity plea: “I believe that was the only way she did it at that time.” Prosecutors: “Did what?” Lowery: “That’s what we’re here for.”

Lowery also testified saying he didn’t recall Letecia having any major mental health illnesses. He said, he thought she had OCD, obsessive cleaning disorder, not obsessive compulsive disorder.

Lowery testified saying he’s angry at Letecia, and didn’t want to testify today but he was subpoenaed.

During cross examination for Lowery, the defense also asked Lowery questions about his father’s drinking problem, abuse toward their mother, and how Letecia would sometimes leave knives so they could protect themselves.

Edited: additional tweets

 

[steeltowngirl]

They will before deliberation, if not... or should have.

Also, you can 'snap' in a fury and it's still not justified; nor does it mean you have lost your mind.

it just means you’re indulging and luxuriating in your little temper tantrum and nobody else had better get in your way.

Thank you, I agree, and her brother clarified his thoughts for the jury. He did great on the stand.

 

[arielilane]

https://twitter.com/ZachNDupont

I am back in court this morning covering another day of Letecia Stauch's trial, as always, will try to tweet updates here as the day gets going @csgazette

First witness off the day is Letecia Stauch's brother, Dakota Lowery, who is already in tears as he takes the witness stand. "Why Ticia?" He yelled before the prosecution even began asking questions.

Lowery is testifying that in late Jan. he and other members of his family flew to Colorado from NC in late Jan. to help search for Gannon and support his sister. "We felt Ticia was being falsely accused," Lowery said.

Lowery is stating that while they were out in Colorado Springs they never went and searched for Gannon, despite he and other members of his family saying they wanted to "go look for him."

Lowery saying on Feb. 1, he was helping Stauch move her belongings from one van to another, and one suitcase stood out to him because it was noticeably more heavy than the others. "Something didn't feel right about it," Lowery stated.

Lowery goes on to confirm the suitcase he "didn't feel right about" was the one that Gannon was later found in. When Lowery asked Stauch what was in the bag she told him it was just softball equipment.

Prosecution ended its questions for Lowery by having him confirm that he believed Stauch never suffered from severe mental illness, nor referred to herself as any other names. "That's what I thought," Lowery said when asked if he believed his sister knew right from wrong.

During cross-examination Lowery told Josh Tolini that at first he thought his sister must have had a mental break to have killed Gannon, especially after seeing where Gannon was found. "But now, no," Lowery clarified.

Tolini spent the cross-examination asking questions mostly about Lowery's father, who Tolini claimed was abusive to his mother before he died in 2004. Lowery confirmed those accusations by Tolini before ending his testimony.

While Lowery was testifying to a time his father gave him so much alcohol he passed out, Stauch could be seen very visibly nodding in agreement.

 

[Cindizzi]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1645815906864611336

 

[PawneeDew]

I just went and snooped Harley and she is absolutely stunning. I would be curious to know if that ever caused jealousy from her mom. It's pretty obvious that Leticia didn't have motherly instincts, or she never would have involved her child in a murder. I look at Harley as another victim of Leticia's. If Harley wrote a book about growing up with Leticia as a mom, I would definitely read it.

Absolutely. You know she had to have been jealous of Harley. Harley is beautiful. I think she'll do the right thing. Also, the smart thing. Kids are smart these days, they have to be. She'll be so much better without her momma...Could you even imagine? She'll finally be free. My honest opinion.

 

[iamshadow21]

Thank you, I agree, and her brother clarified his thoughts for the jury. He did great on the stand.

He did, way better than I feared given where we started and how upset he was throughout, but I really hope he's able to access therapy.

MOO

 

[kaen]

It was devastatingly sad to listen to her half-brother. I can't even imagine trying to digest all of this and then have to reconcile your feelings for her given her actions.

 

[Ontario Mom]

I can't get beyond her brother's question "why, Tecia?" That just broke my heart.

 

[arielilane]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1645818875206852609

Dakota Lowry testified about the time he questioned his sister, accused killer #LeteciaStauch, about the suitcase that contained the body of her stepson, #GannonStauch, before she dumped it in Florida. Stauch told him it contained softball equipment.

 

[Kiranerys]

"What did you think when you heard that she had chosen to plead NGRI."

"It was the only way I thought she could do it...(pause)... at that time."

No further questions.

Defense cross.

[paraphrasing this sentence, I got behind] "When they found him, the way they did, in that suitcase, that's what I thought. But not now."

Asked if he was angry at the shame LS brought on their family in their community.

"Yes."

Trying to bring up his biofather, setting the scene for talking about abuse IMHO.

Defense talking really bluntly about his father's violent alcoholism, now. He's agreeing with the statements.

LS gave knives to him when she visited for selfprotection.

Prosecution.

Asking about father's war service, and how he had changed when he came home.

Talking about how his mother protected her kids, and protect herself.

He's testifying because he was subpoenaed.

[paraphrasing2]Clarified he changed his mind about her being insane because there was too much she did that didn't match with her being insane. Implication is that she was too organised and knew what she was doing.

From jury question: did not recall green suitcase coming from the house, only from van to van.

He's finished now.

And so is she!

 

[arielilane]

Please be advised that Ashley post late. Witness: Joshua Johnson (Budget Rental) at this time.

https://twitter.com/AshleyPorteeyo

During cross examination for Lowery, the defense also asked Lowery questions about his father’s drinking problem, abuse toward their mother, and how Letecia would sometimes leave knives so they could protect themselves.

 

[Love Never Fails]

Tomorrow, or later in the week, it’s going to be something we don’t want to miss.

Thank you! I’m excited because I haven’t heard news about her since Gannons death.

 

[Kiranerys]

I love this jury, if they don't hear it in direct or cross they aren't afraid to ask and they are picking up on so many things that we are asking here too!.

 

[Chelly]

Smart jury asking great questions about rental van

 

[Kiranerys]

Thank you! I’m excited because I haven’t heard news about her since Gannons death.

I think she is doing very well without her mother, speculation, jmo.

 

[iamshadow21]

Hired the rental with her ID and matching bank card, initialed appropriately throughout the form, signed everything that she should have signed, signature at the end.

Waived their insurance and gave her personal insurance details.

Final page is mileage and existing damage. Signed by both Mr Johnson and LS.

Had no uncertainty or concern about renting her a vehicle. She understood the rental agreement in his opinion, and he had no concerns she was confused or intoxicated. Has refused rentals to people who were potentially intoxicated in the past.

No further questions.

No defense questions.

One jury question.

When was reservation made. No information on the form, just pickup date. Where was due to be turned in, Grapevine Texas. One way rental. Renter selects drop off location. Can be dropped off within a fifty mile radius of location, but anywhere else incurs fees. Cannot tell where it was actually dropped off from form.

Johnson steps down.

 

[Seattle1]

You are right we don't really know what HH knows. I expect not much for sure and I'm not at all convinced she came close to being charged herself. (Even if she did know or suspect things, that's not a crime unless she did stuff like outright lie to LE. It wasn't illegal not to inform on her mom.) But I'm not sure she knew much. I think that because she's been LS's daughter all of her life and has always lived with LS so far as I know (without snooping more than we are supposed to per WS rules. Isn't HH a potential victim? Looks like one to me.) I expect growing up HH learned it was often better to remain oblivious and not know too much about what was going on.
JMO

Raised by LS and her own father deceased -- how could HH be anything but a victim.

From testimony at this trial, we know that LS yelled at HH to not talk to authorities when LE apprehended LS/HH at Marshalls to serve warrants for their phones, and HH complied with LS's request. When HH was alone with detectives searching the family residence, she was described as friendly and willing to talk about her career goals, etc., but would not answer any questions about her missing brother Gannon.

AS testified that HH was always respectful of her mom, LS, but would confide in him that LS was bat-s-crazy. IMO, this sounds like a typical conversation in a blended family where HH most likely played a peacekeeping role.

If LS told HH anything, I think she probably told HH the same lies she told AS, and certainly nothing close to the truth about GS. LS loved playing the victim and probably more so to HH who was easy to manipulate for added sympathy. I'm sure LS wanted HH to believe that LS was being set up. MOO

 

[dyannaON]

I like this jury and Judge. JMO.

 

[iamshadow21]

Next witness, Sgt Roy Ditzler. Colorado Springs PD. 21 yrs service. Until Jan this year, was in Drug squad. Jan 2020 was Metro Vice. Supervisor of intelligence unit. surveillance, undercover, threats to government, threats to PD, domestic terrorism. Was asked to help with surveillance and place a GPS tracker.