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

[iamshadow21]

Does anyone else think that Tolini made an oopsy when he cross examined DL and (inaccurately) described DL as LS's stepbrother. Tolini insinuates that LS has brought shame on DL's family in a small community and it is "all his stepsister's fault". DL corrected him and stated LS was his half sister. Tolini made a point of the fact that they had different dads. It struck me that Tolini was trying to diminish their relationship and I think it probably struck a nasty cord for those who consider their "stepfamily" members as real family. I also think it was super contradictory since we are not supposed to think of LS as the evil stepmom, but as the loving mom who thought of Gannon as her own (retch- it is hard to even type that fiction).

The other thing that sticks out for me with that is, the whole thing of half and step and all that it is a very white-centric view of families. I know this from contact with my late stepfather and his kin, and contact with my mother's best friend. Neither are white, and both have ideas of kinship that are very different to the rigid nuclear model a lot of Western societies are based around. LS's family might perceive their kinship ties in a way that doesn't see step or half as any different to full. Throughout, if I recall correctly, D referred to her as 'my sister' and only talked about the fact that she was a half sibling when the attorneys picked apart the family structure.

MOO

 

[arielilane]

Does anyone else think that Tolini made an oopsy when he cross examined DL and (inaccurately) described DL as LS's stepbrother. Tolini insinuates that LS has brought shame on DL's family in a small community and it is "all his stepsister's fault". DL corrected him and stated LS was his half sister. Tolini made a point of the fact that they had different dads. It struck me that Tolini was trying to diminish their relationship and I think it probably struck a nasty cord for those who consider their "stepfamily" members as real family. I also think it was super contradictory since we are not supposed to think of LS as the evil stepmom, but as the loving mom who thought of Gannon as her own (retch- it is hard to even type that fiction).

Agreed. The step-brother/half-brother confusion was a puzzling moment, imo. Even I knew the difference, though DL was a state subpoena witness I expected better from Tolini's cross-examination. moo

 

[perception≠reality]

Oh, hell.

He saw her move the suitcase with Gannon from one van to the other. Was heavy, she was struggling, offered to help. She said no. When asked, said it was softball stuff.

He didn't believe her. "It just didn't feel right. It looked too heavy."

He's crying again, but still answering the questions. Confirming visual identification of the case Gannon was found in.

My jaw dropped when he testified about watching her transfer the suitcase. I knew she was conniving, but never in a million years did I think she would so brazenly move his little body in the presence of others and think they would keep their mouths shut about it.

My heart hurts for her brother. As angry as I want to be that he didn’t push more to find out what was in the suitcase, I also cannot even imagine my sister being capable of such atrocities. The mind attempts to protect you from the worst you can imagine. He knew in his mind something was off, but didn’t want to know. That’s a heavy burden to carry all this time. That family must have suffered so deeply when Gannon was found, knowing that they inadvertently helped her cover up such a heinous crime. Perhaps I give them too much credit. She doesn’t care who she hurts, or how they suffer because of her. It was never just Gannon, though he suffered the worst kind of death I can imagine, at the hands of someone who should have been his protector.

 

[arielilane]

Here for Gannon <3

Trial resumes in less than 10 minutes.

 

[x_files]

I wonder what it's like for Nottadoctor T to see LE walk through all her notsoclever countermaneuvers. All those rental cars and all for naught.

One begins to wonder if T has ever done an honest, legitimate thing in her life.

Fraud.

Jmo

Did we ever find out where AS met this wacko?
Seriously...she seems scary from her older photos even.

 

[Seattle1]

That family must have suffered so deeply when Gannon was found, knowing that they inadvertently helped her cover up such a heinous crime. Perhaps I give them too much credit. She doesn’t care who she hurts, or how they suffer because of her. It was never just Gannon, though he suffered the worst kind of death I can imagine, at the hands of someone who should have been his protector.

^^rsbm

I think the NC family believed LS was being framed for GS's murder because they were only hearing one side of the story -- LS's side. I don't think there's anything strange about her own family believing LS. They had no reason to believe LS was insane or capable of doing the most heinous acts to a child. This is a prudent reaction. IMO, LS's own family are also victims of LS similar to HH.

 

[Seattle1]

Did we ever find out where AS met this wacko?
Seriously...she seems scary from her older photos even.

I believe AS testified they met playing softball.

 

[iamshadow21]

My jaw dropped when he testified about watching her transfer the suitcase. I knew she was conniving, but never in a million years did I think she would so brazenly move his little body in the presence of others and think they would keep their mouths shut about it.

My heart hurts for her brother. As angry as I want to be that he didn’t push more to find out what was in the suitcase, I also cannot even imagine my sister being capable of such atrocities. The mind attempts to protect you from the worst you can imagine. He knew in his mind something was off, but didn’t want to know. That’s a heavy burden to carry all this time. That family must have suffered so deeply when Gannon was found, knowing that they inadvertently helped her cover up such a heinous crime. Perhaps I give them too much credit. She doesn’t care who she hurts, or how they suffer because of her. It was never just Gannon, though he suffered the worst kind of death I can imagine, at the hands of someone who should have been his protector.

He was super young when the crime happened, very early twenties, and my impression of him was that he is kindhearted, passive, trusting, and I think looked up to his much older sister his whole life. His memories of her from childhood of her visits were of them going places and having fun, but also her giving him knives to defend himself with. He was dazzled by her intelligence and her dominant personality. I don't think he likely ever saw the other side of her his whole life until all this, because she wouldn't NEED to shriek at him or make him feel scared. When they asked him who was making decisions back at the hotel, he dithered and wasn't sure and then said something about the kind of person he was, that he would just stand in the corner and wait until someone told him what to do and what was happening (paraphrasing a lot here, forgive me). I think he's been like that his whole life. All LS would ever have had to do was smile and ask. He trusted her deeply, with a child's innocent, boundless trust. And he's trying to reconcile that with his sister exploiting that trust to enlist his unwitting, unknowing help to cover up a brutal, senseless child murder. That's why I truly hope he has access to therapy, because that kind of betrayal can break people who don't have a degree of natural cynicism and mistrust, and I don't think he does.

Very much my opinion only.

 

[arielilane]

 

[arielilane]

Live feed is on. Bring in the jury.

 

[iamshadow21]

Court is back! Jury entering now.

 

[iamshadow21]

First witness, John Watkin? Wadden? He didn't spell it. Avis, Budget. Rental cars, trucks. EDIT: Looks like it's Wotton.

 

[arielilane]

Witness: Avis John Wotton

 

[Kiranerys]

He was super young when the crime happened, very early twenties, and my impression of him was that he is kindhearted, passive, trusting, and I think looked up to his much older sister his whole life. His memories of her from childhood of her visits were of them going places and having fun, but also her giving him knives to defend himself with. He was dazzled by her intelligence and her dominant personality. I don't think he likely ever saw the other side of her his whole life until all this, because she wouldn't NEED to shriek at him or make him feel scared. When they asked him who was making decisions back at the hotel, he dithered and wasn't sure and then said something about the kind of person he was, that he would just stand in the corner and wait until someone told him what to do and what was happening (paraphrasing a lot here, forgive me). I think he's been like that his whole life. All LS would ever have had to do was smile and ask. He trusted her deeply, with a child's innocent, boundless trust. And he's trying to reconcile that with his sister exploiting that trust to enlist his unwitting, unknowing help to cover up a brutal, senseless child murder. That's why I truly hope he has access to therapy, because that kind of betrayal can break people who don't have a degree of natural cynicism and mistrust, and I don't think he does.

Very much my opinion only.

I agree, and that's what makes it all the more heart breaking to hear amd watch him. She broke that poor boys heart.

 

[Tealgrove]

Has anyone noticed if Dan May has been in the courtroom?

 

[arielilane]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1645873530662457352

The #LeteciaStauch murder trial has resumed. The first witness being called to the stand is John Wotton, a corporate security manager with David Budget Group.

 

[iamshadow21]

I agree, amd that's what makes it all the more heart breaking to hear amd watch him. She broke that poor boys heart.

She did, and she was just as unmoved as she has been with almost everything else. He was just a tool to her. And he would have seen that from the stand. She wasn't weeping with him. She wasn't feeling his pain, or mourning their broken sibling bond. She was smirking, emotionless, bored.

MOO

 

[perception≠reality]

He was super young when the crime happened, very early twenties, and my impression of him was that he is kindhearted, passive, trusting, and I think looked up to his much older sister his whole life. His memories of her from childhood of her visits were of them going places and having fun, but also her giving him knives to defend himself with. He was dazzled by her intelligence and her dominant personality. I don't think he likely ever saw the other side of her his whole life until all this, because she wouldn't NEED to shriek at him or make him feel scared. When they asked him who was making decisions back at the hotel, he dithered and wasn't sure and then said something about the kind of person he was, that he would just stand in the corner and wait until someone told him what to do and what was happening (paraphrasing a lot here, forgive me). I think he's been like that his whole life. All LS would ever have had to do was smile and ask. He trusted her deeply, with a child's innocent, boundless trust. And he's trying to reconcile that with his sister exploiting that trust to enlist his unwitting, unknowing help to cover up a brutal, senseless child murder. That's why I truly hope he has access to therapy, because that kind of betrayal can break people who don't have a degree of natural cynicism and mistrust, and I don't think he does.

Very much my opinion only.

I agree wholeheartedly.

 

[Seattle1]

Has anyone noticed if Dan May has been in the courtroom?

Most likely watching from WebEx. We'd probably see a tweet if he made an appearance. JMO

 

[GRT]

Could LS's two attorneys possibly look any more bored and disinterested?