This is the Day 9 of 20 trial report of the murder trial of Letecia Stauch, accused of murdering her stepson Gannon Stauch however she pled not guilty by reason of insanity claiming multiple personalities compelled her to kill her stepson. A jury of her peers convicted her of all counts!
Case Report
Factual background:
On January 27, 2020, while Gannon’s father was away on National Guard deployment, Letecia Stauch killed Gannon in his bedroom.
Stauch entered a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity. The defense’s sole expert witness, psychiatrist Dr. Dorothy Otnow Lewis, testified that severe, suppressed childhood trauma had caused Stauch to suffer a severe “psychotic crack” and develop Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID). The defense argued that an alter persona named “Maria” was entirely in control during the offense.
Blood spatter was recovered from the bedroom walls, baseboards, and floor area. Blood loss was extensive enough to soak completely through the mattress, carpet, and carpet padding, leaving deep stains on the structural concrete underneath the bed.
On March 17, 2020, a bridge maintenance worker discovered the suitcase discarded beneath the Escambia Bay Bridge in Pace, Florida.
Stauch dismantled her cell phone’s connection to the network for extended intervals, utilized GPS-evasion methods, and was eventually arrested on March 2, 2020, in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
Criminal complaint:
CHARGES:
1. 1st Degree Murder – Guilty – decided on 8th May 2023
2. Tampering with physical evidence – Guilty – decided on 8th May 2023
3. Tampering with a deceased human body – Guilty – decided on 8th May 2023
Victim(s): Gannon Stauch
Date Of Murder: TBC
Killing Incident Reported: TBC
Courthouse: El Paso County District Court, Colorado
Officers of the court
Judge:
Attorneys
Prosecution:
ADA Michael Allen
ADA Angelina Gratiano
Dave Young
Defence:
Josh Tillini
Will Cook
CO v. Letecia Stauch – Day 9 Trial Summary
During the trial proceedings on Day 9 (17-April-2023), the prosecution further established its narrative of scene manipulation and defendant misdirection through forensic updates and pivotal family testimony. The day opened with the brief conclusion of Senior Crime Scene Investigator Brooke Bell’s testimony, confirming the parameters and physical findings of her residence searches. The state then dedicated the remainder of the session to the direct, cross, and redirect examination of Harley Hunt, the defendant’s daughter. Hunt’s testimony introduced a timeline of text messages, changing travel destinations, and cover stories fabricated by the defendant—including a basement candle fire and a fabricated cancer diagnosis—before the session concluded with targeted jury questions regarding physical evidence and the victim’s last known state.
Witness-by-Witness Summaries
Harley Hunt (Daughter of Letecia Stauch)
Key summaries (Click arrow for more)
Connection to the case
Daughter of the defendant, Letecia Stauch.
Summary Of Testimony
Hunt testified that her mother claimed Gannon ran away, was acting strangely, and that detectives were trying to “frame” her. She stated her mother textually claimed Gannon started a basement fire, ordered her not to speak about the incident publicly, and later had her say goodnight to Gannon in a dark room where Hunt only recalled seeing his head.
Key evidence introduced!
- Nothing Of Note.
Full report below!
Sources:
Letecia Stauch Trial, The Trial Channel, Youtube Channel, Playlist, Available Online: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLLq-6my_qlf-Lt1H2__FclEoRjE8_R0ls
