This is the Day 10 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 10 Trial Summary
Day 10 (18 April 2023) of the trial focused heavily on establishing the physical, forensic, and investigative framework of the case, highlighting law enforcement’s transition from a standard missing child report to a critical criminal investigation. The prosecution introduced vital physical forensic data through crime scene investigators and an expert bloodstain pattern analyst, who detailed high-reaching blood spatter found inside the residence and formally identified it as Gannon’s blood. Further testimonies from digital forensics, local command staff, and out-of-state law enforcement mapped out the logistical timeline, covering the initial regional searches, the mid-investigation discovery of a crime scene, and the defendant’s eventual compliant arrest in Myrtle Beach.
Witness-by-Witness Summaries
Pete Woods (Myrtle Beach P.D.)
Key summaries (Click arrow for more)
Connection to the case
Police officer with the Myrtle Beach Police Department who assisted in locating and apprehending the defendant out of state.
Summary Of Testimony
Testified that he was personally involved in the operational briefing that preceded the out-of-state arrest of Letecia Stauch. He verified that the defendant complied fully with all law enforcement orders and lawful commands during the arrest process.
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
