This is the Day 2 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:
In March 2022, Eric Richins was found unresponsive in the bedroom of the home he shared with his wife, Kouri Richins, in Utah. A 911 call was placed in the early morning hours reporting that he was not breathing.
Emergency responders arrived and Eric was pronounced deceased.
A subsequent autopsy and toxicology testing determined that Eric died from acute fentanyl intoxication. The level of fentanyl detected was reported to be significantly elevated.
Following investigation, prosecutors charged Kouri Richins with aggravated murder and related financial crimes. The State alleges that she intentionally administered fentanyl to her husband. The prosecution has also referenced an alleged prior poisoning attempt weeks before his death.
Investigators examined:
- Financial records, including real estate debt and loans.
- Life insurance policies associated with Eric Richins.
- Digital communications and phone data.
- Statements made during the 911 call and at the scene.
The State has argued that financial pressure and marital instability provide motive.
The defense disputes that the State can prove how fentanyl was ingested, challenges aspects of the financial narrative, and maintains that the prosecution cannot establish intentional poisoning beyond reasonable doubt.
Kouri Richins has pleaded not guilty.
The case proceeds as a circumstantial homicide prosecution centered on toxicology evidence, financial documentation, and competing interpretations of marital and post-death conduct.
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 2 Trial Summary
Day 2 of the trial focused exclusively on the prosecution’s presentation of evidence through the testimony of Al Stauch (the victim’s father). The day was structurally centred on establishing family dynamics, prior behaviour of the defendant, and inconsistencies in her accounts surrounding Gannon’s disappearance. The prosecution used both oral testimony and recorded evidence (notably a phone call) to introduce early indicators of manipulation, implausible explanations, and shifting narratives from the defendant. The testimony also functioned as an emotional anchor, humanising Gannon while simultaneously introducing tension points—particularly around the defendant’s claims (e.g., illness, rape scenario, and events in the home) that appeared internally inconsistent. The day closed without cross-examination, leaving the prosecution’s framing largely intact and unchallenged at this stage.
Witness-by-Witness Summaries
Witness #1 – Al Stauch – Victim’s Father
Key summaries (Click arrow for more)
Connection to the case
Primary witness for family environment, timeline context, and defendant behaviour pre- and post-disappearance
Summary Of Testimony
Al Stauch’s testimony constructed a dual-layer narrative: (1) a personal account of Gannon’s character and family relationships, and (2) a progressive exposure of inconsistencies in the defendant’s explanations. He described Gannon as affectionate and emotionally connected, reinforcing the child’s baseline normality prior to disappearance.
Key evidence introduced!
- Nothing of note.
Full report below!
Sources:
WATCH LIVE: Stepmom Murder Trial — CO v. Letecia Stauch — Day Two, Law & Crime, Youtube Channel, Livestream, Available Online: https://www.youtube.com/live/GCvsExbSats
