This is the Day 17 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 17 Trial Summary
During Day 17 (1 May 2023) of the proceedings, the prosecution’s presentation of evidence focused entirely on the recalled testimony of a single digital forensics expert who meticulously mapped out the defendant’s chronological timeline, communication logs, and internet search history. The day’s testimony systematically traced the defendant’s digital footprint from pre-incident planning on January 24, 2020, through the post-disappearance period, and up to mid-March 2020. The timeline culminated in the forensic tracking of the discovery of Gannon’s body under a bridge in Pensacola, Florida, and revealed the defendant’s direct attempts to solicit a false witness to mislead law enforcement. Cross-examination yielded no new facts, and a juror clarification confirmed that key deceptive messages originated directly from the defendant’s phone.
Witness-by-Witness Summaries
(Recalled): Kevin Clark – Criminal Intelligence Analyst / Cell Phone Forensics Expert
Key summaries (Click arrow for more)
Connection to the case
Expert witness in cell phone forensics to analyze and present the data extractions, web history, and communication timelines compiled from the devices associated with the case.
Summary Of Testimony
Kevin Clark delivered a comprehensive chronological baseline of the defendant’s digital actions surrounding Gannon’s disappearance. On direct examination, he established that the defendant began researching relocation options days before Gannon vanished. Furthermore, Clark exposed direct text evidence showing the defendant attempting to bribe an acquaintance to lie to the police.
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
