Day two of alleged Colorado killer Letecia Stauch’s murder trial began Tuesday morning in El Paso County with the father of murder victim, Gannon Stauch, taking the stand.
Al Stauch told Fourth Judicial District Attorney Michael Allen that the last words he heard from his 11-year-old son before leaving for work on January 25, 2020, were that he loved him and was going to “finish watching Pokemon.”
“Me and Gannon were at the top of the stairs and I just gave him a hug. I always used to rub my fingers through his hair. I just told him, I love you,” Al testified. “… I remember it like it was yesterday.”
Within a few days, Al, who was working out of state as a U.S. National Guard member, rushed back home. His son was missing and his now ex-wife, Letecia Stauch, alleged that the child had run away.
On January 27, 2020, Letecia reported Gannon missing, claiming that he could possibly be with friends. Al testified that none of Gannon’s friends had seen or heard from him, while Letecia’s actions started to become suspicious.
As CrimeOnline previously reported, Letecia is accused of beating Gannon inside their home rental home in Fountain. Allen said she stabbed the victim 18 times and shot him three times, with one bullet piercing through his jaw.
Months later, a crew worker in Pace, Florida, found a suitcase underneath a bridge near Pensacola. Gannon had been stuffed inside the suitcase, Allen said, along with the same blanket he slept with when the defendant took a photo on the morning he disappeared.
Al Stauch told the court that the suitcase police found Gannon in was the same “large suitcase” that he had in storage, adding that an aunt had gifted the suitcase to Gannon’s mother, Landon, years prior.
He said Letecia Stauch rented a car when Gannon vanished. He found it odd since she had her own car but claimed she didn’t want to rack up extra miles on her vehicle.
“Things like miles on your car don’t matter in an emergency,” Al Stauch said.
He said the defendant pulled him aside on January 29, 2020, and said she had been raped and beaten by a man who broke into their home. The same man beat Gannon and abducted him, according to what the defendant claimed.
Police previously said there was no evidence to back up the defendant’s story, while Al testified that she had been deceptive on multiple occasions in the past, including claiming she was pregnant with twins and that Gannon threatened her with a knife.
“No threats out of Gannon ever with or without a knife,” Al said, adding that he never witnessed violence from Gannon, who he previously referred to as “tender-hearted.”
For most of the testimony, Letecia Stauch sat facing a wall, avoiding Al and the witness stand.
She’s facing charges of:
- Murder in the First Degree (Child Under Twelve-Position of Trust §18-3-102(1)(f))
- Tampering with a Deceased Human Body, §18-8-610.5
- Tampering with Physical Evidence, §18-8-610(1)(a)
The trial continues. Check back for updates.
Additional Information
PART ONE: Tecia Stauch Interview
PART TWO: Tecia Stauch Interview
PART THREE: Tecia Stauch Interview
Neighbor Roderrick Drayton Interview
CLICK HERE to see all of our coverage on Gannon Stauch
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[Feature Photo: Al and Leticia Stauch/Facebook; Gannon Stauch via Landon Hiott]
