Where is Letecia Sauch? Find out about Letecia’s whereabouts, details of her trial and the life sentence she received for killing her 11-year old stepson in 2020.
Letecia Stauch: Who is she?
Letecia Stauch is a 36-year old former teacher from Colorado Springs who has been accused of murdering her 11-year old stepson Gannon Stauch. Letecia Stauch was married to Gannon Stauch’s father Albert Stauch who is a member of the National Guard. According to court documents obtained exclusively by PEOPLE, Albert filed for divorce in March 2020. Letecia is not known for much else, since she avoids the spotlight and social networks.
Letecia reported Gannon missing on January 27, 2019. Two months later, his remains were found in a suitcase stuffed under a bridge, over 1,000 miles from his home, on 17 March 2020. Gannon was stabbed in the head and stabbed 18 other times, according to an investigation. Authorities believe Gannon died just a few hours before he went missing.
Letecia’s defense claimed that she was a psychotic and did not know what she was doing. Will Cook, her attorney, said that Letecia’s psychotic break and attack on her personal demons stemmed from her childhood abuse and trauma. The jury, however, did not agree with the defense, and Letecia was convicted of all charges on May 8, 2023. These included first-degree murder and murder of a minor under 12 years old by someone in a position or trust.
Letecia Stauch: Where are you now?
Letecia Stauch was sentenced to prison for the murder of her 11-year old stepson Gannon Stauch. The trial began in April 2023 and lasted between six and eight weeks. Letecia was charged with 13 counts, including murder in the first degree, child abuse that caused death, and tampering evidence.
Multiple postponements caused a delay in the trial of more than two years. Letecia’s defense team needed to prepare adequately, there were two competency assessments to determine her suitability for trial and an outbreak of COVID-19 at the El Paso County Jail, in November 2020. This affected the trial proceedings.
Letecia is the stepmother to Gannon, Laina and Harley Hunt. She also has another daughter from a prior relationship named Harley Hunt. Hunt’s private life is not well known, but she did testify against her mother at the trial. Hunt was shocked and said that her mother had manipulated and lied about her for years.
Hunt was in the car with Letecia when she drove from Colorado to Florida. She was not aware that there was a dead body on the backseat. She admitted that she did not ask her mother many questions about the actions they took or why Gannon was gone when they left. She denied throwing the suitcase off a bridge with her mother.
Letecia Stauch Press Conference
At the press conference the speaker thanked District Attorney Michael Allen, his team and their unwavering dedication and aggressive prosecution of the case. They recognized their efforts to bring Gannon’s murderer to justice. The speaker had the honour of introducing Gannon’s loving parents who shared their emotions with the audience.
Gannon’s mom took to the stage, and she reflected back on the last three years. She recalled the heartbreaking news that they received about the untimely passing of their son. She expressed her relief and joy that Gannon finally got the justice he deserves, assuring that the defendant will be in prison for the rest of his life. She expressed her gratitude to everyone who was present, including her church, Larson Ranch and Restoration. She thanked the jury, judge and Michael Allen’s team for their support during her emotional journey.
Gannon’s dad addressed the crowd, acknowledging the paradox of the situation. He acknowledged the courtroom win as a victory for justice but it also solidified his irreparable loss that he would never be able to see Gannon again. He emphasized that despite the pain they should not let the tragedy consume them. He thanked the media for maintaining their privacy throughout the ordeal.
Michael Allen concluded his remarks by praising the outstanding work of his team, which included former District Attorney Dave Young and Angelina Gradiano as well as Cecil Weir Stephanie Courtney Kim Danluck. He praised the tireless efforts of his team, their investigative work and dedication in seeking justice for Gannon.
Letecia Stauch sentence
Letecia Stauch will receive the maximum penalty for the brutal killing of her 11-year old stepson Gannon. After a unanimous guilty jury verdict, Judge Gregory Werner wasted little time in rushing to sentence Letecia Stauch.
Judge Werner listened first to the statements of Gannon’s parents and other people affected by these tragic events. He described the case as the “most horrific” he had ever seen. Nicole Mobley was the first speaker. She is Stauch’s former neighbor who testified in court about Stauch’s attempts to bribe Nicole to provide false information to authorities. Mobley acknowledged the pain and heartache Gannon’s family endured, but expressed relief that justice had been served.
Janey Cadenas recalled the fear and panic that gripped Lorson Ranch when Gannon first went missing. She recalled the months of anxiety and the precautions they took to protect their children.
Jeff Davenport was the uncle of Gannon Stauch’s father. Davenport stressed the importance of an 11-year old’s life, and the impact that Gannon’s loss had on the world. He said that Letecia Sauch did not just end Gannon’s existence, but also the joy, love, encouragement and security Gannon would have brought all those who he met throughout his lifetime. Davenport said that her crimes were beyond comprehension.
Veronica Birkenstock (Gannon’s mother-in-law) spoke of forgiveness and expressed her hope that Stauch will abandon her malign ways in the future. She expressed her solidarity for Gannon’s memory and showed it through tears, saying, “We were there for Gannon.”
Landen Hiott, Gannon’s mother (formerly Landen Hiott), spoke to the court and described Gannon’s incredible resilience, starting with his premature birth. He fought against all odds. She stressed that Gannon fought someone he trusted and loved, and someone she and Albert both trusted and loved. Landen admitted that she struggled for three years to forgive but couldn’t or didn’t want it. She condemned Stauch, saying that she had destroyed many lives. However, she also acknowledged Stauch’s deception of her family. Landen said that Stauch’s actions would not define her, and refused to give her a sick win.