Leticia Stauch has been arrested on suspicion of murdering her stepson, who has been missing since January.
Gannon Stauch, 11, has been missing out of Colorado Springs for over a month, and his stepmother, Leticia Stauch, has now been arrested in connection with his disappearance.
Gannon went missing on January 27 after going to play with a friend. His stepmother was the last person to see Gannon alive, and the person to report him missing. She expressed concern for her stepson and asked for help identifying any suspicious vehicles in the area on the day of his disappearance.
Gannon’s mother, Landen Hoitt, and father, Albert Stauch, pled for Gannon’s return, begging for any information or help to bring the boy home.
Gannon’s birth mother and father are hear standing behind law enforcement pic.twitter.com/hVVYRRJR6F
— Brandon Thompson (@BThompsonNews) March 2, 2020
At a press conference earlier this morning, it was announced by the El Paso County Sheriff that Leticia “Tecia” Staunch was arrested on suspicion of murder and taken into custody in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. She is being held without bond there until her extradition to Colorado, where she will face very serious charges.
The charges include first-degree murder of a child under 12 in the position of a trusted adult, child abuse resulting in death, tampering with a deceased human body, and tampering with physical evidence. The murder charge is a class-one felony that holds a sentence of life without the possibility of parole.
The arrest warrant and details are currently sealed and the mug shot has yet to be released.
Gannon’s body has not been located yet; however, investigators no longer believe he is alive. According to the FBI spokesperson today, all evidence points to Gannon being the victim of foul play. They are continuing to work on the case and will not stop until Gannon is found. Several agencies have worked together throughout the investigation in hopes of bringing Gannon home safely—the FBI Child Abduction Rapid Deployment Team, Colorado Springs Police Department, the National Guard, and several hundred volunteers all aided in the search for Gannon.
Suspicion and concerns surrounding Leticia Stauch began shortly after Gannon went missing, when a neighbor gave home security footage showing activity on the day of Gannon’s disappearance that differed from Leticia’s story. The footage showed her and Gannon leaving the home together earlier in the day on January 27, and her returning without him several hours later. Staunch claimed no knowledge or involvement in the child’s disappearance.
She told authorities and Gannon’s parents that he had gone to play with a friend that afternoon and never returned. A massive search unfolded in the following weeks, with over 700 tips coming into the El Paso County Sheriff’s office. Those tips, as well as other leads, led investigators to search bodies of water in the Lorson Ranch neighborhood, areas in El Paso and Southern Douglas County, the Big Johnson Reservoir, and the Stauch home. The community came together in support of Gannon and his family, hoping to bring the child home.
Heart wrenching words from Landen, Gannon’s birth mother pic.twitter.com/bFjESgFTq2
— Brandon Thompson (@BThompsonNews) March 2, 2020
Gannon’s mother tearfully describes the situation as a nightmare and asks for people to help share Gannon’s story and make Gannon their hero, as he was hers. His father described his sadness at the news that his son was not coming home. Both Gannon’s parents hope for justice in the case and must face the next phase of this story as they wait for Leticia Staunch to have her day in court. Both parents expressed dismay at trusting someone with their child.
Gannon was a child loved by his family and community, and we are devasted for his family and share our heartfelt condolences with them.
