Testimony continued Monday afternoon in the Letecia Stauch murder trial; she stands accused of killing her 11-year-old stepson, Gannon Stauch.
As CrimeOnline reported, prosecutors say Stauch stabbed, shot, and beat Gannon inside the family’s El Paso County home in Colorado, on January 27, 2020. Months later, his body was found stuffed into a suitcase beneath a bridge in Pace, Florida.
Stauch is now on trial at the El Paso County Court, facing first-degree murder and related charges.
DNA analyst and forensic serologist Sherrie Holes took the stand on Thursday afternoon. She told the court she was asked to “exam items of evidence for the presence of blood” in the case. The following items and areas in the Stauch’s Fountain home, in part, according to Holes, testified positive for the victim’s blood.
- Shoes belonging to Letecia Stauch
- Scrub brush
- Toothbrush
- Couch
- Area rug
- Suitcase
- Blankets
- Gannon’s fingernails
- Empty Heinz vinegar bottle
- Amazon box
- Bed sheet in a laundry basket
- Gannon’s bed
- Pillows
- The base of the stairs
- Carpet
- Electrical socket
- Electrical outlet cover
Donna Manogue, who identified herself as a DNA analyst with the Colorado Springs Natural Crime Lab, took the stand next. Manogue said she helped develop a DNA profile on Gannon from a toothbrush. She also confirmed Gannon’s DNA was found on the items during forensic testing.
The testing was performed to obtain a profile of the victim, Manogue said, since his body had deteriorated too much when police found him.
Manogue said buccal swabs were taken from Gannon’s parents, Landen Hiott and Al Stauch, which confirmed a 99.99% likelihood of them being the biological parents of the person who used the toothbrush (Gannon).
Manogue also confirmed that a femur bone and rib bone on the body found in Florida were of Gannon.
Letecia Stauch is facing charges of:
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- 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)
Stauch pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity.
The trial continues. Check back for updates.
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[Feature Photo: Gannon Stauch/Handout; Letecia Stauch via KRDO-TV/The Gazette/AP, Pool]
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