Stepmother of missing Colorado boy, 11, charged with murder and child abuse as cops continue to search for his body – but ‘do not believe Gannon Stauch is alive’
Letecia Stauch told cops that she saw her stepson leave to go to a friend’s house between 3.15-4pm on Jan 27, but he never returned
She was charged with murder of a child under 12 years of age by a person in a position of trust, child abuse resulting in death and tampering with a dead body
Missing Presumed dead: Gannon Stauch [rL-R], was last seen Jan 27. His stepmother Letecia Stauch has been arrested and charged with murder of a child under 12 years of age by a person in a position of trust, child abuse resulting in death and tampering with a deceased human body
Colorado authorities said Monday afternoon that they don’t think a missing 11-year-old boy is alive as they announced several charges, including murder and child abuse, against the his stepmother.
Letecia Stauch told authorities that she last saw her stepson, Gannon Stauch , between 3.15pm and 4pm on January 27. She said at the time that he was heading to a friend’s house in Colorado Springs.
The child was originally categorized as a runaway, before his case was upgraded to that of a missing/endangered person.
Authorities changed the status of the thrust of the case although Gannon’s body has not been found. ‘We do not believe Gannon is alive,’ Lt Mitch Mihalko said during a Monday afternoon press conference.
Lt Mihalko read his statement with Gannon’s mother, Landen Hiott, and family members all overcome with emotion, directly behind him.
‘Our work is only just beginning…as we continue our relentless pursuit of justice for Gannon and his family,’ Mihalko added.
Stauch was taken into custody without incident just after 8am Monday in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, El Paso County Sheriff Bill Elder said
![Letecia Stauch [left], and Gannon Stauch [right] 2](https://i0.wp.com/konniemoments.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Letecia-Stauch-left-and-Gannon-Stauch-right-2-1.jpeg?resize=620%2C641&ssl=1)
Letecia Stauch [left] was arrested and held without bond at the J Reuben Long Detention Center in Horry County, South Carolina in the murder of her stepson Gannon’s [right] whose body has not been found
Gannon [photo], was was last seen leaving home on Jan 27 in the company of his who later claimed not to know his whereabouts which initially led his been categorized as a runaway, before his case was upgraded to that of a missing/endangered person
Stauch is being held without bond at the J. Reuben Long Detention Center in Horry County, South Carolina.
She will be kept there until she’s extradited to Colorado where she will face first-degree murder of a child under 12 years of age by a person in a position of trust, child abuse resulting in death, tampering with a deceased human body and tampering with physical evidence.
Gannon’s mother, Landen Hiott, gave a statement through tears during the press conference.
‘I never thought I’d be standing here. It’s a nightmare. Justice will be served and I’ll make sure that justice is served because my boy did not deserve any of this that has happened to him,’ Hiott said.
‘So I urge media one more time just to hold off on questions until we know this person, this stepmom, that I even trusted that she will pay 100 per cent for this heinous thing.’
‘We do not believe Gannon is alive,’ Lt Mitch Mihalko [photo], said during a Monday afternoon press conference, as Gannon’s mother, Landen Hiott, and family members were overcome with emotion directly behind him
Gannon’s mother, Landen Hiott, read her statement fighting through tears [photo]. ‘I never thought I’d be standing here. It’s a nightmare. Justice will be served and I’ll make sure that justice is served because my boy did not deserve any of this that has happened to him’
After her statement about her missing son, Landen Hiott [center], weeps uncontrollably as she listened in turn to the reading of a written statement from Gannon’s father, Albert Stauch who is seen comforting her
What happened to Gannon? Surveillance footage shared by a neighbor allegedly shows Gannon entering a car with his stepmother that morning, but he is not seen when she is returning that afternoon
Gannon Stauch was reported missing two months ago by his stepmother, who is married to his father, Albert. Surveillance footage shared by a neighbor allegedly shows Gannon entering a car with his stepmother that morning. However, when she returned at 2.19pm, Gannon is nowhere to be seen
Authorities said their work is not done and they will continue to work together to find Gannon.
“A kid doesn’t just disappear and no one sees him. … So if you have anything that’s credible, if you’re afraid, don’t worry about it. Imagine my son. Imagine how afraid he is,” Gannon’s mother Landen Hiott said through tears in this YouTube video appealing for help in finding her son
A prayer wall was filled with handwritten prayers by those attending a vigil in the Lorson Ranch neighborhood for Gannon on Jan 29
Law enforcement and volunteers [photo] have spent nearly five weeks searching snowy areas for the 11-year-old Gannon Stauch. The body is yet to be found but his stepmother has been cahrged with his murder. She was the lasr person to see him
‘I took care of Gannon for the last two years in our home because his mother didn’t want to do it,’ she said.
‘I would never ever, ever hurt this child… these people have these conspiracy theories… I’m like: “Why are you saying Gannon is dead?” He is not dead. We are going to find Gannon.’
In a statement to KDVR, Stauch insisted that her stepson was, in fact, in her vehicle when they returned home from a shopping trip that afternoon, but he got out from the side of the truck facing away from the neighbor’s camera.
Now held in custody in North Carolina, she will ultimately be extradited back to Colorado to face the judicial system there.
![Keith Lonnquist [left], and Reggie Franklin [right], 1](https://i0.wp.com/konniemoments.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Keith-Lonnquist-left-and-Reggie-Franklin-right-1.jpeg?resize=620%2C414&ssl=1)
‘Leave no stone unturned’: Keith Lonnquist [left], and Reggie Franklin [right], with El Paso County Search & Rescue, launch drone to search an area for Gannon Stauchon Feb 2. He remains missing, but police said Monday that they no longer believe he is alive
On Friday, the El Paso Sheriff’s Office called off a planned search for the 11-year-old.
No explanation was given for the cancellation of Friday’s search and a spokesperson from the sheriff’s office did not immediately return a request for comment.
But on Saturday Colorado authorities continued their search along a stretch of highway.
Footage shows volunteers poking at the snow and ice with shovels near Highway 105 and Highway 83.
No information was given on what the search was looking for.
‘As we have explained throughout this investigation, this is a very fluid investigation & it can change at any minute of the day,’ the sheriff’s office tweeted on Thursday.
‘The scheduled search has been postponed. We will keep you in the loop as it happens & as we can release it. Our Tips to date are 801.’
Authorities have used drones, horses, canines during their five-week search for Gannon. Their slogan for the search is: ‘Leave no stone unturned.’
Gannon was last seen wearing a blue jacket, black jeans and sneakers. Anyone with information that relates to Gannon’s case, is asked to call the Sheriff’s Office Tip Line at 719-520-6666 or email Tips@elpasoco.com.
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