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Letecia Stauch: 'Psychotic crack' led stepmother murder and discard Gannon Stauch's body 'like garbage'

According to authorities, Gannon Stauch was killed by Letecia Stauch in his bedroom while his father, Al Stauch, was out of town for work

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EL PASO, COLORADO: An insanity defense from Letecia Stauch, 39, the murderous stepmother of Gannon Stauch, 11, was opposed by a Colorado prosecutor who told jurors that she was actually aware of what she was doing when she stabbed and shot the boy to death.

On Monday, April 3, Michael Allen, the District Attorney of the 4th Judicial District said, "Everything that happened to Gannon from that point forward was her decision. She carried out actions to kill Gannon, to put his body in the suitcase and hide it, to hide evidence of what she did to Gannon, told numerous stories to investigators to manipulate the course of the investigation, and finally to discard Gannon inside that suitcase off of a Florida bridge like garbage," reported Law and Crime.

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Stauch pleaded not guilty because of insanity

According to authorities, Gannon who was killed by Stauch in his bedroom while his father, Al Stauch, was out of town for work for the National Guard. The 39-year-old woman who was a teacher pleaded not guilty to the murder on January 27, 2020, because of insanity. Will Cook, attorney for the defense, told jurors on Monday in Colorado that Stauch who suffered both sexual and physical abuse from her mother's lovers while she was growing up now experiences dissociative identity disorder. Cook said that she was known as a loving stepmother and talking about the murder he said, "There is no explanation for it. I don’t have one."

What happened to Gannon on the day of his death?

According to the District Attorney, Stauch falsely reported Gannon missing and lied to investigators during the search for the 11-year-old boy. On January 26, 2020, she recorded herself audio when she expressed concern over a damaged carpet and questioned her stepson about spilling candle wax.

"I’m just worried about my burns," he said in a distressed voice and was injured at the time. However, the stepmom was heard shushing him. Gannon who had injuries on his head, back, and chest had defensive wounds on his arms and hands and was stabbed 18 times by Stauch. His head was fractured after he sustained a crushing blow. 

Stauch then opened fire at him three times where one of the shots struck his jaw, traveled through his head, and lodged into the back of Gannon's head, according to prosecutors. Allen said, "Gannon’s life drained from his body, drop by drop."

Stauch cleaned the crime scene and put his body and other evidence in a suitcase. She then took the suitcase to Pensacola, Florida, and dumped the remains over a railway bridge. Allen told jurors that a bridge worker discovered the suitcase on March 17, 2020, reported Law and Crime.