In January of 2020, in the city of Colorado Springs, news broke that an 11-year old boy, Gannon Stauch, was missing. When this was announced, many members of the community came together to help support with the searches for the missing boy. Members of his neighborhood community, and eventually throughout the city, decided to show their support to the family of the missing boy by putting blue lights outside of their homes, in hope it would guide him home. As time went on, everything changed.

Monday January 27, 2020: The day he was reported missing

The original flyer put out when he was classified as a runawayEl Paso County Sheriff's Office

Gannon Stauch was reported missing in the evening hours of the day by his step-mother Letecia Stauch. In her original call and statement to the police, she had said that Gannon had left earlier in the afternoon to walk to a friend's house. He did not come home at the time she had set for him to come home, which prompted her to report him missing.

It was soon made public knowledge that Gannon had stayed home from school that day because he wasn't feeling well. Originally, the step-mother said he had a doctor's appointment, but then changed up the story saying she called a nurse hotline for advice on what to do.

This brought up some questions amongst the general public. Why would you let your child go to a friend's house if he was sick? Why would you say he had a doctor's appointment if he didn't? As you may have guessed, people started getting suspicious and asking questions about the step-mother's story.

Friday January 31, 2020: Letecia Stauch, the step-mother, does a news interview

KKTV

After suspicions over the step-mother's story arose over the week since Gannon was reported missing, Letecia Stauch did an interview with a news station in Colorado Springs, where she chose to face away from the camera the whole time. When asked about how she felt about people blaming her for his disappearance and their theories of what she could've done to him, she responded saying, "I'm just ready for Gannon to come home. Most importantly for him to see his family, but second I am going to be so ecstatic when I'm able to say to people that I hope they have a really sincere apology for all these theories..."

What really struck the general public about this interview is not only how she made the interview more about herself, but halfway through it she began to refer to Gannon in the past-tense. When asked to describe Gannon, she originally talked about him in the present-tense, but slipped up when she said, "He was always so helpful with the dogs around the house..." and "he was so sweet, and able to help anyone..."

She was also questioned about a hike that they reportedly had gone in the weekend before his disappearance, and to provide proof he came home from that, she had her daughter come in to the interview to verify he did come home that day. When she goes to grab her daughter, you can overhear her telling her what to say. The interview only built more theories around what really happened to the missing boy.

Tuesday February 4, 2020: Neighbor's security camera's video footage reveals new information

truecrimedaily.com

A neighbor of the Stauch family turned in and revealed video camera footage of Letecia Stauch and Gannon Stauch leaving their home on the day he was reported missing at around 10am. At around 2:19pm, the car returns home but only appears that the step-mother returned home. The neighbor reportedly showed Gannon's father, Al, the footage and he said, "she lied."

February to Late April: Law Enforcement searches

As tips flooded the tip-line set up for the case and leads presented themselves, law enforcement was seen searching multiple areas throughout El Paso county and Douglas county. During this time, lies and story changes continued to pour out of Letecia Stauch's mouth. It was no question to the general public anymore whether or not the step-mother did something horrible to Gannon.

The crime scene unit was seen multiple times at the Stauch residence, spending hours there and taking possible evidence out of the house. Throughout this time, Letecia was on social media trying to defend herself and tell her side of the story, maintaining her innocence throughout the entire investigation.

Monday March 2, 2020: Letecia Stauch is arrested

KKTV

After months of theories and investigation, Letecia Stauch was arrested in Myrtle Beach, SC. She was in South Carolina with family and it was also her original home before moving to Colorado Springs. As she was being transported back to Colorado Springs, it was reported she had attacked a deputy and had to be held in a Kansas jail.

At the time of her arrest, the 11-year old boy's body had not yet been found but it was suspected he was dead, based on evidence found by law enforcement throughout the investigation. I won't go into full detail in this article, but I will mention that there is evidence he was murdered in his bedroom.

If you're interested, you can read the 32-page long arrest affidavit here. Please be aware it may be gruesome and unsettling to read. It goes through the evidence they have against the step-mother.

Friday March 20, 2020: Gannon Stauch's body is found in Florida

At this point, the knowledge that Gannon was no longer alive was very well known and hurt the hearts of many across the nation and world. Gannon's body was discovered off to the side of a road in Florida by a worker. It is said his body had been stuffed in a suitcase and possibly tossed from a car.

Kristin Castelly

Gannon was a normal, loving, innocent 11-year old boy who's life was taken too young by someone he trusted to take care of him. It is a heartbreaking case that so many wish did not have the results it did. The case is still ongoing and Letecia has not yet been convicted, but it is only a matter of time until she is...rightfully so.

There WILL be justice for Gannon Stauch.