Colorado prosecutors continue to fight an overturned murder conviction against Letecia Stauch, who was convicted in 2023 of killing her 11-year-old stepson, Gannon Stauch.
Court documents reviewed by CriminalEnterprise indicated that a member of the El Paso County jury, during the 2023 trial, had a son-in-law who worked as a deputy district attorney at the same office as El Paso County District Attorney Michael Allen.
Allen was the lead prosecutor in the case. Despite defense objections, the juror was allowed on the panel.
The Colorado Court of Appeals reversed Stauch’s charges, according to a summary released on April 2.
On May 9, 2023, the jury convicted Stauch on multiple charges, including:
- First-degree murder
- Murder of a child under 12 years of age
- Tampering with a deceased body
- Tampering with evidence
- Tampering with physical evidence
- “Mulitple” crime of violence sentence enhancers
“The trial court committed structural error by denying Stauch’s challenge for cause to a biased juror, who deliberated; we reverse the convictions and remand for a new trial,” the summary stated.
A judge subsequently sentenced Stauch, who pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity, to life behind bars.
Letecia Stauch/Denve Women’s Correctional Facility
According to testimony, Stauch killed her stepson inside their Colorado Springs-area home in January 2020, while his father, Albert Stauch, had been away for National Guard training.
The court heard how she inflicted 18 wounds on Gannon, including skull fractures and gunshot wounds. and left blood evidence at the scene. She then gave false statements to investigators and hid Gannon’s body in Florida.
In March 2020, police discovered the body under a bridge in Pace, stuffed inside a suitcase. The prosecution stated that Stauch rented a van, put the suitcase inside, and while en route to her home state in South Carolina, drove to Florida and tossed the suitcase from the bridge.
Although a retrial has been reordered, the Fourth Judicial District is asking the Colorado Supreme Court to reverse the Colorado Court of Appeals decision.
“Today we learned of the appellate court’s ruling in the Gannon Stauch murder case. The court’s opinion is a disappointing result for this office, Gannon’s family, and everyone who loves him,” a spokesperson for the 4th Judicial District Attorney’s Office said in a statement to 11 News
The 4th Judicial District has 42 days to file a Petition for Writ of Certiorari.
“Prosecutors and trial judges have long been aware of the law regarding juror qualifications,” Stauch’s attorney, Eric Samler, told Denver7.
“Common sense tells us a prospective juror whose son-in-law works for the prosecuting attorney should be disqualified from service on a criminal jury.”
Stauch will remain at the the Denver Women’s Correctional Facility while the Colorado Supreme Court decides whether to afford her a new trial.
Should the court uphold the decision or decline to hear arguments, she’ll be released.
Check back for updates.
[Featured image: Gannon Stauch/Handout]
