Gannon Stauch (September 29, 2008 – January 27, 2020) was an American boy who was murdered by his stepmother, Letecia Stauch, in Colorado Springs, Colorado.^[1] His disappearance and death received national attention and sparked a massive search effort involving multiple law enforcement agencies and volunteers.^[2] His stepmother was arrested and convicted of first-degree murder and other charges, and sentenced to life in prison without parole.^[3] His case also raised controversy over the online exploitation of his autopsy photos by a YouTuber who sold access to them on Patreon.^[4]

Disappearance and search

Gannon was reported missing by his stepmother on January 27, 2020. She told the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office that he left home between 3:15 p.m. and 4 p.m. to walk to a friend’s house, but never returned. The initial press release on his disappearance described him as a "juvenile runaway". However, three days later, the sheriff’s office reclassified his case as a missing or endangered person, citing new information and evidence.

The search involved thousands of hours of investigation and hundreds of tips from the public. The FBI Child Abduction Rapid Deployment team, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, and the Colorado Springs Police Department assisted the sheriff's office in the case. Search teams used drones, dogs, horses, helicopters, and divers to comb through various areas of interest. Gannon's biological parents made emotional pleas for his safe return and thanked the community for their support.^[2]

Arrest and conviction of Letecia Stauch

On March 2, 2020, Letecia Stauch was arrested in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, on charges of first-degree murder of a child by a person in a position of trust, child abuse resulting in death, tampering with a deceased human body, and tampering with physical evidence.^[5] She was extradited to Colorado and held without bond at the El Paso County jail.^[6]

According to the arrest affidavit, which was released on May 5, 2020,^[6] Letecia Stauch killed Gannon in his bedroom on the day he went missing. She stabbed him 18 times, hit him in the head with an object, and shot him with a handgun. She then cleaned up the crime scene and disposed of his body in a suitcase. She also lied to investigators about her whereabouts and activities on that day and afterwards.^[3] She claimed that Gannon was sick and stayed home from school that day, and drove to various places with him throughout the day. Surveillance footage from a neighbor showed that she left home with Gannon in her truck around 10:15 a.m. and investigators believe she returned with him around 2:19 p.m. ^[6]

On March 17, 2020, Gannon’s remains were found by a maintenance worker under Escambia Bay Bridge in Pace, Florida,^[6] more than 1,300 miles away from his home.^[2] The cause of death was determined to be blunt force trauma, sharp force injuries, and a gunshot wound. Investigators believe that Letecia Stauch transported his body to Florida by driving there in a rented van after initially dumping his body in a remote location north of Colorado Springs and retrieving it later.^[3]

Letecia Stauch pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity and claimed that she had dissociative identity disorder due to childhood sexual abuse.^[7]

She also accused her husband of being involved in Gannon’s death and alleged that he had connections to drug cartels and sex trafficking rings.^[6] However, she was found competent to stand trial by a state mental hospital and her claims were dismissed by the court as unfounded.^[3]

Letecia's five week trial concluded on May 8, 2023 and the prosecution's case included testimonies from Gannon’s father,^[3] Letecia's former employers, family, investigators, forensic experts, and state psychiatrists. The defense offered Dorothy Otnow Lewis, a controversial psychiatrist who specializes in dissociative identity disorder, as their single witness. ^[6] The jury rejected the insanity defense and Otnow Lewis' testimony, and Letecia Stauch was found guilty of all charges. The same day, she was sentenced to life in prison without parole plus 156 years by Judge Gregory Werner, who called her actions “the most horrific I have ever seen” and said that she deserved “the maximum sentence that I can impose according to Colorado law”.^[8]

Online exploitation of autopsy photos

In July 2023, it was revealed that a YouTuber had posted a video on her Patreon page that showed autopsy photos of Gannon Stauch.^[4] She charged $3 for access to the video,^[9] which had over 100 views.^[10] The video was taken down after Patreon received complaints from Gannon’s family and supporters.^[9]

The YouTuber apologized for her actions in a statement on her channel, saying that she did not intend to hurt anyone and that she wanted to raise awareness about child abuse. She also said that she donated the money she made from the video to a charity that helps abused children.^[9]

Gannon’s father condemned the YouTuber's actions as “evil” and “disgusting” in an interview with NewsNation. He said that he was “heartbroken” and “angry” that his son’s privacy and dignity were violated. He also called for legal action against the YouTuber and anyone who shared or viewed the video.^[4]

The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office said that they were investigating the leak of the autopsy photos^[10] and that they would hold anyone responsible accountable. They also urged the public to respect Gannon’s memory and his family’s wishes.^[10]

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