The stepmother of a Colorado boy missing for more than a month was arrested Monday in connection with his disappearance and presumed death, authorities said.
Letecia Stauch was arrested in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and is expected to be extradited to Colorado on charges including first-degree murder of a child in the death of 11-year-old Gannon Stauch, El Paso County Sheriff Bill Elder said.
The boy remains missing.
"All evidence points to the disappearance of Gannon being foul play," FBI Denver special agent Dean Phillips said.
The document laying out the reasons for Stauch’s arrest was sealed, and investigators and prosecutors declined to discuss details.
It was not known if Stauch has a lawyer representing her yet. She also faces charges including child abuse resulting in death, tampering with a deceased human body and tampering with physical evidence, Elder said.
»MORE: Search for missing Idaho kids shifts to Yellowstone National Park
The sheriff’s office previously said Stauch reported Gannon missing Jan. 27, saying he left to go to a friend’s house in the afternoon. Authorities called him a runaway when they first asked the public for help finding him. Three days later, authorities said he was considered a missing and endangered child because of the length of time he had been gone, his age and his reliance on medication. Authorities did not describe the medication.
Stauch’s husband and Gannon’s father said in a statement read by a sheriff’s department spokeswoman that the person responsible for his son’s death is someone that he gave more to than anyone else in the world.
“And that is a burden that I will carry with me for a very long time,” Al Stauch’s statement said.
About the Author