Colorado woman convicted of murdering stepson may get new trial

Letecia Stauch's conviction overturned due to biased juror

Apr. 3, 2026 at 2:03am

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Letecia Stauch, who was convicted in 2023 of murdering her 11-year-old stepson Gannon Stauch in 2020, may get a new trial after the Colorado Court of Appeals ruled that a juror seated for her trial was biased. The court found that the trial judge should have dismissed a juror whose son-in-law was a deputy district attorney in the office that prosecuted the case.

Why it matters

This high-profile case has drawn significant public attention, and the prospect of a new trial will likely have a major impact on the local community. The ruling also raises questions about jury selection procedures and the need to ensure impartiality in criminal trials.

The details

The Colorado Court of Appeals issued a 2-1 ruling stating that the trial judge should have dismissed a juror whose son-in-law was a deputy district attorney in the office of District Attorney Michael Allen, who tried the case. Stauch's attorney challenged the juror, but the judge did not dismiss them, stating that the connection did not create a conflict or bias. However, the appeals court found that Colorado law clearly states a relative of an attorney on a case within the third degree, whether by blood, adoption, or marriage, does have an implied or actual bias.

  • Letecia Stauch was convicted of murdering her stepson Gannon Stauch in 2023.
  • The Colorado Court of Appeals issued its ruling on the case on April 3, 2026.

The players

Letecia Stauch

An El Paso County woman convicted of murdering her 11-year-old stepson Gannon Stauch in 2020.

Gannon Stauch

Letecia Stauch's 11-year-old stepson who was murdered in 2020.

Michael Allen

The District Attorney who prosecuted the case against Letecia Stauch.

Jeremy Loew

A defense attorney in Colorado Springs who was not surprised by the appeals court ruling.

Dan May

The former District Attorney for the 4th Judicial District, which includes El Paso County.

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What they’re saying

“This is not a surprise to members of the defense bar, the criminal defense bar in Colorado Springs, A majority of the criminal defense bar that followed this case were almost certain that this ruling was going to come down.”

— Jeremy Loew, Defense Attorney

“Oftentimes, there's subconscious bias that you can't put aside, and when one of your family members is employed by the prosecutor in the case, of course, there's going to be bias, and it can't be just kind of rehabilitated or pushed pushed away.”

— Jeremy Loew, Defense Attorney

“I think this is a surprise, anytime you have a case that of this magnitude that's overturned, I think it surprises the public, in particular, this is being decided on some very technical issues on how to use challenges to a jury, that's also a surprise in this case too.”

— Dan May, Former District Attorney

What’s next

Letecia Stauch will remain in prison as the process gets underway to determine if the Colorado Supreme Court will hear the case. If the Supreme Court upholds the Appeals Court ruling, Stauch will return to the El Paso County Jail and a new trial will take place.

The takeaway

This case highlights the importance of ensuring impartiality in criminal trials, as well as the potential impact that technical legal issues can have on high-profile cases. The prospect of a new trial will likely be a significant burden on the local community, raising questions about the balance between fairness and efficiency in the justice system.