Thread by @LaurenScharfTV

Both the prosecutors and the defense attorneys have walked into the courtroom in El Paso County. Day 1 of #LeteciaStauch preliminary hearing begins soon. The family of #GannonStauch also just walked into the courtroom.

#LeteciaStauch is appearing through Webex. The public was just let into the courtroom. @FOX21News

#GannonStauch's mom is wearing a sonic hedgehog mask, blue nails and blue eyeshadow to honor her son. Tissues are nearby. Judge Gregory Wierner has taken his seat. Day 1 of #LeteciaStauch preliminary hearing begins.

The judge is trying to make sure #LeteciaStauch can hear him at the jail. She is on Webex. Stauch is standing wearing an orange jumpsuit and a black mask. @FOX21News

Judge Wierner is reading the rules of the court. No cameras are allowed. # LeteciaStauch attorneys are Josh Tolini and Will Cook. Remember she wanted to represent herself but was granted, new counsel.

#Leteciastauch is waiving her right to be present in the courtroom. "I have confidence in my defense counsel," she said. “Do you understand that there will be some evidence presented… don’t you want to see that?” the judge asked. "I have trust in Mr. Tolini and Mr. Cook.”

#LeteciaStauch left the Webex. The judge asked her multiple times if she was certain about her decision about being absent in the courtroom. When asked if she had given this decision a lot of thought? She said, "About a year sir."

District Attorney Michael Allen asked the judge to move the process along and with the lack of #LeteciaStauch present that she should go ahead and enter a not guilty plea. He wants the case to get to trial saying she has no right to this proof evident, presumption great hearing.

Judge Wierner said #LeteciaStauch is just waiving her right to be here but it should proceed. "I think that Stauch has waived her presence for the hearing but is represented by counsel. She doesn't want to waive the proceeding itself."

#LeteciaStauch still showed up briefly on Webex. The state is about to bring its first witness to the stand. @FOX21News

FIRST WITNESS: Jason Yoder is a Sgt. with major crime unit in Florida. He was on duty on March 17, 2020 when they were called to #GannonStauch body under a hwy inside a suitcase. @FOX21News The suitcase had been emptied when LE arrived by the folks who called 911.

#GannonStauch body was found during a routine check of the bridge. The bridge is the Escambia River Bridge. Investigators determined at the scene it was a male by the clothes he was wearing. Guessed he was 9-14 years old.

Florida Investigators called @EPCSheriff once the autopsy was complete. They first saw #GannonStauch photo and flyer on a national database. He was body was fully clothed and the blankets he was wrapped in were both soiled. He was in a fetal position.

BREAKING: Sgt. Yoder said there were at least two stab wounds, a fractured skull, and a gunshot wound to his lower left jaw. He also had defense wounds on his hands. #GannonStauch dad began to cry when he heard this. @FOX21News

A projectile was recovered from #GannonStauch head and two projectiles were found in a pillow that was inside the suitcase. FL investigators sent all projectiles to @EPCSheriff in Colorado. There was a comforter, pillow, and blanket also found in the suitcase. @FOX21News

Sgt. Yoder is now looking at the flyer of #GannonStauch that investigators first looked at to identify the body they recovered in FL. Yoder said it was his dental profile specifically the gap in his teeth that helped them identify the body.

There were also 18 sharp force wounds including those on the arms and his hands.

A photo of the suitcase under the Escambia River Bridge. The state is asking how difficult it is to get to that location and how busy this bridge is. Sgt. Yoder said the suitcase was in the wooded area near the bridge.
#GannonStauch dad has his head in his hands crying.

Photos of a pillow with blue sharks and a matching shark comforter with two blankets were shown. There are blood stains on all of these items @FOX21News

The defense is now cross-examining Sgt. Yoder. Asking him how far from the ground is the bridge: 80-100 feet. The suitcase had made an impression on the ground. Attorney Tolini is asking Yoder about #GannonStauch injuries. @FOX21News

Sgt. Yoder said the autopsy showed the gunshot wound would have been fatal by itself. He didn't know if the gunshot wound was before or after #GannonStauch had died. The crack in his skull, Sgt. Yoder didn't know if that was before or after his death @FOX21News

Sgt. Yoder confirms #GannonStauch cause of death was a gunshot wound and blunt force trauma. He added that his body had been in the suitcase for over a month based on the body's decomposition. @FOX21News

SECOND WITNESS: Kevin Clark was employed with Colorado Springs Police Department as a senior analyst. Now he works for the @4thJudicialDA He was requested to support the investigation on Feb. 1, 2020. He has experience with collecting cell phone data and GPS data.

A map of #LeteciaStauch VW Tiguan car telematics on the morning of Tuesday, January 28, 2020, is being shown. There are blue arrows showing the directions she allegedly traveled. This day is the day after #GannonStauch was reported as a runaway.

At 8:13 a.m. #LeteciaStauch left the home and is seen on RingDoor Bell video. She was picking up Al Stauch at 8:28 a.m. at the Colorado Springs Airport who was out of state when #GannonStauch was reported missing.

#LeteciaStauch allegedly left her VW Tiguan at the airport and picked up a rental car (white KIA Rio). She had searched for a cheap rental car around 7 a.m.

IT WAS PM... Around 7:30 p.m. data from VW Tiguan Telematics was in the Falcon area. #LeteciaStauch phone was switched to airplane mode. This area was also searched by investigators. They are focusing on telematics now since the phone is in airplane mode.

Invest. Clark is being asked about #LeteciaStauch travel using VW Tiguan Telematics at 9:19 p.m. is at the most northern point in Douglas County on Jan. 28, 2020, just north of Palmer Lake. He is now being asked about that time of day and describing the area.

#LeteciaStauch phone has been on airplane mode for two hours. At 9:51 p.m. phone finally connects to wifi at a nearby Hilton Hotel and Starbucks near Briargate shops. It can now call or text and download all missed activities.

There was part of the road that is an s-curve and it took #LeteciaStauch allegedly 6 minutes longer to get through the curve the second time apparently. There is a red X on the map shown.

Both #LeteciaStauch car and phone were taken into evidence. By Friday, Jan. 31, 2020, a family member had rented a car and investigators put a GPS tracker on the rental car. Investigators were watching her whereabouts. (15 min break)

I was CORRECT... #LeteciaStauch searched for cheap rental cars in the morning before heading to the airport, she then allegedly picked up the rental car before picking up Al Stauch from the Colorado Springs Airport.

According to court documents: #LeteciaStauch desire to NOT appear in person at the preliminary hearing was due to "her mental health and the stress that an in-court appearance will place on such." bit.ly/3tI6RBD