Mental competency evaluation ordered for Letecia Stauch
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- During a hearing Friday in the case against Letecia Stauch for allegedly killing her 11-year-old stepson, prosecutors say they only learned the day before that Stauch's defense requested a mental competency evaluation to see if she's fit to stand trial.
"The defendant is going to be evaluated for competency, which means she is going to be evaluated to see if she understands the proceedings, the nature of the charges, the role of people in the courtroom including her defense counsel, the prosecution and the judge," said Deputy District Attorney, Michael Allen.
Thursday also saw the release of an affidavit that alleges Stauch tried to plot an escape from the El Paso County jail by squeezing through the bars. Prosecutors said the charge for that incident isn't affecting how they go after the murder case.
"It's just another wrinkle in the case," he said.
Stauch is facing multiple felony charges in the death of Gannon Stauch, who was reported missing in late January in the Lorson Ranch neighborhood and later found dead in Florida. She was arrested in early March.
"We've done some further evaluation and we are confident 100% that it is Gannon's remains," Allen said.
Prosecutors said during Friday's hearing that because of the COVID-19 outbreak and the already existing backlog at the local state hospital, it could take longer than 90 days to get the competency test, further delaying the high-profile murder trial.
"As we've seen with the pandemic, everything is delayed now including competency evaluations can be delayed and thats just because of transfer issues. If you take someone from the jail, the jail is very reluctant to take them back into the jail to make sure they don't have a spread," Allen said.
