A group of Colorado news organizations has asked a judge to unseal an affidavit that could explain why police arrested a woman for investigation of first-degree murder in the disappearance of her stepson.
Attorney Steve Zansberg, president of the Colorado Freedom of Information Coalition, filed the motion Monday in El Paso County District Court.
Letecia Stauch was arrested March 2 in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina on a warrant for charges including first-degree murder of a child in the death of 11-year-old Gannon Stauch. She was extradited to the El Paso County jail on Thursday.
The boy remains missing.
The document laying out the reasons for Letecia Stauch’s arrest was sealed.
Zansberg’s motion argues it is “ordinary practice” to unseal probable cause affidavits once warrants have been executed. He noted that the the probable cause affidavit was filed Feb. 28, prompting El Paso County Court Judge Ann Maria Rotolo to issue the arrest warrant.
An attempt to reach Stauch’s public defender, Kathryn Strobel, by telephone for comment wasn’t successful. The state public defender’s office does not comment on litigation.
Stauch’s next court appearance is set for Wednesday.
The news coalition includes The Associated Press, Colorado Public Radio, The Gazette, the Colorado Springs Independent, The Colorado Sun, The Denver Post, KUSA-TV, KCNC-TV, KDVR-TV, KMGH-TV, KOAA-TV and KKTV 11.
CFOIC and the Colorado Press Association also support the effort.