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Gruesome end
Gannon Stauch, 11, was stabbed and shot before being stuffed in a suitcase and tossed off the side of a Florida freeway
THE body of Gannon Stauch was found stuffed inside a suitcase that was tossed beneath an overpass in Florida, a source tells The Sun.
An autopsy is now underway, but a preliminary examination found that the 11-year-old boy had been hit with a blunt object, stabbed and shot by his killer, who police have identified as his stepmother Leticia Stauch.
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The were made by a group of road construction workers on Tuesday around noon a source tells The Sun.
Those men then called the Florida Department of Transportation, who in turn alerted the Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office said the source.
It was not until Friday however that police were able to identify the body as the two months earlier almost 1400 miles away.
"An autopsy was performed by the District One Medical Examiner and the deceased male has been tentatively identified as Gannon Stauch," said the El Paso Sheriff's Department in a statement.
"We would like to extend our deepest sympathies to the friends and family of Gannon."
They then asked for any individuals who recall seeing Letecia in Pace or Pensacola between February 3-5 to contact officers.
Deputy District Attorney Michael Allen also spoke on Monday, announcing that .
He also spoke about the heartbreaking moment he was forced to share the news about Gannon with his family.
"We met with the family earlier today, and obviously they're distraught with this information," said Allen.
"They were still holding out hope that Gannon would come home alive, despite the original charges that we filed in this case, and they're struggling, and they rightfully would be."
There were no additional details shared by police or the prosecutors, who cited a gag order that has been put in place.
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One person who did speak however was Gannon's father, who broke his silence in an emotional post on Sunday.
"I would like to take this opportunity to reach out to the community here in Colorado and all over the nation to express my deepest gratitude and true heartfelt appreciation for the overwhelming support," said Al Stauch in a statement released through his church.
"Many of you have either requested or inquired about information from me or interaction with me throughout these past two months. As you can tell from the initial missing child report, to the arrest and charges in early March, and now the wonderful, yet gut-wrenching news that Gannon's body has been recovered, this has been a heartbreaking and absolutely devastating time period in my life."
He then went on to thank everyone for affording him privacy at this difficult time.
"I am a very private person anyways, but balancing my desire to show my great appreciation and my need to cope with the continually evolving devastation has not been easy.
"I thank each member of the community and media that has respected my privacy and need to process everything that has happened," said Al.
"Those who I have personally trusted with information in the public have respected my privacy in an epic manner, and to those one to two people I owe you a lifelong debt of gratitude.
"If there is any question about whom I trust, take a look at who releases this statement.
"Anyone else is simply using me, my precious, heartbroken daughter, and my loving family as fodder for their personal agenda, which is absolutely despicable."
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He then closed out by stating: "To those who are loving, supportive, and peaceful, thank you a million times over and God bless you all.
"I will more than likely not give any public interviews or statements until the end of the case, but I thank you all in advance for respecting my approach."
Al is currently in the process of divorcing Letecia, though those proceedings have briefly been put on hold due to the coronavirus pandemic.
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