Next witness Leslie Hicks, assistant principal at Timber Ridge Middle School. Was at Mountain View Middle School in 2020.
Hicks has interviewed hundreds of people for jobs at the schools in 20 years of her career.
Hicks said Letecia Stauch applied for a resource teacher position. Hicks met with Stauch in person for that interview.
Hicks looking at messages between her and Letecia.
Hicks messaged Letecia Jan 16th, 2020 asking her to contact about the resource teacher position.
Letecia responded saying she will email her.
At this point, Stauch had completed her interview and Hicks was in the process of checking her references.
Hicks recalls Letecia put down Connie Huddle as a reference.
When Hicks tried to call Letecia Stauch's listed reference Connie Huddle in SC, caller ID on her phone came up with the name Eugene Stauch.
A female answered a number when Hicks tried to call this Connie. She remembered hearing kids in the background and when Hicks asked if it was Connie they said no. Said call was a few seconds long.
In interview process, listed that Letecia had a Doctorate from Liberty University.
Hicks said Letecia signed her emails Dr. Stauch. School offered Stauch the position.
On Jan 21st, Letecia sent a message to Hicks asking what time should she report to work for her first day on the 22nd.
On Jan 22nd, Letecia asked Hicks for her guidance because she had also set up another interview for a different position with the district.
Hicks said the tone of the messages was that Letecia seemed conscientious and wanted to do the best job.
Hicks saw Letecia last on Friday, January 24th at the school. She said her demeanor was appropriate and didn't seem to be going through any mental health crisis. That was three days before Gannon's disappearance.
On Monday, Jan 27th, date of Gannon's reported disappearance, Hicks got a message from Stauch at 3 am saying "I'm sorry for the time of night message, but my stepfather passed away someone hit him with a car while he was walking. I can update you at a later time."
She got the same text message again at around 4:37 am.
When asking if Letecia would need a sub she said "?? It's apparent all of my family lives on the East Coast. I am trying to get there.”
When Hicks asked to confirm if Letecia needed a sub, Letecia said she couldn't believe that it wouldn't be assumed she needed a sub since it is a parent of hers. Hicks describes her tone as angry. That was the last time they talked.
