Harley is back on the testimony stand talking about text messages and conversations with her mom on January 28, 2020.
“She (Letecia) had called me and told me to leave the house. She tried to get me to leave Laina there. And I told her I didn’t want to. I didn’t feel comfortable doing that,” said Harley.
Harley said she opened the garage door as she was about to leave with Laina. She said detectives stopped her outside of their home. “They asked me questions, and I answered it… I didn’t want to talk. At this point I don’t know what’s going on... I’m just so confused.”
Some of the text messages from Letecia to Harley say: “Has any other family asked where I was… like our family” “I have to get an attorney fast” “What’s the guy saying” “Who is there” “I’ve been set up” These messages around from around 10 p.m. on January 28, 2020.
Harley said she had been advised multiple times by Letecia to not answer the door for detectives and not answer any questions. “She just kept saying, ‘Don’t say anything, you’re a minor, and you shouldn’t be answering questions.’”
Harley testified saying Letecia told her to come to a hotel on the night of January 28. “She said that she didn’t want to be in the house with Albert and Landon (Gannon’s biological mom) and his family… She didn’t want me there with them," said Harley.
Harley said eventually Letecia showed up at the hotel, and Letecia said they need to go home. The two then go back to the Stauch home in Harley’s car. “She kept being paranoid I guess you could say,” said Harley.
Harley said the next morning on January 29, Harley drove Letecia to the airport to drop off the keys to the rental car. “I remember we were driving there and she told me, 'don’t speed, I think someone is following us,'" said Harley.
Harley testified about picking Letecia up from the hospital later in the day on January 29. She said instead of picking her mom up at the hospital, she was told to go to the nearby Taco Bell instead. “It was weird,” said Harley.
When she got in the car, “She was just rambling a bunch of different things," said Harley.
Harley is now testifying about the interaction between Letecia, Harley and law enforcement outside of the Marshall’s on January 30. “They took my phone and as we were talking out, they put me in handcuffs,” said Harley, who added it made her feel “bad.”
Harley said the next day their family rented a van and went to the Stauch home to gather belongings. Harley said police looked through everything. “Police were checking anything we took out. If it were books, they had to go through the pages. We couldn’t take any technology.”
The next day, Harley said Letecia told her that they’re leaving, but she didn’t know where they were going. “She just kept saying, where do you want to live? I was just confused, ” said Harley.
“When she was asking me, where do you want to live, the destination kept changing. She was just talking about starting a new life,” said Harley. “She just kept saying that Albert went against her and doesn’t believe her. That’s why she wanted to leave.”
Harley testified saying she didn’t notice anything unusual in the back of the van, and didn’t notice an unusual smell. Harley and Letecia drove the van to South Carolina.
Harley said she didn’t question her mom during the drive. “I didn’t really question her a whole lot… I would be told that I’m being disrespectful or talking back… Sometimes she would backhand me, to my face,” said Harley.
When asked about Letecia’s demeanor when they arrived to a hotel in Pensacola, Florida, Harley said, “she was acting normal.” Harley said she never went to the back of the van to get clothes, and never smelled anything unusual.
When prosecution asked Harley if she knew why they were asking these questions, “Because Gannon was back there. Because you guys told me there was evidence that he was back there,” said Harley.
Prosecution: “I’m going to ask you a direct question. Did you help your mother throw that suitcase over a bridge in Pensacola, Florida?" Harley: “No I did not.”
Prosecution: “I’m going to ask you a direct question. Did you help your mother throw that suitcase over a bridge in Pensacola, Florida?" Harley: “No I did not.”
Harley testified saying when she learned that Gannon’s body was found, “It was weird because we were in Florida.” Harley said she wanted to think it was a coincidence or that somebody did follow them.
“I started having questions, I believed her for awhile. It wasn’t until this past November, it was recently,” said Harley. When asked about Letecia pleading not guilty by reason of insanity. “I didn’t know what it meant at first,” said Harley.
Harley also testified saying she was concerned she may be charged with a crime, “that I would be an accessory in a first degree murder.”
Harley then acknowledged flying to Colorado to give local law enforcement a statement. Prosecution: “Why did you do that?” Harley: “Because it’s the right thing to do.”
Harley testified saying her mom never changed personalities, and knew right from wrong before, during, and after Gannon’s disappearance.
