Of the 75 people called to start the day, 48 indicated that being a jury member for Stauch’s trial would impact their lives. 

Common reasons for people not being able to attend jury trial included the length of trial impacting their jobs, impacting their studies in college and impacting an upcoming vacation.

Other explanations came from a woman who will be traveling to Uganda, Mongolia and the United Kingdom to teach and a man who indicated he is about to become a prosecutor working under Michael Allen for the 4th Judicial District. The soon-to-be prosecutor was the first person dismissed by Werner . 

Two of the people indicated to Werner they are unavailable because they are going to the same person’s wedding in North Carolina in May. 

Of all the potential jurors 15 indicated they had some sort of bias that could impact their ability to be on the jury, including three who stated they had family members who were killed in the past, which they said would make it difficult for them to participate in the trial.

Several more said they already had a strong bias against Stauch based on news coverage and social media coverage of her case.

Thirty-eight people were dismissed by Werner after the morning break.

After dismissing more than half the potential jurors, attorneys gave a brief opening statement outlining the facts of the case and why Stauch is either guilty or innocent.

Allen opened by stating there would by evidence proving that Stauch brutally murdered Gannon in January 2020, hid evidence and Gannon’s body, and that she “knew the difference between right and wrong” at the time she did it.

Stauch defense attorney Josh Tolini informed potential jurors that they will hear no evidence proving “why she did this” and that she was “in a psychotic state” when she chose to kill Gannon.

After hearing the brief statements from the attorneys four potential jurors indicated they may have an issue not being biased over the Stauch allegations Stauch and two more stated they would have issues with Stauch’s plea of not guilty by reason of insanity.

Prior to the lunch break, Werner dismissed another six potential jurors. Only 32 people remained out of the 75 initially called to start the day.

In the afternoon voir dire, each set of attorneys was given 45 minutes to ask the remaining potential jurors questions.

Allen started by asking potential jury members their thoughts on topics such as bias and preconceived notions, and how media exposure would potentially impact their ability to be an impartial juror.

Questions were also asked by Allen regarding circumstantial evidence and whether or not a jury member should only make a determination on the evidence presented or if they should “fill in the gaps.”

The potential jurors responded with a mix of opinions on all the topics brought forward by Allen. 

Meanwhile, Tolini spent the majority of his time asking every potential jury member if they could truly presume Stauch’s innocence amid such horrific allegations.

“I admit it’s not going to be easy,” one potential juror said after questioning from Tolini.

“It would definitely be difficult,” another said.

A handful of potential jurors also admitted during Tolini’s voir dire that the not guilty by reason of insanity plea is one that they can’t take seriously.

“It’s for cowards,” one woman remarked when asked by Tolini.

Following voir dire and a 20-minute talk behind closed doors with the attorneys, Werner dismissed 12 more jurors.

The 20 remaining potential jurors include a young woman still in college, an older woman who stated she has already served on a jury two times in El Paso County and a younger man who had previously served in the military and informed attorneys he had never heard of Stauch before being selected for jury duty. 

Stauch faces 13 charges including first-degree murder, child abuse and tampering with evidence.

In addition to the first-degree murder case, Stauch also faces a second case in which she is accused of attempting to escape from the El Paso County jail in May 2020.

Stauch was arrested in South Carolina in March 2020 and has been in jail ever since. She faces life in prison if convicted of first-degree murder.