DENVER, COLORADO: A furious backlash has erupted against two true crime YouTubers, Zav Girl and Natasha Cooper, who allegedly charged their patrons to view gruesome autopsy photos of Gannon Stauch, an eleven-year-old murdered by his stepmother. The shocking revelation has sparked widespread outrage and condemnation from social media users, who argue that exploiting such a tragedy for personal gain is deeply unethical.
The tragic case of Gannon Stauch
Gannon Stauch went missing in January 2020, triggering a nationwide search. His stepmother, Letecia Stauch, was eventually accused of his murder. The horrifying details of the crime emerged during the trial, revealing that Gannon had been stabbed 18 times before being fatally shot. Letecia then allegedly concealed his lifeless body inside a suitcase. In May, she was convicted of the murder and sentenced to life without parole, as well as additional prison time for related charges.
Who are Zav Girl and Natasha Cooper?
Zav Girl and Natasha Cooper are YouTubers who have garnered a following by covering and discussing true crime cases for their audiences. Zav Girl, with over 92,000 subscribers, describes her channel as a platform to give victims of tragic crimes a voice when they cannot speak for themselves. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Psychology and aims to engage the community in discussions to gain new insights into human behavior. Natasha Cooper, on the other hand, has a smaller subscriber base, with around 2,000 followers. Her channel focuses on creating awareness and discussing both solved and unsolved true crime cases, welcoming "respectful differing opinions" and engaging in discussions with her viewers.
Zav Girl and Natasha Cooper have Patreon profiles where they offer exclusive content to their subscribers in exchange for a fee. However, they now face severe backlash after allegations surfaced that they utilized Gannon Stauch's autopsy photos to make money. Screenshots circulating on social media show Cooper's update on Patreon, stating that she would be live-streaming crime scene and autopsy photos of Gannon Stauch. The post indicated that only subscribers at the $3 level or above would have access to the live stream.
Social media backlash
Understandably, social media users expressed their anger and disgust at the content creators for profiting from a tragedy involving an eleven-year-old child. Twitter was flooded with condemnations directed at Zav Girl and Natasha Cooper, condemning their actions as despicable and exploitative.
One user tweeted, "That fact that people are putting FOIA autopsy photos of #GannonStauch behind paywalls makes me sick to my fucking stomach. That poor little boy went through ENOUGH at the hands of #LeteciaHardin; he doesn't need to be exploited in his death by worthless pieces of sh**s like them."
Another comment read, "This is a new low for true crime. It’s absolutely despicable. Gannon Stauch deserves his dignity in death. He was 11 years old when he was brutally murdered. He was a CHILD. A line has been crossed. This is not ok. I hope his family takes action #GannonStauch."
Many users urged Patreon and YouTube to take action against Zav Girl and Natasha Cooper, calling for the suspension of their accounts. The exploitation of a murdered child's autopsy photos was deemed morbid, damaging, and unethical, with demands for the creators to face consequences for their actions.
"@Patreon Your creator "Zav Girl" is showing autopsy pics of a murdered CHILD #GannonStauch, including his genitals, on your platform, behind a paywall. Please, suspend the account. (Same for you, @TeamYouTube; Stop this morbid, damaging, unethical exploitation)," a tweet read.
"Idk what's worse - #ZavGirl hosting a paid live for members to view a child murder victims autopsy pics or those that paid to watch and make comments like this. I hope #GannonStauch family sues the out of you. #victimsrights," someone else added.
"A line has been crossed. This is vile. Gannon Stauch was 11 years old when he was murdered. He was a child. There’s nothing to be gained by this person showing these pictures - this is not about education. This is about profiting from a child’s murder #GannonStauch," another offered.
Autopsy results
During the trial, details of Gannon Stauch's autopsy were revealed. The examination indicated that Gannon had fought back against his attacker. Dr Susan Ignacio, who participated in the autopsy, testified about the injuries found on Gannon's body. He had sustained 18 sharp force injuries, 4 blunt force injuries, and a single gunshot wound. Gannon's body was found in a state of decomposition, with some bones visible. Ignacio described blunt force injuries to his head, including a hole in his jaw from the gunshot wound. The autopsy determined the manner of death as a homicide.
Furthermore, a toxicology report conducted during the autopsy revealed the presence of acetaminophen and hydrocodone in Gannon's system. While the presence of hydrocodone was deemed unusual, it remained unclear whether he had a prescription for it. Gannon's father, Al Stauch, later revealed that he had a prescription for hydrocodone due to a hand injury but had not given it to any of his children, according to KRDO.
