Colorado authorities said Monday afternoon that they don't think 11-year-old Gannon Stauch is alive as they announced several charges, including murder and child abuse, against the boy's stepmother.

Letecia Stauch told authorities that she last saw her stepson, Gannon, between 3.15pm and 4pm on January 27. She said at the time that he was heading to a friend's house in Colorado Springs.

Gannon was originally categorized as a runaway, before his case was upgraded to that of a missing/endangered person.

'We do not believe Gannon is alive,' Lt Mitch Mihalko said during a Monday afternoon press conference, as Gannon's mother, Landen Hiott, and family members were overcome with emotion directly behind him.

'Our work is only just beginning...as we continue our relentless pursuit of justice for Gannon and his family,' Mihalko added.

Authorities said Gannon's body has not been found.

El Paso County Sheriff Bill Elder said Stauch was taken into custody without incident just after 8am in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

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Letecia Stauch (left), the stepmother of missing Colorado boy, Gannon Stauch (right), has been arrested and charged with murder of a child under 12 years of age by a person in a position of trust, child abuse resulting in death and tampering with a deceased human body

Stauch (left) is being held without bond at the J Reuben Long Detention Center in Horry County, South Carolina. Authorities said Gannon's (right) body has not been found

Gannon was originally categorized as a runaway, before his case was upgraded to that of a missing/endangered person

Stauch is being held without bond at the J Reuben Long Detention Center in Horry County, South Carolina.

She will be kept there until she's extradited to Colorado where she will face first-degree murder of a child under 12 years of age by a person in a position of trust, child abuse resulting in death, tampering with a deceased human body and tampering with physical evidence.

Gannon's mother, Landen Hiott, gave a statement through tears during the press conference.

'I never thought I'd be standing here. It's a nightmare. Justice will be served and I'll make sure that justice is served because my boy did not deserve any of this that has happened to him,' Hiott said.

'So I urge media one more time just to hold off on questions until we know this person, this stepmom, that I even trusted that she will pay 100 per cent for this heinous thing.'

'We do not believe Gannon is alive,' Lt Mitch Mihalko (pictured) said during a Monday afternoon press conference, as Gannon's mother, Landen Hiott, and family members were overcome with emotion directly behind him

Gannon's mother, Landen Hiott, gave a statement through tears. 'I never thought I'd be standing here. It's a nightmare. Justice will be served and I'll make sure that justice is served because my boy did not deserve any of this that has happened to him,' Hiott (center) said

After her statement, Hiott cried uncontrollably as she listened to the reading of a written statement from Gannon's father, Albert

'I want to live this earth knowing that justice was served for my boy,' she added.

Hiott went on to say that Gannon is 'not only my hero now, he's the world's hero'.

'I know my boy is special and this is his story. So make that story magnificent. Thank you for allowing Gannon to be your hero and sharing him with us,' she added.

Gannon was reported missing two months ago by Stauch, who is married to his father, Albert.

During the press conference on Monday, officials read a statement from Albert.

'My little boy is not coming home. We will never play Nintendo again. No more taco Tuesdays. No more smooth-looking hair cuts. And no more G-man for the world.

'The person who committed this heinous, horrible crime is one that I gave more to anyone else on this planet, and that is a burden that I will carry with me for a very long time,' Albert wrote.

Gannon (left and right) was reported missing two months ago by his stepmother, who is married to his father, Albert

Surveillance footage shared by a neighbor allegedly shows Gannon entering a car with his stepmother that morning but not returning with her that afternoon (pictured). However, when she returned at 2.19pm, Gannon is nowhere to be seen

Authorities said their work is not done and they will continue to work together to find Gannon.

Surveillance video from a neighbor's home captured Stauch leaving the home with Gannon in her pickup truck at around 10.13am on January 27.

However, when she returned at 2.19pm, Gannon is nowhere to be seen

Footage from 2.19pm to the time Gannon was reportedly last seen is not available, but the sheriff's office said earlier that officers had no surveillance video showing the boy leaving the property.

Roderrick Drayton, the neighbor whose camera picked up the footage, told ABC News that Gannon's father broke down in tears after he saw the video.

Drayton said when he showed the clip to Albert, he burst into tears and accused his wife of 'lying' about Gannon walking to a friend's house.

Law enforcement and volunteers (pictured) have spent nearly five weeks searching snowy areas for the 11-year-old boy

Keith Lonnquist and Reggie Franklin (left to right), with El Paso County Search & Rescue, launch a drone to search an area for Gannon on February 2

J.R. Betts, with El Paso County Search & Rescue, goes through a pile of rubbish near Drennan Rd. in the Lorson Ranch area near Gannon's home in Colorado Springs

A prayer wall was filled with handwritten prayers by those attending a vigil in the Lorson Ranch neighborhood for Gannon on January 29

'[Albert] just broke down crying and said: "She lied, she lied about the time. He didn't go to a friend's house''.'

TIMELINE OF GANNON STAUCH CASE: Jan. 27: Gannon Stauch is reported as a runaway; last seen by stepmother Letecia Stauch between 3.15 pm-4 pm Jan. 30: Case is upgraded to a missing and endangered child’s case due to his age, need for medication, winter weather and the length of time he’s been missing Jan. 31: Letecia Stauch gives interview to KKTV saying deputies had threatened to shoot her and put her 17-year-old daughter in handcuffs Feb. 4: Neighbor Roderrick Drayton shares surveillance video showing what appears to be Letecia returning home at 2.19pm without Gannon in her pickup truck; claims boy's father broke down in tears when he saw the video Feb. 5: District Attorney Dan May visits Stauch’s home; Stauch family make YouTube statement to bring Gannon home Feb. 7: Searchers use submersible remotely operated vehicle with sonar to scour a pond near Stauch family's home Feb. 8: Candlelight prayer vigil is held at Lorson Ranch Feb. 11: Letecia Stauch releases statement to Fox 31 claiming Gannon was in her truck on Jan. 27 and that later left with a 'friend' Feb. 21: Ground search for Gannon is halted by investigation continues Feb 28: Planned search for Gannon is called off without explanation Mar 2: Letecia Stauch is arrested in connection to the case. Stauch was charged with murder of a child under 12 years of age by a person in a position of trust, child abuse resulting in death and tampering with a dead body. Authorities announce that they don't believe Gannon is alive, but they haven't found his body. The investigation is ongoing Advertisement

After news of the video broke, Stauch gave an interview to KKTV, insisting that she played no part in her stepson's disappearance.

'I took care of Gannon for the last two years in our home because his mother didn't want to do it,' she said.

'I would never ever, ever hurt this child... these people have these conspiracy theories... I'm like: "Why are you saying Gannon is dead?" He is not dead. We are going to find Gannon.'

In a statement to KDVR, Stauch insisted that her stepson was, in fact, in her vehicle when they returned home from a shopping trip that afternoon, but he got out from the side of the truck facing away from the neighbor's camera.

On Friday, the El Paso Sheriff's Office called off a planned search for the 11-year-old.

No explanation was given for the cancellation of Friday's search and a spokesperson from the sheriff's office did not immediately return a request for comment.

But on Saturday Colorado authorities continued their search along a stretch of highway.

Footage shows volunteers poking at the snow and ice with shovels near Highway 105 and Highway 83.

No information was given on what the search was looking for.

'As we have explained throughout this investigation, this is a very fluid investigation & it can change at any minute of the day,' the sheriff's office tweeted on Thursday.

'The scheduled search has been postponed. We will keep you in the loop as it happens & as we can release it. Our Tips to date are 801.'

Authorities have used drones, horses, canines during their five-week search for Gannon. Their slogan for the search is: 'Leave no stone unturned.'

Gannon was last seen wearing a blue jacket, black jeans and sneakers.

If you have any information as it relates to Gannon's case, please call the Sheriff's Office Tip Line at 719-520-6666 or email Tips@elpasoco.com.