Authorities discovered the remains of 13-year-old Orange County student Madeline Soto on Friday afternoon, just four days after her mother reported her missing. She was located in a secluded area of Osceola County near Pearl Lake.
The major concern now revolves around the future actions regarding her mother’s boyfriend, Stephan Sterns, who is considered the primary suspect in her demise. Investigators have revealed the discovery of child sex abuse videos on Sterns’ phone, and he has been uncooperative since his arrest.
Sterns failed to appear in court on Saturday morning, mere hours after Madeline’s body was located.
According to Kissimmee police Chief Betty Holland, “Stephan Sterns was transported from the Orange County Jail to the Osceola County Jail where he is being held on capital sexual battery charges filed by the Kissimmee police detectives.”
Sterns was the last person to see Madeline alive, according to the investigators, and he never left her off close to her Hunters Creek school.
Orange County Sheriff John Mina stated,”We believe she was already dead at the time and the Stephan Sterns moved her body in the early morning hours on that day.”
Particularly among parents of students at Central Florida, the case caused a stir.
“I’m a dad of a 15-year-old, it’s heartbreaking and saddening to see this happening, Children are supposed to be protected. Unfortunately in this case, she was exposed.” parent Kevin Rickson stated.
