The disappearance of 13-year-old Madeline “Maddie” Soto has rattled Central Florida with investigators trying to piece together the puzzle of her whereabouts with Stephan Sterns believed to have killed her
The spotlight in the Madeline “Maddie” Soto disappearance case is now on Stephan Sterns who is the boyfriend of Maddie’s mother. As per Orange County Sheriff’s Office, they are confident that the girl is dead.
Who is Stephan Sterns boyfriend of Jenn Soto the mother of missing Madeline “Maddie” Soto as he’s arrested
According to Orange County Sheriff John Mina, during a press conference on Friday afternoon, deputies informed Madeline Soto’s mother Jenn Soto of the “devastating news” on Thursday evening.
In between all of his fake tears, Stephan Sterns had the nerve to say that Madeline was sleeping in the car that morning. Makes me sick. This ‘man’ is evil. @WFTV #MadelineSoto pic.twitter.com/0pxJljKDUQ
— Rose (@901Lulu) March 2, 2024
Stephan Sterns, a 37-year-old man from Kissimmee has become a significant figure in the Madeline “Maddie” Soto case investigation. He was arrested by the Orange County Sheriff’s Office (OCSO) on charges of s*xual battery and possession of child s*xual abuse material after disturbing images were found on his phone. These findings shed light on possible concerning behavior.
Sterns who is romantically involved with Jenn Soto, Maddie’s mother, was reportedly the last person to see Maddie before she vanished. He dropped her off near her school on Monday but when her mother came to pick her up, Maddie was nowhere to be found.
The contents of Sterns’ phone have added complexity to the case. Detectives found sexually explicit images and videos allegedly taken at the family’s home in Kissimmee. Attempts to delete evidence from the phone suggest an effort to hide illicit activities. However, it’s unclear how these findings relate to Maddie’s disappearance.
Maddie, a student at Hunter’s Creek Middle School celebrated her 13th birthday just before she went missing. She is being described as a 5ft 1in, 110-pound girl with blonde hair and blue eyes. Her disappearance on February 26 prompted a statewide Missing Child Alert, indicating she’s in danger.
Huge red flags with the mother of Madeline Soto too. Jenn Soto claims "WE" took Maddie to school, but then says it was her boyfriend Stephan Sterns who dropped her off "near" the school. 🤔
Maddie is still missing. Where is she? pic.twitter.com/jgqrzBb0vP
— JLR© (@JLRINVESTIGATES) March 1, 2024
Sheriff John Mina revealed that Sterns dropped Maddie off near Peace United Methodist Church not her school. Speculation is that Maddie may have felt embarrassed about her family’s car, asking to be dropped off elsewhere. Also, information from Maddie’s phone suggests she wanted to “go live in the woods” when she turned 13.
The community is deeply concerned for Maddie’s safety as search efforts intensify. Over 50 OCSO emergency response team members and various search teams are involved. They are conducting searches and interviews to find her.
The collaborative efforts of law enforcement, search teams, and the public are crucial in unravelling this distressing situation and bringing Maddie home. Anyone with information about Maddie’s whereabouts is urged to contact the sheriff’s office at (407) 254-7000.