13-year-old Madeline Soto was reported missing on Feb. 26, a mere day after her mother, Jennifer, allowed her to sleep in the bed with Stephan Sterns, her boyfriend. Madeline’s body was discovered on March 1 in Osceola County. Investigators discovered evidence suggesting she was likely dead before school started that day. Traffic cameras captured a limp body, believed to be Madeline’s, in Sterns’ car. Two months later, Sterns was charged with first-degree murder, with the indictment stating the crime occurred between Feb. 25 and 27, according to FOX35.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Office released new evidence, including interview recordings with Sterns and Jennifer, body camera footage, and photos, gathered shortly after Madeline was reported missing. The case is now with Kissimmee Police.
On Feb. 27, the day after Madeline was reported missing, a detective interviewed her mother, Jennifer. She stated she last saw Madeline around 11 p.m. on Sunday and heard sounds in the morning, possibly from her roommates. When asked if she saw Madeline leave, Jennifer admitted she was still asleep. She realized Madeline was missing only when she went to pick her up from school that day.
The detective asked Jennifer where Madeline slept that night. Jennifer explained that Madeline slept upstairs with Sterns in another bedroom. She mentioned they were all going to sleep together but she needed rest for her new job so she slept elsewhere.
Madeline frequently slept with her mother, Jennifer, and Sterns, sometimes sharing the same bed. Sterns mentioned that Madeline needed
“snuggling”
to fall asleep. Reports revealed that even during a short breakup between Sterns and Jennifer in 2023, Sterns continued to sleep at Jennifer’s home with Madeline. A woman Sterns briefly dated found his comments about waking up with Madeline inappropriate, leading to her leaving him.
Sterns was arrested two days after Madeline’s disappearance, facing 60 charges, including sexual battery, after turning over his phone, which had disturbing images of the 13-year-old. He was later charged with murder.
