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United States Madeline Soto: Stephan Sterns waives first appearance, 1 day after ...
Family, friends mourn death of Maddie Soto
The body of 13-year-old Maddie Soto has been found after police have been searching for her for five days. The teen's mother's boyfriend, Stephan Stern is the prime suspect in the homicide case.
KISSIMMEE, Fla. - Stephan Sterns was a no-show for his first appearance in Osceola County court. His lawyer didn't want the judge reading out the charges.
At the first appearance, Sterns faced charges including sexual battery and possession of material depicting sexual performance by a child. Sterns had voluntarily handed his phone to investigators, who managed to recover photos and videos that they call "disturbing."
Investigators said he was also the prime suspect in Maddie Soto's disappearance. Search teams finally recovered Maddie’s body on Friday evening after an exhaustive search through the woods in Osceola County. The judge said Sterns would stay behind bars.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Office has turned over the case to Kissimmee Police. Sheriff John Mina said they had proof Sterns tried to cover his tracks after Maddie’s death. "We have video evidence that shows Stephan Sterns discarding items in a dumpster in the apartment complex in Kissimmee at 7:35 on Monday, February 26.
STEPHAN STERNS: Body language expert assesses Stephan Sterns' body language in Zoom interview with Jenn Soto
TIMELINE: Madeline Soto's disappearance
Madeline Soto was reported missing Monday by her mother, Jess Soto, who said Maddie never made it to school that day. Since Monday multiple developments have been made - including the arrest of Jess Soto's boyfriend, Stephan Sterns in the case. Deputies now say they believe Madeline Soto is dead after they saw Stern on video surveillance dumping some of her belongings in a dumpster.
Detectives later recovered Madaline's backpack and school-issued laptop from that dumpster.
"At 8:19, we have evidence that shows Stephan Sterns returning to the complex, and Madeline was visible in that vehicle," he said, "we believe she was already dead at that time."
Kissimmee police said they weren’t releasing any further updates on the case.
Former Orlando Police chief, Orlando Rolon, said Sterns may have thought he could fool investigators.
"This is a prefect example of someone who probably though 'Eh, I can get away with this,' and fortunately everything is now pointing to the face that he had now been caught for the murder of this child."
