Tragic Discovery: Body of Missing Teen Madeline Soto Found, Boyfriend of Mother Suspected

The Orange County Sheriff's Office confirmed that the body of 13-year-old Madeline Soto, missing since Monday morning, has been found in Osceola County. The discovery was made off Hickory Tree Road around 4:30 p.m. on Friday. During a press conference, it was revealed that the body was dressed similarly to what Maddie was last seen wearing. Friday afternoon's press conference, led by Orange County Sheriff John Mina, disclosed that detectives are "confident" in the belief that the girl is deceased, allegedly killed by her mother's boyfriend, Stephan Sterns. SKYFOX coverage showed a multi-agency search underway in the area, involving St. Cloud police, Kissimmee police, the Orange County Sheriff's Office, and the Osceola County Sheriff's Office. The search was focused on Old Hickory Tree Road, where Sterns was last seen between 1 and 2:30 p.m. on Monday, changing a flat tire on his silver Lincoln MKZ. Deputies suspect that Madeline Soto never made it to Hunter's Creek Middle School on Monday morning and was already deceased by then. Sterns is believed to have moved her body in the early morning hours after killing her in Kissimmee. Video evidence shows Sterns disposing of items in a dumpster at a Kissimmee apartment complex at 7:45 a.m. on Monday, which were later identified as Madeline Soto's backpack and school-issued laptop. Another video shows Sterns returning to his neighborhood with Madeline Soto visible in the vehicle, although the teenager was already deceased at that time. Sterns was arrested on Wednesday night on charges of sexual battery and possession of child sex abuse material. He was transferred from the Orange County Jail to Osceola County on Friday morning. Officials are considering additional charges against Sterns. Jenn Soto, Madeline's mother, is not currently a suspect. The case has been escalated to a homicide investigation, led by the Kissimmee Police Department.

Tragic Discovery: Body of Missing Teen Madeline Soto Found, Boyfriend of Mother Suspected

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