Madeline Soto (13) found dead in the woods after going missing; stepfather arrested on charges of sexual battery

[raisedbywolves]

https://www.wftv.com/news/local/sher...LDCWRJBJJSCIU/

The Orange County Sheriff?s Office said more than 50 members of its Emergency Response Team were searching for Madeline Soto near Osprey Park on Wednesday.

Investigators said Soto was last seen at about 8:30 a.m. Monday near Town Loop Boulevard and Hunters Park Lane.

Sheriff John Mina said Wednesday afternoon during a news conference that Soto was never reported as having attended school Monday so deputies met up her mother at the school, where she filed a missing persons report.

He said she left her cellphone at home that day.

Mina said detectives interviewed Soto?s mother, her mother?s boyfriend and her friends.

Investigators determined that Soto had sent text messages or made social media posts indicating she ?wanted to go live in the woods? upon her 13th birthday, which was Thursday.

https://www.wftv.com/news/local/sear...II53BX7SQEMYM/

Deputies in Orange County said 13-year-old Madeline Soto has been missing since Monday morning.

And now, her mother?s boyfriend is in jail on charges of sexual battery and possession of child sex abuse material.

Stephan Sterns was supposed to go before an Orange County judge Thursday morning but refused to be in court.

During the investigation, detectives say they uncovered disturbing images when they searched Sterns? phone.

Police said they also found data revealing he tried to delete evidence.

Investigators say they discovered images and videos that were criminal and sexual in nature.

[Angiebla]

Hopefully shes just out living her dream in the woods. Hopefully.

[Nic B]

I wonder if the stepfather used her phone to text that about going into the woods.

[Bewitchingstorm]

Here's the creep's FB: https://www.facebook.com/stephan.sterns

[Nic B]

Here's the creep's FB: https://www.facebook.com/stephan.sterns

He looks normal

[raisedbywolves]

He looks normal

He looks like Ted Cruz.

Also, I read that he said he supposedly dropped her off for school on Monday, but far away from the school instead of at the school. I was hopeful until I read that.

[Bewitchingstorm]

He looks like Ted Cruz.

Also, I read that he said he supposedly dropped her off for school on Monday, but far away from the school instead of at the school. I was hopeful until I read that.

He definitely looks like Ted Cruz.

Agree. It isn't looking good.

[Angiebla]

He looks like Ted Cruz.

Also, I read that he said he supposedly dropped her off for school on Monday, but far away from the school instead of at the school. I was hopeful until I read that.

After knowing this, Im a lot less hopeful

[Bewitchingstorm]

She's been found dead.

Deputies said Madeline Soto’s body was found around 4:30 p.m. in the woods off Hickory Tree Road. Investigators said the girl’s family has been notified.

https://www.clickorlando.com/news/lo...eNCCj7Amh_MyLI

[raisedbywolves]

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news...spe-rcna141426

Sterns, who authorities call the "prime suspect" in the case, was arrested Wednesday night on separate charges of sexual battery and possession of child sexual abuse material after detectives found ?disturbing images? and videos that were ?criminal, and sexual in nature? during a forensic examination of his phone.

It is believed Madeline was killed in Kissimmee, where her family lived in an apartment, and that Sterns moved her body in the early morning hours Monday, Mina said.

"We have evidence that shows Stephen Stern?s returning to the complex and Madeline was visible in that vehicle. We believe she was already dead at that time,? the sheriff said. Authorities did not state what time that footage was captured.

Video evidence recovered by authorities showed Sterns discarding items in a dumpster at the Kissimmee apartment complex at 7:35 a.m. on Monday February 26. Detectives later recovered Madeline's backpack and her school-issued laptop from the dumpster.

[Angiebla]

You were right Nic, he did send that text.

[Boston Babe 73]

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news...spe-rcna141426

Motherfucker. I hope everyone in prison with him knows what he did.

[raisedbywolves]

https://www.wesh.com/article/madelin...terns/60100012

According to documents obtained by WESH, Sterns was abusing Madeline for nearly two years.

While law enforcement had initially found evidence that Sterns had been abusing Soto when she was 12 years old, an arrest affidavit breaks down how they were able to determine it went back even further.

The arrest affidavit for Sterns says he allowed law enforcement to search his phone but said he had accidentally done a factory reset on it the day Soto disappeared.

Despite the reset, investigators say they were able to get videos and images off the phone.

The Orange County Sheriff's Office said "disturbing images" were found. And metadata showed some of what they found was from August 2022, when Madeline would have been 11 years old.

According to documents from the Kissimmee Police Department, Soto was a victim of sexual battery, and evidence suggested Sterns was involved.

Kissimmee police led the investigation into the alleged crimes since they took place at the home where Soto, her mother and Sterns lived.

So the sexual assault was reported and nothing happened?

[Nic B]

said he had accidentally done a factory reset on it the day Soto disappeared.

I totally believe this.

[Bewitchingstorm]

https://www.wesh.com/article/madelin...terns/60100012


So the sexual assault was reported and nothing happened?

Gawd, that is sickening. And where was the mother all the while?