Body of missing Madeline Soto, 13, found in Florida after video of suspect Stephan Sterns dumping items emerged | M1STP86 | 2024-03-04 19:08:01
A MISSING teen's physique has been discovered four days after her mom's boyfriend claimed he'd dropped her off at college – however she by no means showed as much as class.
Madeline Soto, 13, vanished on Monday and her stays have been discovered in the woods in Central Florida at round four:30 pm on Friday.
"It is with a heavy heart I inform everyone that as we anticipated, Madeline Soto is deceased," stated Chief Betty Holland of the Kissimmee Police Division.
"This can be a unhappy day for our group and we mourn the loss of such a younger life."
Cops had stated earlier on Friday that they believed Madeline was not alive.
Stephan Sterns, 37, the boyfriend of Madeline's mother, is considered the prime suspect within the case.
Suspicion shortly turned to Sterns as he was the last individual to see Madeline, who had just celebrated her birthday on February 22, before she vanished.
He advised police that he dropped Madeline off down the street from her faculty on Monday morning.
Family and friends stated that it was odd that he supposedly dropped her off blocks from her faculty.
"We consider she was already lifeless at the time and that Stephan Sterns moved her physique within the early morning hours on that day," Orange County Sheriff John W. Mina stated earlier on Friday.
"We've got video proof that exhibits Stephen Sterns discarding gadgets in a dumpster in that condo complicated in Kissimmee at 7:35 am on Monday, February 26.
"Detectives later recovered Madeline's backpack and her school-issued laptop computer from that dumpster. At 8:19 am, we've evidence that exhibits Stephan Sterns returning to the complicated, and Madeline was visible in that car," Mina stated.
"We consider she was already lifeless at the moment."
SAD DISCOVERY
Her body was found in the area of Hickory Tree Street, the identical road the place Sterns was recognized to have been driving between 1 and a couple of:30 pm on the day Madeline disappeared.
Sterns was arrested on Wednesday night time after detectives discovered "disturbing" photographs and video on his telephone.
He is being held with out bond after he was booked on fees of sexual battery and possession of child abuse materials.
Investigators found that he did a manufacturing unit reset on the gadget the day that Madeline vanished.
Earlier than his arrest, he stood beside Madeline's mom as the teen was lacking and informed native reporters, "I dropped her off [at school] early, but I might have waited longer."
He appeared to have tears in his eyes as he informed native ABC affiliate WFTV, "I dropped her off, all the things seemed wonderful once I drove away. That's the final time we saw her."
"She's not the sort that may just run off. We don't know the place she might be and we're scared. We simply want her residence," he stated.
Further details about how Madeline died and extra expenses towards Sterns wasn't instantly out there.
The group held a vigil for the woman on Friday night time.
The Orange County Public Faculties superintendent released a press release after Madeline's physique was discovered.
"I'm heartbroken to hear from the Orange County Sheriff's Workplace of the tragic dying of our valuable scholar, Madeline Soto. My ideas and prayers exit to Maddie's household and her faculty group," stated Maria Vasquez.
"To lose a toddler so abruptly and tragically is extraordinarily troublesome, especially for household and associates. Counselors continue to be out there for any scholar or employees member dealing with the news.
"I ask that you simply hold the whole Hunter's Creek Center Faculty group in your prayers as they grieve the loss of considered one of their own."
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