ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – The search for 13-year-old Madeline Soto ended Friday night when her body was found in the woods off a road in Osceola County, according to deputies.
Deputies discovered Madeline Soto’s body around 4:30 p.m. in the woods off Hickory Tree Road.
Earlier in the day, it was revealed that detectives believed the 13-year-old Florida girl, who had been reported missing earlier in the week, was killed at her Kissimmee home and that her body was moved by her mother’s boyfriend, the prime suspect in her disappearance, according to the Orange County sheriff.
Sheriff John Mina stated during a Friday afternoon press conference that investigators are “confident” Madeline Soto is deceased. The girl’s mother’s boyfriend, Stephan Sterns, was arrested on Wednesday on charges related to “criminal and sexual nature” images and videos found on his phone during the investigation into the teen’s disappearance, deputies said.
Mina mentioned that teams are currently working to retrieve the girl’s body.
Sterns had previously informed detectives that he had dropped the girl off near her school on Monday morning. Mina stated that video evidence disproved this and instead showed Sterns driving a vehicle with her body inside on that day.
“We believe she was already deceased at the time and that Stephan Sterns moved her body in the early morning hours of that day,” Mina explained. “We have video evidence showing Stephan Sterns disposing of items in a dumpster at that Kissimmee apartment complex at 7:35 a.m.”
At around 8:19 a.m., detectives located the girl’s backpack and school-issued laptop in a dumpster.
“We have evidence showing Stephan Sterns returning to the complex with Madeline visible in the vehicle. We believe she was already deceased at that point,” he added. “Due to this, although the initial missing persons investigation began in Orange County, the Kissimmee Police Department will now lead the investigation.”
The vehicle is a 2010 Lincoln MKC with the Florida tag “IYL-L82.” Kissimmee Police Chief Betty Holland mentioned that the vehicle was spotted in the vicinity of State Road 192 and Old Hickory Tree Road, and Old Hickory Tree Road and Nolte Road, between 1 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. on Monday.
“During this period, it is believed that Sterns experienced a flat tire and may have been seen changing the tire in that area. If anyone witnessed the vehicle or noticed anything suspicious, please contact Crimeline,” she urged. The Crimeline number is 800-423-TIPS or 800-423-8477.
Throughout the investigation earlier in the week, Orange County detectives discovered explicit images and videos of abuse on his phone that occurred at their Kissimmee residence.
He is currently held in the Osceola County jail after being transferred from Orange County. He currently faces charges of sexual battery and possession of child sexual abuse material.
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