Madeline Soto
Thirteen-year-old Madeline Soto was murdered by her mother's boyfriend Stephan Sterns in Kissimmee, Florida. He was found to have sexually abused her for years. He faces the death penalty.
On February 26, 2024, thirteen-year-old Madeline Soto was reported missing from Kissimmee, Florida by her mother's boyfriend Stephan Sterns, who claimed he dropped her off at school. The school had no record of her arrival.
Madeline's body was found in a rural area of St. Cloud, Florida on March 1, 2024. Investigation revealed Sterns had been sexually abusing Madeline for years—thousands of images of child sexual abuse material involving Madeline were found on his devices.
Sterns was charged with first-degree murder and over 60 counts of sexual offenses against Madeline. Evidence showed the abuse had been ongoing since she was approximately 8 years old.
The state is seeking the death penalty against Sterns. The case prompted outrage about how the abuse went undetected for so long and raised questions about the mother's awareness.
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