Latest news with #MadelineSoto
Daily Mail
22-07-2025
- Daily Mail
Madeline Soto's mom's boyfriend sentenced to life in prison after accepting murder charge in plea deal
The Florida man accused of sexually abusing and murdering his girlfriend's 13-year-old daughter will spend the rest of his life behind bars. Stephan Sterns, 39, pleaded no contest to Madeline Soto's murder and guilty to 21 counts of sex charges on Monday afternoon during an Osceola County Court hearing. No contest has the same legal ramifications as a guilty plea, but Sterns never had to explicitly admit or deny killing Madeline in February 2024. Prosecutors originally said they were going to pursue the death penalty against the convicted predator, but execution was taken off the table in a plea deal. The state also dropped about 40 other charges pertaining to explicit images of Madeline investigators discovered on Sterns' phone. In exchange, Sterns was sentenced to 21 concurrent life sentences without the possibility of parole. Emotions ran high during the chilling hearing, with Madeline's relatives and loved ones confronting Sterns and sharing tear-jerking testimonies. But Madeline's mother, Jennifer Soto, was not in attendance. 'I can't grasp the selfishness of you, the deplorability of your actions. You're depraved, weak, you're a coward,' Madeline's father, Tyler Wallace, told Sterns in court. 'I can only hope that [Sterns] lives a long time in prison and has those same horrors visited upon him by his fellow inmates.' He also described his daughter as he took the stand alongside his wife, Tatiana, saying she was 'quirky and intelligent' as well as a 'joy to be around.' 'I just loved her so much and I was not able to be in her life as much as I would've liked to due to circumstances and choices I had made and the way finances worked,' he went on. He said the last time he saw his child was in October 2023, months before her 13th birthday. Once she turned 13, Madeline would have had a say in which parent she would live with. Wallace said his daughter told him she wanted to stay with him. 'I was this close to having my little girl,' Wallace said as he began choking up. The accused murder appeared stoic in court - keeping his gaze low in apparent acceptance of his fate. While never addressing the heinous crimes, Sterns issued a statement about the young victim. 'I agree that it's not fair that Madeline is not hear anymore,' Sterns told the court. 'I still have a hard time contemplating a world where she's not around, a world that feels less vibrant and less colorful than it did before.' He also said he wished he could 'trade places' with Madeline. 'I have nothing but sorrow for her loss. And I miss her all the time. Her passing has torn me and my family apart as well and she truly was a joy,' Sterns told the court. 'And I apologize for all the pain.' Wallace's lawyer, Deborah Barra, told Click Orlando his family is at peace with the plea deal, as it is the first step in putting an end to the horrifying ordeal. 'In a case like this, there's never going to be any joy or happiness, there's not going to be a resolution where everybody is like "that's great,"' Barra told the outlet. 'But it is a matter of, "well what can you live with?"' State Attorney Monique Worrell also spoke out, writing in a statement: 'I want to extend my deepest condolences to the Soto family and everyone who loved Madeline. 'While nothing we do can bring Madeline back, I hope her family finds some measure of peace knowing that justice has been served.' Madeline was reported missing in Orlando on February 26, 2024. Her mother, Jennifer, realized something was wrong when she went to pick her up from school and she was not there. Sterns was allegedly supposed to drop Madeline off at Hunter's Creek Middle School and quickly became a 'prime suspect' in her disappearance. Four days after she was reported missing, her body was found in the woods close to where she disappeared from. Police believe Sterns strangled, molested and dumped Madeline. Her school bag was found dumped behind an apartment complex in Kissimmee. Investigators said they found child porn and evidence of Sterns abusing his longtime girlfriend's daughter as far back as 2022.
CBS News
21-07-2025
- CBS News
Florida man sentenced to life for rape, murder of Madeline Soto, his girlfriend's 13-year-old daughter
The longtime boyfriend of a Central Florida mother was sentenced Monday to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the murder of her 13-year-old daughter, who was reported missing in February 2024 and found dead months later. Stephan Sterns was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the first-degree murder of 13-year-old Madeline Soto, and an additional life sentence for 20 sex offenses, including sexual battery of a child, Osceola County Circuit Judge Keith Carsten ordered, according to Orlando CBS affiliate WKMG. Sterns pleaded no contest to the first-degree murder charge and guilty to all 20 counts of sex crimes during a plea hearing Monday afternoon. This abrupt change came just as he was expected to go on trial this week for the sexual battery charges. Sterns had previously pleaded not guilty to sexually abusing and murdering Madeline Soto, the daughter of his former girlfriend. The plea agreement allowed Sterns to avoid a potential death sentence. Prosecutors had announced plans to seek the death penalty during his murder trial, scheduled for later this year. Family and friends, including Madeline Soto's father Tyler Wallace, addressed the court through tears prior to sentencing. Wallace delivered a scathing rebuke: "I can't grasp the selfishness of you, the deplorability of your actions. You're depraved, you're weak, you're a coward." He added, "It doesn't heal with time." Authorities believe Sterns sexually molested, strangled Madeline Soto, and dumped her body in a wooded area. Madeline Soto was reported missing Feb. 26, 2024, after her mother, Jennifer Soto, said she didn't find the teenager when she went to pick her up from Hunter's Creek Middle School. Law enforcement found her body on March 1, 2024, in a wooded area near St. Cloud, about 30 miles south of Orlando. While searching for Madeline Soto, investigators uncovered images on Sterns' phone and Google Drive showing him abusing the teenager. Despite Sterns factory-resetting his phone on the day the teen went missing, claiming he was trying to update it, detectives recovered child pornography and evidence indicating Sterns had been sexually abusing the girl as far back as 2022. Surveillance footage captured Sterns throwing items into a dumpster at a Kissimmee apartment complex the morning Madeline Soto disappeared. The teen's backpack and school-issued laptop were later found in that same dumpster. This report includes information from The Associated Press.
Yahoo
21-04-2025
- Yahoo
Stephan Sterns' defense claims it has 'confidential information; wants to delay upcoming court hearing
The Brief Stephan Sterns, accused of raping and murdering 13-year-old Madeline Soto, is seeking to delay a scheduled suppression hearing, citing newly obtained "confidential information," according to court records. The defense hopes to prevent jurors from seeing evidence from Sterns' phone and Google account, which they claim was unlawfully obtained, though prosecutors argue he gave consent. A hearing to determine whether the delay will be granted is set for Tuesday. ORLANDO, Fla. - Stephan Sterns, the man accused of sexually assaulting and killing 13-year-old Madeline Soto, is asking a judge to delay his upcoming court hearing due to "confidential information" his attorneys have recently obtained, according to new court records. The defense claims they will not have time to prepare for an upcoming court appearing, citing the newly-obtained information, a recently-filed motion reads. State prosecutors have objected to the potential delay. What we know The suppression hearing scheduled for Wednesday comes after Sterns' public defender asked a judge to bar jurors from seeing the evidence collected from Sterns' phone and Google account, due to investigators allegedly unlawfully seizing and searching his phone. However, the prosecution claims that Sterns gave consent and the evidence from both the phone and Google account were properly obtained. Now Sterns and his attorneys hope to delay the suppression hearing due to this new "confidential information" they have related to the case. In a new motion seeking a delay, Sterns' attorney wrote: "Since filing [the suppression motions in February], the Defense has come into possession of confidential information that may impact the presentation of evidence at that hearing." "The Defense will not have time to develop this evidence before the currently scheduled Motion to Suppress scheduled for hearing on April 23, 2025." "As such, Defense is requesting to continue these hearings to be reset for a later date." Click to open this PDF in a new window. A hearing has been scheduled for Tuesday to determine if Wednesday's suppression hearing will be delayed. According to court records, the prosecution objects the delay. What we don't know No details have been provided by Sterns' attorney regarding the "confidential information." Watch: Stephan Sterns 2-hour interrogation amid Madeline Soto disappearance Madeline Soto update: Will the media, public be banned from Stephan Sterns' pretrial court hearings? Maddie Soto update: Stephen Sterns jailhouse calls released Judge denies Stephan Sterns' motion to ban the press, public from his pre-trial hearings Stephan Sterns was the boyfriend of Jennifer Soto, Madeline's mother. According to court documents and law enforcement, Sterns lived with Jennifer, Madeline, and another roommate on and off. He would sometimes take Madeline Soto to school and would also sometimes sleep in the same bed as Madeline and Jennifer, court records said. In Feb. 2024, he reportedly took Madeline Soto to school while the girl's mother stayed back at the house. Hours later when Madeline's mom went to pick her up from school, she was told Madeline never made it to school that day. Sterns is charged with first-degree murder in the death of the girl. He is also charged in a separate case with some 60 counts of sexual abuse and possession of child sexual abuse material after thousands of graphic photos, some including Maddie, were found on his cell phone and saved to a Google Drive account, court records said. He has pleaded not guilty to those charges. His trial on the first-degree murder charge is currently scheduled to begin on Sept. 22, 2025. Madeline "Maddie" Soto was a 13-year-old girl who was reported missing on Feb. 26, 2024. Maddie had just celebrated her 13th birthday on February 22, days before she was reported missing. Madeline was a student at Hunter's Creek Middle School in Orlando. Though, she lived with her mom, Sterns, and an adult roommate in Kissimmee. Her body was found in a grassy area in Osceola County on March 1. Sunday, Feb. 25: Madeline Soto's 13th birthday celebration Monday, Feb. 26: Madeline Soto was last seen at 8:30 a.m., didn't make it to school Tuesday, Feb. 27: Madeline Soto's missing poster was released, officials begin search Tuesday night, Feb. 27: Madeline Soto's mom, Jenn Soto, speaks with FOX 35; would-be suspect appears in background Wednesday afternoon, Feb. 28: Orange County Sheriff John Mina hosts press conference about ongoing search Wednesday night, Feb. 28: Mom's boyfriend Stephan Sterns arrested on unrelated charges, named 'prime suspect' in Madeline Soto case Thursday, Feb. 29: Kissimmee Police Department releases Stephan Sterns' arrest affidavit Thursday, Feb. 29: Body language expert assesses Stephan Sterns' body language in Zoom interview with Jenn Soto Friday morning, March 1: Stephan Sterns dodges questions from FOX 35 while being transferred from Orange County to Osceola County Friday afternoon, March 1: Officials say they're 'confident' that Madeline Soto is dead Friday afternoon, March 1: Multi-agency search for Madeline Soto near area where Stephen Sterns was last seen Friday afternoon, March 1: Body found amid search for Madeline Soto Saturday morning, March 2: Stephan Sterns waives first appearance in court Wednesday, March 6: New court documents allege Stephan Sterns may have abused Madeline Soto years before her disappearance, death Tuesday, March 12: State Attorney's Office files 60 additional charges against Stephan Sterns Thursday, March 21: Kissimmee Police Chief holds press conference with updates about investigation Wednesday, April 4: State Attorney Andrew Bain explains why more information has not been released into the Madeline Soto death investigation Wednesday, April 4: FOX 35 obtained the 911 calls from the morning 13-year-old Madeline Soto went missing from Orange County Saturday, April 15: Maddie Soto's family and community members gathered at a vigil Saturday to remember the 13-year-old who was found dead days after she was reported missing in February. Wednesday, April 24: An Osceola County judge granted a motion to continue the pretrial for Stephan Sterns. Wednesday, April 24: A new trial date has been set for Stephan Sterns after an Osceola County judge granted the defense's motion for more time during a pretrial hearing. Thursday, April 25: Stephan Sterns has been charged with first-degree murder in the death of 13-year-old Florida girl Madeline Soto. Monday, June 10: The State Attorney's Office intends to seek the death penalty against Stephan Sterns, the man accused of killing his girlfriend's daughter, 13-year-old Madeline "Maddie" Soto, according to court records – should he be convicted. Wednesday, July 10: Attorneys for Stephan Sterns, who was charged for the murder of 13-year-old Madeline Soto, have filed motions to continue both trials. Thursday, August 22: New police interviews with Stephan Sterns, Jennifer Soto from hours after teen went 'missing' Friday, August 23: New documents obtained by FOX 35 this week show that the teen's mother may have known about that alleged abuse. Monday, August 26: Madeline Soto's mom admits to knowing Stephan Sterns was 'grooming and abusing' her daughter, documents show. Monday, August 26: New documents shed light on how Madeline Soto's body got to the rural location it was eventually found at, and, ultimately, how she died. Monday, October 14: Trial date set for Stephan Sterns Wednesday, October 23: Kissimmee police revealed new information in the ongoing investigation. Alleged killer Stephan Sterns secretly filmed naked roommate, officials say. Friday, October 25: "I didn't start it" Those are the words Stephen Sterns told his parents in a recorded call from jail, audio which was released to FOX 35 Orlando. Thursday, February 6: Stephan Sterns and his attorney file dozens of motions ahead of his murder trial set to begin in September. Asking to strike the death penalty and to have all physical restraint devices removed from Sterns during trial proceedings. Wednesday, February 12: Stephan Sterns wants phone evidence tossed ahead of child sex crimes trial. Wednesday, February 19: Stephan Sterns asks judge to ban public, press from court hearing. Wednesday, February 26: Remembering the 13-year-old one year later; accused killer preps for trial. Tuesday, March 4: New details released in the death of Madeline Soto, one year since the initial report Wednesday, March 5: Watch: Stephan Sterns 2-hour interrogation amid Madeline Soto disappearance Thursday, March 20: Madeline Soto update: Will the media, public be banned from Stephan Sterns' pretrial court hearings? Friday, March 21: Maddie Soto update: Stephen Sterns jailhouse calls released Thursday, March 27:Judge denies Stephan Sterns' motion to ban the press, public from his pre-trial hearings The Source The information in this article comes from the Orange County Sheriff's Office, the North Port Police Department, documents from the Orange County Clerk of Courts and Osceola County Clerk of Courts.
