The search for 13-year-old Madeline Soto concluded on Friday night with the discovery of her body in the woods off a road in Osceola County, as confirmed by deputies.
Deputies disclosed that Madeline Soto’s body was located around 4:30 p.m. in the woods off Hickory Tree Road.
Earlier in the day, it was revealed that detectives suspected the 13-year-old Florida girl, reported missing earlier in the week, was killed at her Kissimmee home.
Authorities believe her body was then moved by her mother’s boyfriend, identified as the prime suspect in her disappearance, according to the Orange County sheriff.
Sheriff John Mina stated during a Friday afternoon news conference that investigators are “confident” Madeline Soto is deceased. The girl’s mother’s boyfriend, Stephan Sterns, was apprehended on Wednesday on charges linked to “images and videos that were criminal, and sexual in nature” discovered on his phone during the probe into the teen’s disappearance, deputies stated.
Mina added that teams are presently engaged in efforts to recover the girl’s body.
Sterns had previously informed detectives that he had dropped the girl off near her school on Monday morning. However, Sheriff Mina revealed that video evidence contradicts this claim. Instead, Sterns was observed driving a vehicle with her body inside that day.
“We believe she was already dead at the time and that Stephan Sterns moved her body in the early morning hours on that day,” Mina said. “We have video evidence that shows Stephan Sterns discarding items in a dumpster in that apartment complex in Kissimmee at 7:35 a.m.”
The sheriff stated that around 8:19 a.m., detectives discovered the girl’s backpack and her school-issued laptop in a dumpster.
“We have evidence that shows Stephan Sterns returning to the complex and Madeline was visible in that vehicle. We believe she was already dead at that time,” he said.
“As a result of that, although the initial missing persons investigation started in Orange County, the Kissimmee Police Department will now be taking over the investigation and will become the lead agency.”
The vehicle in question is a 2010 Lincoln MKC bearing the Florida tag “IYL-L82.” Kissimmee Police Chief Betty Holland revealed that the vehicle was spotted in the vicinity of State Road 192 and Old Hickory Tree Road, as well as Old Hickory Tree Road and Nolte Road, between 1 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. on Monday.
“During this timeframe, it is believed that Sterns had a flat tire and might have been seen changing the tire in this area. If anyone saw this vehicle or notice anything suspicious, we’re asking that they call Crimeline,” she said. The Crimeline number is 800-423-TIPS or 800-423-8477.
During the investigation earlier this week, Orange County detectives discovered graphic images and videos depicting sexual abuse on his phone. It was determined that the crimes depicted in those files took place at their Kissimmee home.
He is currently incarcerated in the Osceola County jail following his transfer from Orange County. He is currently facing charges of sexual battery and possession of child sexual abuse material.