Months after a 13-year-old girl went missing and was found dead in Osceola County, Florida at the end of February, a man has been charged with first-degree murder.
Stephan Sterns has been indicted by an Osceola County grand jury on charges of first-degree murder in the tragic death of 13-year-old Madeline Soto, as confirmed by Florida State Attorney Andrew Bain.
According to records obtained by WFTV, Soto was killed sometime between February 25 and February 27. The discovery of Soto’s body was made a few days later on March 1 in a wooded area.
According to The Associated Press, Jennifer Soto reported her daughter, Soto, missing on February 26. The Florida State Attorney’s Office confirmed that Sterns was Jennifer Soto’s boyfriend.
According to WFTV, Bain stated that he will determine whether to pursue the death penalty at a later time. Sterns’ arraignment is scheduled for Monday.
The sheriff’s office has announced that they have located the body of the missing 13-year-old girl in Florida.
“This indictment is a significant milestone in our pursuit of justice and a powerful tribute to our unwavering dedication to honoring the memory of Madeline,” stated Chief Betty Hollan of the Kissimmee Police Department.
“We have been working closely with law enforcement from the outset of this investigation to build a robust criminal case,” stated Bain. “During the course of the past two months, we have worked collaboratively with deputies and Kissimmee Police, gathering and analyzing a substantial volume of evidence and information.”
