Madeline Soto, a 13-year-old girl from Florida, was found dead five days after she went missing. According to court papers mentioned in various reports, she was sexually abused two years earlier by her mother's boyfriend.
He is also suspected of killing her.
Stephan Sterns, 37, the boyfriend of Madeline’s mother, got arrested before her body was found. He faces charges of sexual assault and having inappropriate material involving children, as per the Orange County Sheriff’s Office.
News sources like WESH, WFLA, and FOX 35 stated in an arrest report that Sterns assaulted Madeline back in 2022 when she was just 11. The same document alleges that authorities discovered images and videos on Sterns’ phone showing him sexually abusing a child.
Though PEOPLE couldn’t contact Sterns’ lawyer immediately, court records show he hasn’t had his day in court for these charges. Despite being a suspect, Sterns hasn’t been charged in connection with Madeline’s death.
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Madeline’s body was discovered in a forested area in Osceola County after five days of searching. She had recently turned 13, according to the Orlando Sentinel.
Initially, it was thought that Madeline was last seen heading to school, according to Orange County Sheriff John Mina. Investigators believe Sterns never dropped her off and suspect he moved her body early in the morning on the day she disappeared.
If you or someone you know has experienced sexual abuse, text "STRENGTH" to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to talk to a certified crisis counselor. If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or visit www.childhelp.org. The hotline is available 24/7 in over 170 languages.
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