CRIME
Florida Girl Still Missing After Mother’s Boyfriend Arrested For Sexual Battery
Orange County Sheriff's Office
As the search continues for a 13-year-old Florida girl missing since Monday, her mother’s boyfriend has been arrested on separate charges of possession of child sexual abuse material and is considered the prime suspect in her disappearance, authorities said.
Madeline Soto has been missing since she failed to arrive at school on Monday morning, a day after she turned 13. Her mother’s boyfriend, Stephan Sterns, was the last person to see her, according to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office.
Sterns dropped Soto off in the parking lot of Peace United Methodist Church, a few blocks away from Hunters Creek Middle School in Orlando at around 8:30 a.m. on Monday. When her mother arrived at the school that afternoon to pick her up, school officials told her Soto never arrived.
Deputies searched the surrounding areas over the next two days, but found no sign of Soto.
During the course of their investigation, detectives examining Sterns’ phone discovered images and videos that were criminal, and sexual in nature. A forensic review of the phone’s data also revealed attempts to delete evidence, the sheriff’s office said.
Detectives did not say whether the material depicted Soto, but confirmed the images and videos recorded crimes committed at the family home in nearby Kissimmee.
Orange County Sheriff John Mina described the images as “disturbing during a press conference on Wednesday.
The sheriff’s office contacted the Kissimmee Police Department, which arrested Sterns Wednesday for sexual battery and possession of child sexual abuse material. Kissimmee police are taking the lead on the sexual battery investigation, while the sheriff’s office continues to investigate Soto’s disappearance.
The sheriff’s office said Sterns is considered the prime suspect in Soto’s disappearance.
“Stephan Sterns had an opportunity tonight to come clean with detectives and help lead them to information about Maddies disappearance,” Mina said in a statement. “Her loved ones deserve answers and OCSO and the Kissimmee Police will not stop until we find Maddie.”
Madeline Soto is described as blonde with blue eyes, standing 5 feet, 1 inch tall, and weighing 110 pounds. She was last seen wearing a green sweatshirt, black shorts and white Crocs.
Authorities are asking anyone with information about the case or Soto’s whereabouts to come forward or submit an anonymous tip.
TMX contributed to this article.
