The body of 13-year-old Madeline Soto’s body was found around 4:30 p.m. on Friday in the woods off Hickory Tree Road near Pearl lake in St. Cloud.
Kissimmee Police Chief Betty Holland made this statement on Friday, “It is with a heavy heart I inform everyone that as we expected, Madeline Soto is deceased. I am thankful that she was found and for the coordinated efforts of the Kissimmee Police Department, Saint Cloud Police Department, Orange County Sheriff’s Office and the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office that are able to bring some closure to the family. This is a sad day for our community and we mourn the loss of such a young life.”
The girl was reported missing Monday after Stephan Sterns, the boyfriend of the teen’s mother, said he had dropped her off near her school, Hunter’s Creek Middle School. The sheriff’s office said Sterns was the last person to see the girl alive.
The sheriff said detectives determined she was never dropped off at school Monday morning.
“Instead, 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.”
At approximately 8:19 a.m., the sheriff reported that detectives discovered the missing girl’s backpack along with her school-issued laptop within a dumpster, marking a significant development in the investigation.
“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.”
Kissimmee Police Chief Betty Holland reported that on Monday, February 26th, between 1:00 p.m. and 2:30 p.m., Sterns was observed operating a 2010 Lincoln MKC, bearing the Florida license plate IYL-L82. This sighting occurred in the vicinity of State Road 192 at the intersection with Old Hickory Tree Road and further along Old Hickory Tree Road near Nolte Road.
“During this time frame, 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 noticed anything suspicious, we’re asking that they call Crimeline,” she said. The Crimeline number is 800-423-TIPS or 800-423-8477.
