An official jury has accused Stephan Sterns of committing the most serious form of murder in the killing of 13-year-old Madeline Soto, almost two months after her body was discovered in a forested area of Osceola County.
The indictment claims that Sterns murdered Soto between February 25 and February 27, but no other information about the death was made public. WOFL stated.The office responsible for examining the causes of death said that the law prevents them from making public the report on the examination of a minor who passed away due to domestic violence.
State Attorney Andrew Bain mentioned that his department had not yet chosen whether to pursue the death penalty for Sterns.
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“We’ve got to look at accessory aggravating factors that are laid out in our report,” he said, according to WKMG. The prosecutors have chosen not to confirm whether anyone else will be charged in connection with the case.Sterns, 37, is the boyfriend of Soto’s mother, Jennifer Soto, and was the prime suspect in the girl’s death. Soto was last seen on February 26, and Stearns claimed he dropped her off near her school that morning, as CrimeOnline reported. But investigators later said they believed she was already dead at that time.
Soto was reportedly observed getting rid of a child’s belongings in a dumpster on the morning of Soto’s disappearance. Authorities apparently found a laptop and backpack in the dumpster.
Soto’s body was discovered on March 1 in a wooded area in Osceola County. Stearns was said to have been in the area changing a tire days prior.
Sterns also faces eight charges of sexual assault on a child under 12, five charges of sexual assault of a child 12-18 (in a familial or custodial position), seven charges of indecent or immoral touching, and 40 charges of illegal possession of materials depicting sexual performance by a child 10 or older.
[Featured image: Madeline Soto/Orange County Sheriff’s Office]
An grand jury has indicted Stephan Sterns with first-degree murder in the death of 13-year-old Madeline Soto, nearly two months after her body was found in a wooded area of Osceola County. The indictment alleges that Sterns killed Soto between February 25 and February 27, but no other details about the death were released, WOFL …
[Featured image: Madeline Soto/Orange County Sheriff’s Office]