Madeline Soto case: Records reveal new details about timeline Stephan Sterns gave detectives

Jason Kelly
·2 min read
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Channel 9 has obtained disturbing records that reveal new details about the investigation into the death of 13-year-old Madeline Soto.

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The documents reveal a timeline of events that her suspected killer, Stephan Sterns, gave law enforcement Feb. 27, the day after the girl’s mother reported her missing.

“We woke up around 7 -- 7:15 -- somewhere around there, which is an early start for us,” Sterns said during an interview with detectives. “But we had talked about getting McDonald’s breakfast beforehand, so we want to make good time. We did make good time. We got out the door maybe 7:30 -- 7:45 maybe. Got over to that area. She was asleep in the car most of the time, just snoozing until we got there.”

Photos: Madeline Soto

The Orange County Sheriff’s Office said Friday evening that Madeline Soto’s body has been found. Investigators said Osceola County deputies found the missing 13-year-old girl’s body at about 4:30 p.m. in a wooded area along Hickory Tree Road.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Office said Friday evening that Madeline Soto’s body has been found. Investigators said Osceola County deputies found the missing 13-year-old girl’s body at about 4:30 p.m. in a wooded area along Hickory Tree Road.
Detectives believe Stephan Sterns killed 13-year-old Madeline Soto on Monday morning at a Kissimmee apartment complex.
Detectives believe Stephan Sterns killed 13-year-old Madeline Soto on Monday morning at a Kissimmee apartment complex.
Investigators discovered the body of 13-year-old Madeline Soto on Friday afternoon.
Investigators discovered the body of 13-year-old Madeline Soto on Friday afternoon.
Investigators discovered the body of 13-year-old Madeline Soto on Friday afternoon.
Investigators discovered the body of 13-year-old Madeline Soto on Friday afternoon.
Investigators discovered the body of 13-year-old Madeline Soto on Friday afternoon.
Investigators discovered the body of 13-year-old Madeline Soto on Friday afternoon.
Sources say that Maddie’s body was found in rural St. Cloud near Hickory Tree Road.
Sources say that Maddie’s body was found in rural St. Cloud near Hickory Tree Road.
Police and deputies canvassed the area of Osceola County for 13-year-old Madeline Soto.
Police and deputies canvassed the area of Osceola County for 13-year-old Madeline Soto.
The Kissimmee Police Department will handle the search for Madeline Soto, said Chief Betty Holland.
The Kissimmee Police Department will handle the search for Madeline Soto, said Chief Betty Holland.
The sheriff said the efforts will now shift to recovering her body.
The sheriff said the efforts will now shift to recovering her body.
Sheriff John Mina said he is confident that she is dead, and recovery efforts will continue.
Sheriff John Mina said he is confident that she is dead, and recovery efforts will continue.
Members of the community will gather to pray for 13-year-old Madeline Soto.
Members of the community will gather to pray for 13-year-old Madeline Soto.
Deputies in Orange County said 13-year-old Madeline Soto has been missing since Monday morning. And now, her mother’s boyfriend is in jail on charges of sexual battery and possession of child sex abuse material. Stephan Sterns was supposed to go before an Orange County judge Thursday morning but refused to be in court.
Deputies in Orange County said 13-year-old Madeline Soto has been missing since Monday morning. And now, her mother’s boyfriend is in jail on charges of sexual battery and possession of child sex abuse material. Stephan Sterns was supposed to go before an Orange County judge Thursday morning but refused to be in court.
More than 50 members of the Orange County Emergency Response Team looked for the 13-year-old in various areas as our detectives continued their investigation.
More than 50 members of the Orange County Emergency Response Team looked for the 13-year-old in various areas as our detectives continued their investigation.
More than 50 members of the Orange County Emergency Response Team looked for the 13-year-old in various areas as our detectives continued their investigation.
More than 50 members of the Orange County Emergency Response Team looked for the 13-year-old in various areas as our detectives continued their investigation.
Madeline Soto
Madeline Soto
Madeline Soto
Madeline Soto
Madeline Soto
Madeline Soto
Madeline Soto
Madeline Soto
Madeline Soto
Madeline Soto
Madeline Soto
Madeline Soto
Madeline Soto
Madeline Soto
Madeline Soto
Madeline Soto
Madeline Soto
Madeline Soto
The Orange County Sheriff’s Office on Friday confirmed that the body of Madeline Soto, 13, has been located.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Office on Friday confirmed that the body of Madeline Soto, 13, has been located.

Sterns later said Soto changed her mind and did not want the breakfast, so they went to school.

Jenn Soto, Madeline Soto’s mother, told investigators that she saw her daughter getting ready for school Feb. 26, the day she vanished.

During the interview, Sterns never mentioned what Jenn Soto knew about the morning her daughter was last seen.

He was calm, but could not always give a straight answer to investigators’ questions.

Read: Stephan Sterns charged with 1st-degree murder in Madeline Soto’s death

Later in the interview, Sterns said Madeline Soto decided against ordering breakfast, and he dropped her off at a church near her school -- along with her backpack and laptop -- because she was embarrassed by his car.

Detectives later learned that Sterns was recorded on video tossing the girl’s backpack and laptop in a dumpster at 7:30 a.m. Feb. 26.

Detectives already knew that Madeline Soto was dead.

Video showed the girl slumped over in the front seat of Sterns’ car.

Read: ‘I miss her so much’: Madeline Soto’s biological father speaks out about death, disappearance

Sterns willingly gave investigators his cellphone but claimed he accidentally completed a factory reset of the phone while installing an update shortly before he claimed he drove her to school.

The reset erased all calls, mapping information and videos from his electronics.

“I don’t know where my head was,” he told investigators. “Yesterday was so far up my backside.”

There remains a huge gap in the timeline Sterns gave detectives -- particularly between the hours of 8:30 p.m. Feb. 25 and 7:30 a.m. Feb 26.

Read: Madeline Soto case: Stephan Sterns faces 60 new charges

Much of that information has not yet been made public, but it did help prosecutors files murder charges against Sterns.

Channel 9 received new information about how Sterns spent his time with the girl and her mother as well as their sleeping arrangements.

Watch Channel 9 Eyewitness News, beginning at 4 p.m., to learn what else the documents reveal.

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