Madeline Soto’s cause of death won’t be released, medical examiner’s office says
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Madeline Soto’s cause of death will not be released, according to the District 9 Medical Examiner’s Office.
The 13-year-old girl was reported missing by her mother on Feb. 26 after she didn’t show up to school. Her body was found in a wooded area off Hickory Tree Road by deputies in Osceola County on March 1.
The medical examiner’s office told NBC affiliate WESH that Soto’s autopsy will not be released because she was a minor whose death was related to an act of domestic violence and is therefore confidential and exempt from release.
Stephan Sterns, 37, the boyfriend of Soto’s mother, was the last person to have seen the 13-year-old alive. He told detectives that he dropped Soto off at school but authorities later learned that she never made it and was already dead.
Kissimmee police officers arrested Sterns after they said they found disturbing pictures and videos on his phone depicting the sexual abuse of a child. He faces 60 charges.
On Thursday, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office released three 911 calls related to Soto’s disappearance.
“She was dropped off at school this morning and apparently she never showed up,” the caller said. “We called everyone we knew. No one’s seen her.”
In another 911 call, the caller questions the sheriff’s office’s response time.
“I called not that long ago reporting a missing child. I just wanted to know how long the cops are going to take to get here,” the caller said. “She’s been missing since 8 a.m., so we want to get everything done as soon as possible to try to find her.”
“We have a missing child since this morning. We already called three times and the police didn’t show up yet,” another caller said.
A dispatcher told the caller they were waiting for a deputy to respond and could not provide an estimated arrival time.
“How long would we need to wait? It’s a child missing,” the caller asked.
“I understand that ma’am, but I’m just not able to give out ETA, I don’t know when they’ll be there,” the dispatcher told the caller.
“So how long do we need to wait? This is an emergency,” the caller said.
“Ma’am, we have the information but they’re trying to get there as soon as possible,” the dispatcher replied.
“So this is not important for you guys? Really?” the caller asked.
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“Ma’am, we’re very busy (…) I understand they’ll be there as soon as they can, OK?” the dispatcher said.
Orange County Sheriff John Mina said in a news conference on March 1 that investigators were confident that Sotot was already dead and they believed she had been killed at her Kissimmee home before Sterns moved her body.
“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,” Mina said.
So far, no one has been charged in Soto’s disappearance and death. Sterns is considered the main suspect but investigators said he is not cooperating with them.
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