LIVE: Stephan Sterns, prime suspect in Madeline Soto case, due in court
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — The prime suspect in the death and disappearance of 13-year-old Madeline Soto is set to make his first court appearance Wednesday in Osceola County.
Stephan Sterns, who lived with and dated Madeline’s mother, is charged with 60 child sex crimes after investigators said they found evidence Sterns sexually abused Madeline dating back to 2019 when she was 8 years old.
Related video: 911 calls released in Madeline Soto’s death
Kissimmee police said “disturbing” images and video discovered on his phone led to the charges, including sexual battery of a child, lewd and lascivious molestation, and possession of child sexual abuse material.
Sexual battery of a child is a capital felony, meaning Sterns faces life in prison or the death penalty if found guilty.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Office said Madeline Soto was last seen alive on Feb. 26. That day, Sterns was supposed to drop Madeline off at school but was caught on camera throwing items into a dumpster around 7:35 a.m. Madeline’s backpack and school laptop were later found in that dumpster.
Sterns was again seen at 8:19 a.m. returning to his apartment complex with Madeline in the car, according to the sheriff’s office. Officials believe Madeline was already dead at that time.
Madeline’s body was found in the woods off Old Hickory Tree Road in Osceola County, an area officials say Sterns was spotted in on the afternoon of Feb. 26.
Sterns, who has not been charged with Madeline’s murder, waived his arraignment that was scheduled on April 2, according to Osceola County court records. A jury trial has been set for May 13.
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