Madeline Soto's Mom Allegedly Told Police Boyfriend Was 'Grooming and Abusing' Teen

Mar. 15, 2025

Madeline Soto.Photo:orange county/orange

orange county/orange

Madeline was reported missing from her Kissimmee, Fla., home on Feb. 26, prompting the arrest of Sterns on unrelated charges of possessing child sexual abuse material, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office said at the time. Her body was found in a wooded area on March 1.

In thesupplementalreport, authorities claim Jennifer said that Sterns’ alleged sexual abuse was not “evil,” though she acknowledged her daughter’s killing was “evil,” per theOrlando Sentinel,WESHand Click Orlando.

Stephan Sterns.Orange County jail

Orange County jail

The next morning, Sterns was captured on an unspecified video discarding items into a trashcan on the property where he lived with Jennifer and Madeline, Orange County Sheriff John Mina said, Click Orlando reports. Police later recovered Madeline’s backpack and laptop from the trashcan.

Madeline Soto missing poster.GoFundMe

GoFundMe

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Madelinedied from strangulation, a medical examiner later ruled, per FOX 35 Orlando,WESHand Click Orlando.

It wasn’t immediately clear if Sterns has entered a plea to the murder charge. He has pleaded not guilty to 60 counts of sexual abuse charges, per theOsceola News-Gazette. PEOPLE was not immediately able to reach his attorney.

If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual abuse, text “STRENGTH” to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor.

If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.

source: people.com