New documents reveal the cause of death of Madeline Soto and the timeline of events

KISSIMMEE, Fla. (WWSB) – An 80-page Kissimmee Police Department document obtained by ABC7 reveals new details from the time of Madeline Soto's disappearance in February to April, when Stephen Sterns was charged with first-degree premeditated murder.

The 13-year-old girl was reported missing by her mother on February 26 after she failed to show up for school. Four days later, on March 1, officials found her body in a wooded area.

Recently released documents detail that when investigators discovered the body, they found that the bottoms of Madeline's socks were clean, suggesting she hadn't gone anywhere. The medical examiner also immediately noted that the right portion of Madeline's hyoid bone “was not intact, which may be related to her being strangled.” Madeline's death was later officially ruled a homicide by strangulation.

Madeline's mother's boyfriend, 37-year-old Stephan Sterns, was the last person to confirm seeing Madeline before she was reported missing. Sterns was supposed to drop Madeline off at school that morning, but staff at Hunter's Creek Middle School in Orlando said she never arrived.

Investigators determined that Sterns never dropped Madeline off that morning. Video shows Sterns returning to the apartment complex with Madeline in the car next to him. Investigators believe she was already dead by that point.

In an interview with Sterns, he gave his consent to have his phone searched, but he stated that he accidentally performed a factory reset on his phone on February 26, the day Soto disappeared.

Additional details from Kissimmee police show that Sterns drove to his parents' home in North Port the day after Soto disappeared, which investigators believe was an attempt to hide evidence.

During the course of the investigation, investigators discovered “disturbing” images on Stern's cell phone. Examination of his phone also uncovered attempts to delete evidence.

After Sterns was arrested, his father contacted North Port police and said he wanted to turn over one of Sterns' old computer towers that he found while cleaning out Stern's old room. His father was concerned that the computer tower might contain additional videos and photos of illicit sexual acts involving minors.

Investigators later also found evidence that Sterns had allegedly sexually abused Madeline since 2022, when she was just 11 years old, according to an affidavit released in early March.

The newly released documents revealed that Madeline's mother, Jennifer Soto, admitted to letting Sterns and Madeline sleep in the same bed at the family home the night before her death. However, Jennifer told investigators she never felt comfortable with Madeline sleeping at Sterns' and it was “a selfish move because she wanted to get a good night's sleep.”

Jennifer told investigators she and Sterns recently ended their relationship because “he was a chaotic person.” She described Sterns as a “master liar” and “master manipulator” and said she wanted to believe he had nothing to do with her disappearance.

The day Madeline's body was found, investigators told her mother that the investigation had moved from a missing person case to a homicide case, at which point she “became quiet for a few moments and started crying.”

Investigators later asked Madeline's mother if she thought Sterns was guilty. She said, “At this point, I think so,” after being shown a photo of Madeline slumped over in Sterns' vehicle.

Sterns is currently in custody at the Osceola County Jail and is charged with first-degree murder, sexual assault, sexual battery and possession of child sexual abuse material.

His charges include:

• Intentional murder
• 8 cases of sexual abuse of a child under 12 years of age
• 5 cases of sexual abuse of a child between 12 and 18 years of age
• 7 cases of lewd and lascivious harassment
• 40 counts of illegal possession of materials depicting sexual acts involving a child 10 or more images

Sterns faces life in prison or the death penalty if found guilty of first-degree murder or sexual abuse of a child.

His next court date has been set for October 14.

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