Body-worn footage shows Stephan Sterns led deputies in wrong direction of Madeline Soto’s body New emerging details come to light that surrounds the death investigation of 13-year-old Madeline Soto. (WFTV)
In new body camera footage recorded 24 hours after the teen was reported missing, detectives spoke with the teen’s mother and accused killer Stephan Sterns.
In a 30 minute recorded audio clip, detectives speak with Jennifer Soto about what happened to her daughter and the conversations she had with her boyfriend Sterns after he told her he dropped the teen off at a church by the school.
On Feb. 27, a detective spoke with Soto about where her daughter’s phone was after she told detectives the teen left the phone at home.
Detective: Did you guys take the phone anywhere other than when Detective Hunt took the phone?
Jennifer: I think it’s been home all day. I don’t think I left the house with it.
Detective: Did Stephan have access to the phone?
Jennifer: I’m sorry I took my medicine, so I feel a little spacey.
Jennifer Soto, Stephan Sterns speak to Channel 9 about Madeline Soto's disappearance Jennifer Soto and Stephan Sterns spoke to Channel 9 on Tuesday about Madeline Soto's disappearance. (WFTV)
Sources tell Eyewitness News the teen’s mother will not be charged because she has done nothing criminal.
In the body-worn camera footage from the Orange County Sheriff’s office, Sterns is seen telling deputies he dropped Maddie off at the church near her school in Hunter’s Creek.
Based on the evidence in the investigation, we now know she was never at the location, but you even see him in the footage guiding deputies around before they used a K-9 to help sniff out her location.
“Somewhere around here. Maybe not this [apartment complex] one, but the next one. Possibly it was right in this stretch,” said Sterns.
The next day, on February 28th, Sterns spoke to detectives again. This time, they asked him to go over his story of where he was, where he dropped her off, and what times.
In the audio, the detective points out his inconsistencies, knowing he was not telling them the whole truth.
Deputy: let’s just, say you drop her off at 8:40. We don’t see your car come back south until 10:00 o’clock in the morning, so what are you doing between 8:40 and 10:00?
Sterns: Cruising around a little bit.
Deputy: okay, but I asked you earlier, you know, like what you were doing, and you said you were there for [like] 5 or 10 minutes, and then you came back home.
The same night, Sterns told detectives about changing his flat tire on 192 and hurting himself in the process. Detectives also went into further details about his messages with Maddie and late-night Facetime calls with the teen.
After the discovery, Kissimmee Police arrested Sterns on the 28th. He is now facing 60 charges, including Capital Sexual Battery, Lewd or Lascivious Molestation, and Unlawful Possession of Materials Depicting Sexual Performance by a Child. He has been in jail on no bond since his arrest.
Madeline’s body was discovered in a semi-wooded area in St Cloud.
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Madeline Soto: Search for missing girl enters 5th day in Orange County
Madeline Soto: Missing Kissimmee girl's body found in rural Osceola County 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. (WFTV/WFTV)
Stephan Sterns & Madeline Soto Detectives believe Stephan Sterns killed 13-year-old Madeline Soto on Monday morning at a Kissimmee apartment complex. (WFTV)
Search for Madeline Soto Investigators discovered the body of 13-year-old Madeline Soto on Friday afternoon. (WFTV)
Search for Madeline Soto Investigators discovered the body of 13-year-old Madeline Soto on Friday afternoon. (WFTV)
Search for Madeline Soto Investigators discovered the body of 13-year-old Madeline Soto on Friday afternoon. (WFTV)
Video Sources: Madeline Soto’s body discovered in rural Osceola County Sources say that Maddie’s body was found in rural St. Cloud near Hickory Tree Road. (Chantelle Navarro /Chantelle Navarro)
Law enforcement join the search for Madeline Soto Police and deputies canvassed the area of Osceola County for 13-year-old Madeline Soto. (Nick Papantonis/Nick Papantonis)
Kissimmee Police Department will take over Madeline Soto investigation The Kissimmee Police Department will handle the search for Madeline Soto, said Chief Betty Holland. (Nick Papantonis/Nick Papantonis)
Orange County Sheriff John Mina gives update on Madeline Soto The sheriff said the efforts will now shift to recovering her body. (Orange County Sheriff's Office /Orange County Sheriff's Office)
Orange County Sheriff's Office gave an update for Madeline Soto Sheriff John Mina said he is confident that she is dead, and recovery efforts will continue. (Nick Papantonis/Nick Papantonis)
Suspect in girl’s disappearance taken to Osceola County Jail
Madeline Soto: Community to hold prayer vigil tonight Members of the community will gather to pray for 13-year-old Madeline Soto. (Unity & Fire Church International/Unity & Fire Church International)
Stephan Sterns & 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. (OCSO)
Search continues for missing girl, Madeline Soto, as her mother’s boyfriend refuses to face judge
Law enforcement join the search for Madeline Soto 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. (Orange County Sheriff's Office /Orange County Sheriff's Office)
Law enforcement join the search for Madeline Soto 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. (Orange County Sheriff's Office /Orange County Sheriff's Office)
Orange County deputies search for missing 13-year-old girl Madeline Soto (Jennifer Soto /Jennifer Soto)
Large search party gathers Wednesday to look for missing 13-year-old girl in Orange County
Orange County deputies search for missing 13-year-old girl Madeline Soto (Jennifer Soto /Jennifer Soto)
Orange County deputies search for missing 13-year-old girl Madeline Soto (Jennifer Soto /Jennifer Soto)
Orange County deputies search for missing 13-year-old girl Madeline Soto (Jennifer Soto /Jennifer Soto)
Orange County deputies search for missing 13-year-old girl Madeline Soto (Jennifer Soto /Jennifer Soto)
Orange County deputies search for missing 13-year-old girl Madeline Soto (Jennifer Soto /Jennifer Soto)
Orange County deputies search for missing 13-year-old girl Madeline Soto (Jennifer Soto /Jennifer Soto)
Orange County deputies search for missing 13-year-old girl Madeline Soto (Jennifer Soto /Jennifer Soto)
Orange County deputies search for missing 13-year-old girl Madeline Soto (Jennifer Soto /Jennifer Soto)
Madeline Soto The Orange County Sheriff’s Office on Friday confirmed that the body of Madeline Soto, 13, has been located. (Orange County Sheriff's Office/Orange County Sheriff's Office)
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