Madeline Soto’s biological father says he was blindsided by her death, seeks closure

ORLANDO, Fla. — This weekend, Madeline Soto’s biological father visited the site where his daughter’s body was found in St. Cloud.

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9 Investigates Reporter Shannon Butler sat down with Tyler Wallace on Friday to talk about his daughter and her death.

Wallace did not put any restrictions on the questions, but he did want to talk about why he had no idea what his daughter was going through.

He also does not want other fathers to suffer the same regrets.

Read: Father of Madeline Soto joins community during honoring vigil

Tyler and Tatiana Wallace saw Madeline Soto in October 2023, and they had no idea it would be the last time.

The couple kept in touch, paid child support and gave a little extra for flute lessons.

But because they lived thousands of miles away from Madeline and finances were tight, they rarely saw her.

Read: ‘I miss her so much’: Madeline Soto’s biological father speaks out about death, disappearance

“We had her in October,” Tatiana Wallace said. “We had her in October, and I just wish she would have told me; I would have taken her away from that.”

It’s something that will haunt Wallace forever.

“I just wish I could’ve seen her more,” he said. “I wish I could have had her more and I struggle with that. I will always struggle with that.”

Wallace told Channel 9 that Stephan Sterns, Soto’s mother’s boyfriend, was in and out of her life for about five years.

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)

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)

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)

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)

Read: Madeline Soto timeline: Only Channel 9 speaks with Maddie Soto’s father

He didn’t know Sterns well, but had no reason to believe that he would soon be arrested, accused of sexual battery with dozens of graphic recordings on his phone.

And there are still questions about what happened and why.

" I don’t know yet, the whole story. And it’s painful to be in that state of waiting, waiting to understand how I feel. But the truth is, I don’t know how I feel yet. It’s hard. It’s flip-flopping and speculating, and that’s difficult. That takes a toll on you. And that’s why I’m just trying to grieve privately with my family and process this loss for us. And I do want support from the public. And but I don’t feel right sending mobs and pitchforks. I want to focus on Maddie and her loss and what I could have done better. Not as a guilting myself thing, but as helping other fathers who are struggling to have relationships with their children.”

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Wallace will continue to fight for answers and try to find a way to move on.

“It’s not fair; life isn’t fair,” he said. “You know, I love my little girl. We were patient. We were taking our time. By our belief, we were doing everything right. And it just happened like this. And there’s no ‘the rest of her life’...there’s no making up for it. There’s no improvement. It’s just done now.”

On Friday, Wallace said he was trying to get Maddie’s ashes to bring home.

His attorney did get those ashes from Jennifer Soto, and he and his family are heading back home.

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