• Latest
  • Trending
  • All
  • News
  • Business
  • Lifestyle
The body of Madeline Soto, 13, who had been missing in Florida since Monday, was found Friday.

Body of Missing 13-Year-Old Found in Florida, Arrest Made Shockingly Close to Home

March 2, 2024
Senate GOP Slashes Spending In ‘Big, Beautiful’ Bill As Fiscal Hawks Push For More Cuts

Senate GOP Slashes Spending In ‘Big, Beautiful’ Bill As Fiscal Hawks Push For More Cuts

June 29, 2025
NORMAN R. SEIP And DANIEL CHRISTMAN: Fair Use Or Failure: The Future Of Us-Led AI

NORMAN R. SEIP And DANIEL CHRISTMAN: Fair Use Or Failure: The Future Of Us-Led AI

June 29, 2025
Dem Senator Can’t Bring Himself To Give Trump Any Credit For Record-Low Border Numbers

Dem Senator Can’t Bring Himself To Give Trump Any Credit For Record-Low Border Numbers

June 29, 2025
Thom Tillis Announces Retirement Hours After Trump Threatened To Field Primary Challenger

Thom Tillis Announces Retirement Hours After Trump Threatened To Field Primary Challenger

June 29, 2025
STEVE MILLOY: John Thune Needs To Do Something About Obama-Era Parliamentarian Kneecapping Trump’s Megabill

STEVE MILLOY: John Thune Needs To Do Something About Obama-Era Parliamentarian Kneecapping Trump’s Megabill

June 29, 2025
Dems’ NYC Socialist Nominee Ducks And Weaves When Asked To Condemn Term Calling For Killing Jews

Dems’ NYC Socialist Nominee Ducks And Weaves When Asked To Condemn Term Calling For Killing Jews

June 29, 2025
‘A Radical Left Lunatic’: Trump Has Warning For NYC If Dems’ Socialist Nominee Pulls Any Stunts

‘A Radical Left Lunatic’: Trump Has Warning For NYC If Dems’ Socialist Nominee Pulls Any Stunts

June 29, 2025
EXCLUSIVE: Ted Cruz Fears Attempt To Scrap Provision In Trump’s Megabill Would Hand ‘Gift’ To China

EXCLUSIVE: Ted Cruz Fears Attempt To Scrap Provision In Trump’s Megabill Would Hand ‘Gift’ To China

June 29, 2025
NPR Caught Straight Up Misquoting DOGE Staffer

NPR Caught Straight Up Misquoting DOGE Staffer

June 29, 2025
Two GOP Senators Vote ‘No’ As Trump’s Megabill Clears Critical Hurdle

Two GOP Senators Vote ‘No’ As Trump’s Megabill Clears Critical Hurdle

June 28, 2025
‘Outright Massacre’: Senate GOP Takes Sledgehammer To Biden’s Green Energy Subsidies

‘Outright Massacre’: Senate GOP Takes Sledgehammer To Biden’s Green Energy Subsidies

June 28, 2025
REP. KEITH SELF: Whose Fault Is The Fiscal Mess? Time To Reform Everything

REP. KEITH SELF: Whose Fault Is The Fiscal Mess? Time To Reform Everything

June 28, 2025
  • Donald Trump
  • State of the Union
  • Elon Musk
  • Tariffs
  • Congress
  • Faith
  • Immigration
Sunday, June 29, 2025
  • Login
IJR
  • Politics
  • US News
  • Commentary
  • World News
  • Faith
  • Latest Polls
No Result
View All Result
IJR
No Result
View All Result
Home News

Body of Missing 13-Year-Old Found in Florida, Arrest Made Shockingly Close to Home

by Western Journal
March 2, 2024 at 5:28 pm
in News
240 12
0
The body of Madeline Soto, 13, who had been missing in Florida since Monday, was found Friday.

The body of Madeline Soto, 13, who had been missing in Florida since Monday, was found Friday. (@ju3ticeforgabby / X screen shot)

491
SHARES
1.4k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

The body of Madeline Soto, 13, who had been missing since Monday, was found Friday.

“It is with a heavy heart I inform everyone that as we expected, Madeline Soto is deceased,” Kissimmee Police Chief Betty Holland said, according to the Orlando Sentinel.

“This is a sad day for our community and we mourn the loss of such a young life,” she said.

Hours before the girl’s body was found in a wooded area, police indicated that they believed she had been murdered, according to NBC.

“Madeline’s family has been notified. We have no additional information to release at this time. Kissimmee PD is the lead agency in this homicide investigation. That work continues,” the sheriff’s office said.

In loving memory #MadelineSoto 🩷 rest in paradise beautiful girl! pic.twitter.com/6q1Y0dcUJt

— Justy 🇺🇦 (@ju3ticeforgabby) March 2, 2024

Stephan Sterns, 37, who is Soto’s mother’s boyfriend, has been arrested on charges of sexual battery and possession of child sexual abuse material after what police called “disturbing images” and videos described as “criminal, and sexual in nature” were found on his phone, according to NBC.

Police said attempts had been made to delete items from the phone, according to CBS.

Police characterize Sterns as the “prime suspect” in Soto’s disappearance and death, according to NBC.

Stephan Sterns was transferred to the Osceola County jail this morning. He will be facing charges of sexual battery and possession of child sex abuse material. Stephan is the prime suspect in the disappearance of Madeline Soto. #AMBERAlert #missingchild pic.twitter.com/y6a20oCLnH

— Rose (@901Lulu) March 1, 2024

According to WKMG-TV, Sheriff John Mina said they do not believe Sterns told the truth when he said he dropped her off at school Monday.

“We believe she was already dead at the time and that Stephan Sterns moved her body in the early morning hours on that day,” Mina said.

According to the Orlando Sentinel, no one knew Soto was missing until her mother came to pick her up from school and learned she had never been there all day.

“We have video evidence that shows Stephan Sterns discarding items in a dumpster in that apartment complex in Kissimmee at 7:35 a.m.,” Mina said, according to WKMG.

The sheriff said detectives found Soto’s backpack and her school-issued laptop in a dumpster.

“We have evidence that shows Stephan Sterns returning to the complex and Madeline was visible in that vehicle. We believe she was already dead at that time,” he said.

“As a result of that, although the initial missing persons investigation started in Orange County, the Kissimmee Police Department will now be taking over the investigation and will become the lead agency,” he said.


This article appeared originally on The Western Journal.

Tags: crimeFloridamurder
Share196Tweet123
Western Journal

Western Journal

Advertisements

Top Stories June 10th
Top Stories June 7th
Top Stories June 6th
Top Stories June 3rd
Top Stories May 30th
Top Stories May 29th
Top Stories May 24th
Top Stories May 23rd
Top Stories May 21st
Top Stories May 17th

Join Over 6M Subscribers

We’re organizing an online community to elevate trusted voices on all sides so that you can be fully informed.





IJR

    Copyright © 2024 IJR

Trusted Voices On All Sides

  • About Us
  • GDPR Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
  • Editorial Standards & Corrections Policy
  • Subscribe to IJR

Follow Us

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • Politics
  • US News
  • Commentary
  • World News
  • Faith
  • Latest Polls

    Copyright © 2024 IJR

Top Stories June 10th Top Stories June 7th Top Stories June 6th Top Stories June 3rd Top Stories May 30th Top Stories May 29th Top Stories May 24th Top Stories May 23rd Top Stories May 21st Top Stories May 17th