Madeline Soto, age 13, was reported missing on February 26, 2024, after her mother's live-in boyfriend Stephan Sterns claimed to have dropped her off near Hunter's Creek Middle School. Investigation revealed Sterns never dropped her off; video evidence showed him discarding her backpack and school laptop in a dumpster at approximately 7:35 a.m. and returning to the apartment complex with her body still in his vehicle. Investigators believe she was already dead at that point. Her body was found on March 1, 2024, in a wooded area along Hickory Tree Road in Kissimmee, Osceola County. The medical examiner determined the cause of death was strangulation, with autopsy findings including a fractured hyoid bone and scalp abrasion/contusion. A search of Sterns' phone uncovered extensive evidence of sexual abuse dating back to August 2022, when Madeline was 11 years old. Sterns was ultimately charged with first degree murder and over 60 additional counts of sexual battery, molestation, and possession of child sexual abuse material.
Contexts/Conditions
Is there any mention of child drug ingestion or overdose?
Is there any mention of a drowning incident (either intentional or accidental)?
Is there any mention of a firearm incident?
Is there any mention of inappropriate supervision (e.g., child wandered off and drowned)?
The fatality report states the DCF investigation was closed with "Verified Findings of...Inadequate Supervision as to Madeline, with Stephan Sterns as the caregiver responsible." This is an official verified finding of inadequate supervision.
Is there any mention of inflicted injury? (e.g. slapped, punched, kicked, choked)
The fatality report lists the cause of death as "Strangulation" and autopsy findings include "Fracture of right hyoid bone with local soft tissue hemorrhage" and "Right temporal scalp superficial abrasion and contusion." These are inflicted injuries consistent with choking/strangulation and blunt force. The manner of death was ruled homicide.
Is there any mention of malnutrition, starvation, or dehydration?
Is there any mention of medical neglect?
Is there any mention of a motor vehicle crash or incident?
Is there any mention of a murder-suicide incident?
Is there any mention of outdoor elements (including hot car deaths)?
Is there any mention of prenatal substance exposure (including fetal alcohol syndrome or neonatal abstinence syndrome)?
Is there any mention of sexual abuse?
The fatality report extensively documents sexual abuse. It states that upon reviewing Stephan Sterns' phone, "several images and videos were located which depicted Madeline with her breasts and genitals as focal points of the pictures/videos. There were also pictures and videos depicting Madeline being the victim of sexual battery(ies)." The autopsy found "Subacute and remote anal blunt trauma." The DCF investigation was closed with "Verified Findings of...Sexual Abuse-Sexual Battery, Sexual Abuse-Sexual Molestation...as to Madeline, with Stephan Sterns as the caregiver responsible." Sixty additional charges were filed including eight counts of Sexual Battery on a Child Under 12, five counts of Sexual Battery with a Child 12-18, and seven counts of Lewd and Lascivious Molestation. Multiple news articles (WESH, NY Post, Fox 35) corroborate that the abuse dated back to August 2022 when Madeline was 11 years old.
Is there any specific mention of shaken baby or abusive head trauma?
Is there any mention of prolonged abuse or torture (including restraints, captivity)?
Multiple sources document that Stephan Sterns sexually abused Madeline over a period of nearly two years beginning in August 2022 when she was 11 years old. The WESH article states "Sterns was abusing Madeline for nearly two years." The autopsy finding of "Subacute and remote anal blunt trauma" indicates ongoing physical sexual abuse. The 60 additional charges filed include eight counts of Sexual Battery on a Child Under 12 and multiple other counts spanning different periods. This prolonged pattern of deliberate sexual abuse by a custodial figure constitutes depraved behavior over an extended period.
Is there any mention of an unsafe sleeping environment?
Individuals Involved
Was an adoptive parent or guardian involved in the death?
Was a biological father involved in the death?
Was a biological mother involved in the death?
Was a day care worker, babysitter, or nanny involved in the death?
Was a female paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., girlfriend, stepmother)?
Was a foster parent involved in the death?
Was a male paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., boyfriend, stepfather)?
The fatality report identifies Stephan Sterns as the mother's "Paramour" in the family composition chart. It states "On April 24, 2024, Stephan Sterns was additionally charged with First Degree Murder." The report also clarifies that Sterns is "actually the mother's paramour, and not her spouse." Multiple news articles corroborate that Sterns was the boyfriend of Madeline's mother, was the last person to see her alive, and is identified as the prime suspect.
Was another adult relative involved in the death? (e.g., grandfather, aunt)
Was a sibling involved in the death?
Child Characteristics
Was the child adopted?
Was the child homeschooled (including "cyberschooling") or taken out of school?
Was the child in foster care at the time of the incident?
Was the child living with relatives at the time of the incident (but not parents)?
Is there any mention of a neurological developmental child disability? (e.g., autism, intellectual disability, nonverbal)
Is there any mention of a physical child disability? (e.g., feeding tube)
Is there any mention of prematurity or low birthweight?
Is there a history of child protection reports prior to death (for this child or siblings)?
Does the child have a history of foster care (but not in care at time of incident)?
Is there a history of a sibling death (separate incident from this death)?
Parent/Caregiver Factors
Was an adult charged or arrested for the child's death?
The fatality report states: "On April 24, 2024, Stephan Sterns was additionally charged with First Degree Murder." He was initially arrested on February 28, 2024, on sexual battery and child sexual abuse material charges, and the murder charge followed.
Is domestic violence by the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is there any mention that the death occurred in a temporary shelter or while homeless?
Is an intellectual disability of the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is the mental health of the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is a history of arrests or criminal charges for the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is substance use by the parent/caregiver referenced?
Notable Details
Several notable details not addressed by preceding questions emerge from the documents. First, the Fox 35 article reports that an investigative photo — possibly of Madeline Soto's body — was accidentally posted to Osceola County Sheriff Marco Lopez's social media account, prompting State Attorney Andrew Bain to request an FDLE investigation into the incident. Second, the WFTV article reports that "the story Jennifer Soto gave to law enforcement did not line up with what investigators know" — specifically, she initially said her last conversation with Madeline was the night before her disappearance, but records show she told deputies she saw her daughter the morning of the disappearance. Third, the fatality report confirms "The family does not have any prior abuse report history," meaning the nearly two years of sexual abuse went entirely undetected by child protective services, and no prior reports were ever filed despite the abuse occurring in a shared household. Finally, Sterns claimed to have "accidentally" performed a factory reset on his phone the same day Madeline disappeared, which investigators were nonetheless able to partially recover data from.
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