Related video: 911 calls released in Madeline Soto’s death
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — The prime suspect in the death and disappearance of 13-year-old Madeline Soto is set to make his first court appearance Wednesday in Osceola County.
Stephen Sterns, who lived with and dated Madeline’s mother, is charged with 60 child sex crimes after investigators said they found evidence Sterns sexually abused Madeline dating back to 2019 when she was 8 years old.
Kissimmee police said “disturbing” images and video discovered on his phone led to the charges, including sexual battery of a child, lewd and lascivious molestation, and possession of child sexual abuse material.
Sexual battery of a child is a capital felony, meaning Sterns faces life in prison or the death penalty if found guilty.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Office said Madeline Soto was last seen alive on Feb. 26. That day, Sterns was supposed to drop Madeline off at school but was caught on camera throwing items into a dumpster around 7:35 a.m. Madeline’s backpack and school laptop were later found in that dumpster.
Sterns was again seen at 8:19 a.m. returning to his apartment complex with Madeline in the car,
