OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. – Over two months after the body of missing Florida 13-year-old Madeline Soto was officially recovered, there are still plenty of questions regarding her death.
As the investigation continues, below is a timeline of events stemming back to her initial disappearance.
FEBRUARY 26
Madeline Soto was reported missing around 8 p.m. after Stephan Sterns — her mother’s boyfriend — reportedly dropped her off near Hunter’s Creek Middle School.
Soto’s mother went to the school around 4:30 p.m. to pick her up, but she was told that Soto had never come to school that day, according to investigators. In addition, Soto’s phone was left at home.
FEBRUARY 27
The Orange County Sheriff’s Office issued a release to the public about Soto’s disappearance, asking for information about her whereabouts.
In an interview with investigators, Sterns was asked about where exactly he dropped Soto off and where he went afterward. Throughout the conversation, detectives questioned some of Sterns’ answers, which seemingly prompted Sterns to change his story.
FEBRUARY 28
A massive search was conducted by the sheriff’s office.
Orange County Sheriff John Mina said that deputies accessed Soto’s phone, finding information that indicated she wanted to live in the woods when she turned 13 years old on Feb. 22.
He also said that deputies searched the area where she was last seen, areas where they’d received tips, and any areas where their investigative leads took them. Ultimately, the search came up empty.
Meanwhile, Sterns and Soto’s mother drove to a hotel in Orange County ahead of a news conference the next day.
But at some point in the night, Sterns drove to North Port for “unknown reasons,” an investigative report reveals. Deputies said Sterns’ parents lived in that area.
FEBRUARY 29
The sheriff’s office announced that Sterns was arrested as the prime suspect in Soto’s disappearance.
In a release, investigators said that detectives discovered “disturbing images” when they searched Sterns’ phone, and a review of the device’s data showed that someone had tried to delete the evidence ahead of time.
The images and videos on his phone were “criminal and sexual in nature,” and detectives were able to pinpoint those crimes to the family’s home in Kissimmee, the release shows.
As a result, Sterns was arrested and held on no bond. He was charged with sexual battery and possession of child sexual abuse materials.
During another interview with detectives, Sterns discussed his relationship with Soto’s mother and their sleeping arrangements at home.
According to investigative reports, Sterns said he typically shared a bed with Soto and her mother, claiming a person — whose name was redacted — always needed human contact when going to sleep.
It was also normal for Sterns to share a bed with Soto alone, Soto’s mother later told detectives.
According to the affidavit for Sterns’ arrest, Sterns told detectives he had dropped Soto off in front of Peace United Methodist Preschool at 8:40 a.m. on Feb. 26, despite the middle school being farther down the street and starting classes at 9:30 a.m.
Detectives said this appeared unusual, and while a license plate reader captured Sterns’ vehicle at some point, the details about where and when this happened were redacted from the report.
In addition, the affidavit shows that Sterns told detectives he had “accidentally” performed a factory reset on his phone on Feb. 26, though investigators were still able to discover images on the device and a Google Drive that depicted child pornography.
Investigators added that they found a photo on Sterns’ phone showing a roommate of Soto’s mother nude in the bathroom. The roommate said she hadn’t given Sterns permission to take that photo.
MARCH 1
During a news conference, Mina said investigators were “confident” that Soto was already dead, having been killed at her Kissimmee home before Sterns moved her body.
According to Mina, there was video evidence showing Sterns throwing items into a dumpster at the Kissimmee apartment complex around 7:35 a.m. on Feb. 26 — the day she was reported as missing.
The sheriff’s office later said that it found Soto’s backpack and her school-issued laptop in a dumpster.
While Sterns had reportedly dropped Soto off near school that day, Mina explained that wasn’t the case, and Sterns was instead spotted driving a vehicle with Soto’s body inside.
“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,” Mina said.
In fact, investigative reports show Soto was most likely killed at her home in Kissimmee.
After another long search, Orange County deputies finally recovered Soto’s body from a wooded area off Hickory Tree Road in Osceola County.
That night, a vigil was held in Soto’s memory near her middle school.
MARCH 2
Sterns waived his first appearance in the Osceola County court, instead being represented solely by his attorney.
The judge granted Sterns no bond.
Aside from that, the Instagram account for Osceola County Sheriff Marcos Lopez posted a confidential crime scene photo, which the agency later told News 6 had been “accidentally” shared with the public.
The clothes seen in the photo are consistent with the outfit Soto was believed to be wearing when she was reported missing on Feb. 26.
A caption below the picture read, “Great day with our seniors,” followed by an emoji of a smiley face with a halo.
“Earlier today a post was made on social media about a community event for seniors,” an unnamed Osceola County spokesperson said in an email to News 6. “In the post, an investigative photo was accidentally included. The photo was immediately removed. We deeply apologize for any confusion or disturbance this may have caused. As with any investigation, the information obtained is confidential and any mistaken disclosures will be immediately rectified.”
Former Osceola County Sheriff Russ Gibson, who is running against Lopez in the 2024 election, said the photograph indeed showed Soto’s body.
Osceola County sheriff’s officials did not dispute that the photo stemmed from the girl’s investigation.
On the same day, Nirva Rodriguez — the executive director of the sheriff’s office — shared another photograph on her personal Facebook account that showed her posing with Sterns as he was walking out of a door at the county jail on Friday morning.
“If God’s love has been poured out over your life, don’t allow evil to keep you away from what He has prepared for you,” a caption above the photo of Sterns and Rodriguez stated.
MARCH 5
The State Attorney’s Office told News 6 that it had asked the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to investigate the released crime scene photo.
MARCH 6
Kissimmee police announced they were continuing to investigate Soto’s death.
Released court records show that Sterns is accused of sexually abusing Soto for years. Despite Sterns’ attempts to wipe his phone, investigators were able to recover files showing the sexual abuse, which stemmed back as far as 2022, an arrest warrant affidavit says.
“Upon reviewing the contents of Stephan’s phone, several images and videos were located, which depicted the missing juvenile,” the affidavit reads.
Kissimmee police released a statement that reads as follows:
“Our detectives and forensic unit are working tirelessly to uncover the truth behind this heartbreaking incident. At this time, we are unable to release any further information, as this remains an active investigation.”
Kissimmee Police Department
Detectives spoke with Sterns’ parents, learning they disapproved of his relationship with Soto’s mother.
“(Sterns’ mother) stated they didn’t approve of them being together because of drug use. (Stephans’ father) state it was drug use as well as (Soto’s mother) was taking medication for depression and anxiety, and he didn’t think (Soto’s mother) was going to be a good influence for Stephan. They explained that both Stephan and Jennifer would sleep all the time, and it wasn’t a positive thing for the relationship. When both Stephan and (Soto’s mother) would suffer a mental illness episode, they would bring the other person down with them, and it wasn’t a good dynamic.”
Investigative Report by the Kissimmee Police Department
In addition, Sterns had reportedly called his father on the day of Soto’s disappearance, though the way he was speaking was odd.
“During the conversation, (his father) said Stephan was upset as if he was holding himself responsible for Madeline’s disappearance,” a case report reads. “(Sterns’ father) said he felt that Stephan was rehearsing his story on him because it was the same routine that he used during a media interview.”
MARCH 7
Detectives spoke with the two roommates of Soto’s mother, learning more about what happened the night before the girl’s disappearance.
According to one of the roommates, she had heard “noises” coming from the upstairs bedroom, where Sterns and Soto had reportedly been sleeping alone as Soto’s mother slept in a separate room.
“In order for her to hear noises, it would have to be significant based upon the noise would have to travel through two closed doors and across a hallway,” an investigative report reads.
While both Sterns and Soto had been alone in that room in the past, Soto’s mother had told the roommate that Stephan wouldn’t harm Soto, so it was OK, the roommate explained.
MARCH 12
The Orange-Osceola State Attorney’s Office announced that it filed 60 counts against Sterns, including the following:
- 8 counts of Sexual Battery on a Child Under 12
- 5 counts of Sexual Battery with a Child 12-18 (Familial/Custodial Authority)
- 7 counts of Lewd or Lascivious Molestation
- 40 counts of Unlawful Possession of Materials Depicting Sexual Performance by a Child Ten or More Images
A pretrial hearing is scheduled for April 24, and a jury trial is slated to begin on May 13.
Kissimmee police told News 6 that they were continuing to investigate Soto’s death.
MARCH 13
Detectives spoke with Soto’s best friend, who explained that Soto had a habit of texting her every morning. But she hadn’t received any messages from Soto on the day she was reported missing.
MARCH 21
Kissimmee Police Chief Betty Holland held a news conference to discuss the progress of the investigation.
She described the investigation as “very intricate” and that detectives want to make sure they “uncover every single fact and the evidence.”
“We don’t want to put a timeline on it, basically, you know, because the detectives are very meticulous in what they do and we want to be sure that everything is uncovered that possibly can,” she said.
During the conference, Holland was asked whether Soto’s mother was considered a suspect or a person of interest.
In response, Holland said, “Everyone (who) was close to Madeline is considered a suspect until we have proven otherwise.”
APRIL 1
Sterns’ father called North Port police to hand over one of Sterns’ old computer towers he’d found while cleaning out Sterns’ old bedroom.
According to investigators, Sterns’ father was afraid there could be more images and videos of child pornography on the device. However, upon examining the computer tower, detectives found it was missing a hard drive.
APRIL 4
The District 9 Medical Examiner’s Office announced that the autopsy report in Soto’s death couldn’t be released due to state statutes deeming it confidential.
In addition, audio from the 911 calls involved in the case was released by the Orange County Sheriff’s Office.
In the 911 calls, two different voices can be heard speaking with dispatchers. The sheriff’s office explained that the callers’ identities are confidential under state law.
The 911 calls have been combined and can be listened to in the audio player below.
APRIL 10
Deputies said Sterns called his father from jail, telling him, “You know that I would have never wanted that for (Madeline).”
Sterns then added, “I am not sure, really, that any one person is specifically responsible. It’s probably a combination of factors that led to it... I have never felt anything like that before. It was horrible.”
His father responded by saying he hopes the truth will come out, and Sterns replies, “Well, yeah.”
APRIL 11
Sterns’ father called detectives while he was cleaning out his storage unit.
According to investigators, Sterns’ father had found a hard drive for a desktop computer in one of the storage bins, along with Sterns’ watch, which Sterns had previously told his father was in his bedroom at their North Port home.
As a result, Sterns’ father told detectives that Sterns must have gotten into the storage unit during his trip to North Port on Feb. 28.
APRIL 12
Police retrieved the items from Sterns’ father, including the hard drive and two other USB drives.
APRIL 24
Orange-Osceola State Attorney Andrew Bain and Kissimmee police held a press conference and announced that Stephan Sterns was indicted on a premeditated murder charge by a grand jury in the death of Madeline Soto.
“The evidence shows an individual who was entrusted to keep Madeline safe made calculated moves to dispose Madeline’s belongings and place her body in a wooded area before she was ever reported missing,” said Kissimmee Police Chief Betty Holland.
State Attorney Andrew Bain said his office had not yet decided whether it will seek the death penalty against Sterns in this case.
APRIL 29
An arraignment scheduled for Sterns on the afternoon of April 29 was canceled, though no reason was provided to the public.
MAY 14
Sterns called his father, who asked why Sterns drove to North Port on Feb. 28.
“I had wanted to grab a few things. And get my ducks in a row,” Sterns reportedly said. “Kinda prepare myself for whatever was coming, but I couldn’t find what I was looking for.”
Sterns’ father then stated he wished he could understand how the whole situation came about, and Sterns replied, “Well, I didn’t start it.”
After his father pointed out that Sterns did participate in it, Sterns just said, “Yeah.” At no point during the conversation did Sterns deny killing Soto, police said.
According to detectives, they believe that Sterns had gone to his parents’ home in North Port on Feb. 28 and used their Wi-Fi to log into his Google account in an attempt to delete the images and videos of the sexual abuse he perpetrated.
MAY 16
The State Attorney’s Office released several investigative reports and interview audio between Sterns and investigators that dated back to Feb. 27.
According to one of the reports, detectives interviewed a witness (whose name was redacted) about the relationship between Sterns, Soto and Soto’s mother. After showing the witness one of the pictures from Sterns’ Google Drive, the witness became “visibly upset.”
The newly released reports also show that the Google Drive had files going back to at least 2019.
JUNE 10
The State Attorney’s Office announced that prosecutors are seeking the death penalty against Sterns.
AUGUST 21
Officials released 911 calls showing that loved ones of Madeline Soto called authorities three times to report her missing, informing them that she never showed up to school. Three hours passed before Orange County sheriff’s deputies started an investigation into the calls.
AUGUST 26
Investigative reports were released, revealing even more details about the case.
For starters, the reports showed Soto’s official cause of death was homicide via strangulation.
During the investigation, detectives discovered that Sterns and Soto had been alone in his room on the night prior to her death on Feb. 26.
In addition, the new reports say that Sterns had searched the terms “Sevoflurane” and “show up in drug test” on his phone in the weeks leading up to Soto’s disappearance. Sevoflurane is an anesthetic that can cause hypnosis, amnesia and analgesia, though it’s typically used during medical treatments.
At this time, no additional information has been shared about the investigation.
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