Orange County Sheriff shifts missing 13-year-old case into homicide investigation

Writer: Nicholas Karsen
Published: Updated:
missing
Madeline Soto. Credit: Orange County Sheriff’s Office

The Orange County Sheriff’s Office has a grim update regarding a missing 13-year-old girl in Orlando.

Law enforcement has been searching for Madeline Soto since she was reported missing on Monday.

During the press conference Friday afternoon, Sheriff John Mina briefly discussed the evidence gathered to charge the prime suspect, 37-year-old Stephan Sterns, a man who reportedly has an address in North Port.

Mina reports that the investigation continues; however, it is now a homicide investigation as he believes that Soto is dead.

Mina believes that Stern is the sole suspect and that the mother is not an accomplice in the case.

The investigation has led deputies to believe that Soto was killed in Kissimmee.

The investigation will be shifted to the Kissimmee Police Department.

Mina then discussed Stern’s whereabouts and alleged moves made regarding Soto’s disappearance.

It was determined that Madeline was not dropped off at school but was already dead at the time of her disappearance reported on Monday.

Mina announced video evidence of Sterns depositing several items belonging to Soto into a dumpster.

He was arrested Thursday night.

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