Stephan Sterns, related to the case of 13-year-old Madeline Soto’s death in Kissimmee, Florida, has been charged with 60 new counts of child sexual abuse, following the discovery of incriminating evidence on his phone.
Stephan Sterns, the boyfriend of Madeline Soto’s mother, has been charged with 60 new counts of child sexual abuse in connection to the investigation into the 13-year-old’s death in Kissimmee, Florida. The charges came to light after investigators uncovered images and videos on Sterns’ phone depicting abuse that began when Madeline was 11 years old. Sterns, 37, is facing multiple charges including sexual battery on a child under 12 and unlawful possession of child sexual abuse materials.
The discovery was announced by the Kissimmee Police Department, which managed to recover the data even though Sterns claimed his phone had been accidentally reset to factory settings. While Sterns had initially reported dropping Madeline off at school, leading to her missing person’s case, her body was later found, and no charges have been filed in connection to her death as of yet.
The case continues to unfold, with Sterns being held without bond ahead of his arraignment hearing set for 2 April. Kissimmee Police Chief Betty Holland has thanked the State Attorney’s Office for their efforts in seeking justice for Madeline, indicating the ongoing nature of the investigation.
