Madeline Soto case: Search continues for missing Florida girl after arrest made

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – The search for a missing 13-year-old Central Florida girl continues Friday, two days after the boyfriend of her mother was arrested in connection to the case.

Madeline Soto was last seen around 8:30 a.m. Monday when her mother’s boyfriend, Stephan Sterns, dropped Madeline off near Hunter’s Creek Middle School and the Peace United Methodist Church on Town Loop Boulevard, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office said.

[LATEST: Boyfriend of missing girl’s mother arrested]

Madeline was described as 5 feet, 1 inch tall and 110 pounds. She has blonde hair and blue eyes. She was last seen wearing a green sweatshirt, black shorts and white Crocs.

Madeline’s mother went to the school around 4:30 p.m. Monday to pick up her daughter and was told that she was not there and that she never came to school that day, sheriff’s officials said, adding that Madeline also left her phone at home that day.

A massive search was conducted Wednesday, but Madeline has not been located.

Late Wednesday, sheriff’s officials announced that Sterns, 37, had been arrested on charges of sexual battery and possession of child sexual abuse material.

“During the investigation into Madeline’s disappearance, Orange County Sheriff’s Office detectives discovered disturbing images when they forensically examined Sterns’ phone,” a news release from the sheriff’s office said. “A review of the phone’s data revealed attempts to delete evidence.”

Eventually, deputies discovered images and videos on Sterns’ phone that were “criminal and sexual in nature,” the sheriff’s office said. According to investigators, the crimes seen in those images were committed at the family’s home in Kissimmee, and Sterns is considered the prime suspect in Soto’s disappearance.

[WATCH THE VIDEO OF STERNS’ ARREST BY CLICKING IN THE MEDIA PLAYER BELOW]

Investigators are still searching for Madeline.

“Stephan Sterns had an opportunity (Wednesday) to come clean with detectives and help lead them to information about Maddie’s disappearance,” Orange County Sheriff John Mina said. “Her loved ones deserve answers, and OCSO and Kissimmee police will not stop until we find Maddie.”

Earlier Wednesday, the sheriff’s office made a social media post about Madeline’s disappearance.

“There is concern for Madeline’s safety,” the sheriff’s office posted on X. “We are urging anyone with information on where she might be to call 911.”

On Wednesday afternoon, Mina held a news conference to provide an update on search efforts.

“Many of our detectives and deputies who are working in case, they also have children,” Mina said. “So they’re working extra hard to find Madeleine, we can’t even imagine the pain and anguish that Madeline’s family is going through, but I do want to share the community that we have well over 100 deputies, detectives, intelligence analysts, and specialized personnel who are investigating this case and searching for Madeline right now.”

Mina said that deputies were able to access Madeline’s phone, saying there was information on it that indicated that 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 have received tips and any areas where their investigative leads take them.

“We just want to keep getting Madeline’s picture out there. We want people who may know something about her disappearance, to call us. They can call us anonymously at 800-423-TIPS. They can also also call 911 If they know what happened to Madeline,” Mina said. “It’s every parent’s worst nightmare, but rest assured that we’re doing everything possible.”

Hunter’s Creek Middle School Principal Joumana Moukaddam sent the following message to families, “asking for anyone with information that can assist in locating Madeline to immediately contact law enforcement,” an Orange County Public Schools spokesperson said.

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