OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. – On Monday, News 6 received footage showing the moment when the prime suspect in the death of 13-year-old Madeline Soto was taken to the Osceola County jail.
The video shows the suspect — Stephan Sterns, 37, who was the boyfriend of Soto’s mother — as he is taken to jail in a patrol car.
It is dated March 1, which is the same day that deputies found Soto’s body in a wooded area in Osceola County.
Sterns had been arrested by the Orange County Sheriff’s Office two days prior on charges of sexual battery and possession of child sexual abuse materials.
In the released video, Sterns discusses the conditions at the Orange County jail with the deputy driving him to the Osceola jail.
He explains that he slept on a concrete floor and used a roll of toilet paper for a pillow, adding that he didn’t have a blanket or anything to sleep on.
“Don’t know why they don’t do that, you know? Why don’t they just kind of like at least give you a blanket?” the deputy says.
In addition, the deputy asks Sterns to “forgive my cough,” leading them to swap recommendations for cough drops.
“Have you ever tried the berry ones? The Ricola Berry?” the deputy asks.
“No,” Sterns replies.
“Phenomenal. The Ricola Berry ones, they almost taste like candy,” the deputy adds.
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There are several long stretches of silence, though the two then begin discussing musical tastes, with Sterns saying that he “sometimes” enjoys classical music.
“Huh. You’re the first person that’s ever said classical music...” the deputy states. “You’re the first one. I’ve never had anyone tell me they like classical music. And I like classical music.”
Later, Sterns tells the deputy about how he grew up on a farm in Georgia, where he rehabilitated horses and cleaned the stalls. He also says that he used to live in California.
Around two weeks after Sterns’ initial arrest, the State Attorney’s Office filed 60 counts against him, and he now faces:
- 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 (10 or more images)
If convicted, Sterns faces up to life in prison.
Despite Sterns being declared the main suspect, no one has yet been charged in Soto’s death as of the time of this writing.
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