OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. – A court hearing Wednesday resulted in a pushed trial date for Stephan Sterns, the man accused of killing Madeline Soto and leaving her body in rural Osceola County.
Soto was 13 years old when she was reported missing by her mother on Feb. 26, soon found dead March 1 by deputies searching a wooded area off Hickory Tree Road in Osceola County.
Stephan Sterns, 38, the boyfriend of Soto’s mother, was the last person confirmed to have seen Soto alive. In addition to since being charged with first-degree murder, Sterns faces dozens more charges stemming from what investigators said were disturbing pictures and video found on his phone depicting the sexual abuse of a child.
Sterns initially told investigators that he “accidentally” performed a factory reset on his phone the day Soto was reported missing.
A pre-trial hearing was originally scheduled for 10 a.m. Wednesday regarding the first-degree murder charge, what could lead to the death penalty.
A second such hearing, scheduled at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, would concern the 60 additional charges against Sterns, including possession of materials depicting sexual performance by a child, sexual battery on a child and lewd or lascivious molestation.
Both hearings were ultimately to be combined at 1:30 p.m., as the court had granted the defense’s motion to continue the first hearing because more time was needed in order to prepare the case.
Sterns had already filed to waive his scheduled appearances at either court event ahead of time however, doing so on Tuesday, records show.
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Court adjourned within around half an hour Wednesday, during which Stern’ trial date in the first-degree murder case was pushed to Oct. 14, 2024.
His trial on the remaining 60 charges is currently set to begin Aug. 19.
This is a developing story. Check back here for updates.
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