OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. – Around six months after the body of missing Florida 13-year-old Madeline Soto was officially recovered, there are still plenty of questions regarding her death.
However, investigators have still managed to uncover plenty of details about the case over these past few months, shedding light on what happened.
As the investigation continues, below is a timeline of events stemming back to her initial disappearance.
All episodes of “Justice for Madeline” can be found here.
FEBRUARY 26 — DAY ONE
Madeline Soto was reported missing around 8 p.m. after Stephan Sterns — her mother’s boyfriend — reportedly dropped her off near Hunter’s Creek Middle School.
Earlier that morning, Soto’s mother was woken up when Sterns took the dog out for a walk, but she went back to sleep. She never saw Soto that morning.
At some point during the day, Sterns told Soto’s mother that he had factory reset his phone while trying to update it.
Soto’s mother went to the school around 4:30 p.m. to pick her daughter up, but she was told that Soto had never come to school that day, according to investigators.
In addition, Soto’s phone was left at home. While Soto had a tendency to run away, this was unusual for her.
FEBRUARY 27 — DAY TWO
The Orange County Sheriff’s Office issued a release to the public about Soto’s disappearance, asking for information about her whereabouts.
In an interview with investigators, Sterns was asked about where exactly he dropped Soto off and where he went afterward. Throughout the conversation, detectives questioned some of Sterns’ answers, which seemingly prompted Sterns to change his story.
FEBRUARY 28 — DAY THREE
A massive search was conducted by the sheriff’s office.
Orange County Sheriff John Mina said that deputies accessed Soto’s phone, finding information that indicated 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’d received tips, and any areas where their investigative leads took them. Ultimately, the search came up empty.
However, detectives did receive consent from Sterns to search his cell phone.
Deputies also searched the family’s Kissimmee home for more clues. During this time, deputies found out that Sterns had never dropped Soto off at school.
Meanwhile, Sterns and Soto’s mother drove to a hotel in Orange County, where they stayed with Sterns’ parents as the home was investigated.
According to Soto’s mother, Sterns was “very panicky” because he wanted his cell phone back, and while she and Sterns both agreed that investigators were targeting Sterns, she believed he was “the wrong guy.”
But at some point in the night, Sterns drove to North Port for “unknown reasons,” an investigative report reveals. Deputies said Sterns’ parents lived in that area.
FEBRUARY 29 — STERNS ARRESTED
The sheriff’s office announced that Sterns was arrested as the prime suspect in Soto’s disappearance.
In a release, investigators said that detectives discovered hundreds of “disturbing” images and videos of child pornography when they searched Sterns’ phone and Google Drive account, and a review of the device’s data showed that someone had tried to delete the evidence ahead of time.
Detectives were able to pinpoint some of these images and videos to the family’s home in Kissimmee, court records show.
As a result, Sterns was arrested and held on no bond. He was charged with sexual battery and possession of child sexual abuse materials.
During another interview with detectives, Sterns discussed his relationship with Soto’s mother and their sleeping arrangements at home.
According to investigative reports, Sterns said he typically shared a bed with Soto and her mother, claiming Soto always needed human contact when going to sleep.
It was also normal for Sterns to share a bed with Soto alone, Soto’s mother later told detectives. This was so Soto’s mother “could get some sleep,” deputies said.
According to the affidavit for Sterns’ arrest, Sterns told detectives he had dropped Soto off in front of Peace United Methodist Preschool at 8:40 a.m. on Feb. 26, despite the middle school being farther down the street and starting classes at 9:30 a.m.
Detectives said this appeared unusual, and while a license plate reader captured Sterns’ vehicle at some point, the details about where and when this happened were redacted from the original report.
In addition, the affidavit shows that Sterns told detectives he had “accidentally” performed a factory reset on his phone on Feb. 26, though investigators were still able to discover images on the device and a Google Drive that depicted child pornography.
Investigators added that they found a photo on Sterns’ phone showing a roommate of Soto’s mother nude in the bathroom. The roommate said she hadn’t permitted Sterns to take that photo.
FEBRUARY 29 — STERNS’ EX-GIRLFRIEND
Detectives said they interviewed an ex-girlfriend of Sterns, who described their short relationship together.
The two had a brief relationship in 2022, but even during that time, Sterns would refuse to spend the night with her, instead insisting that he had to stay at the home of Soto’s mother because Soto and her mother couldn’t sleep without him there, police explained.
Shortly after finding out about the trio’s sleeping arrangements, she broke up with Sterns, investigative reports show.
MARCH 1 — EVIDENCE RELEASED
During a news conference, Mina said investigators were “confident” that Soto was already dead, having been killed at her Kissimmee home before Sterns moved her body.
According to Mina, there was video evidence showing Sterns throwing items into a dumpster at the Kissimmee apartment complex around 7:35 a.m. on Feb. 26 — the day she was reported as missing.
The sheriff’s office later said that it found Soto’s backpack and her school-issued laptop in a dumpster.
While Sterns had reportedly dropped Soto off near school that day, Mina explained that wasn’t the case, and Sterns was instead spotted driving a vehicle with Soto’s body inside.
“We have evidence that shows Stephan Sterns returning to the complex and Madeline was visible in that vehicle. We believe she was already dead at that time,” Mina said.
In fact, investigative reports show Soto was most likely killed at her home in Kissimmee.
After another long search, Orange County deputies finally recovered Soto’s body from a wooded area off Hickory Tree Road in Osceola County.
That night, a vigil was held in Soto’s memory near her middle school.
MARCH 1 — SOTO’S MOTHER
Investigators spoke with Soto’s mother to update her on the homicide investigation and further interview her about her relationship with Sterns.
During that interview, she reportedly called Sterns a “master liar” and “master manipulator” — something she’d also discussed with Sterns’ father.
She initially wanted to believe Sterns was innocent, but after being shown the sexual offense images by police, she changed her mind.
“I asked her what she thought Stephan was guilty of, and she replied, ‘He’s been grooming and abusing my child,’” an investigative report reads.
However, during a few moments of an interview with Orange County deputies, investigators said she appeared to defend Sterns.
“During portions of the interview, (she) continuously protected Stephan Sterns, was questioned about why she prioritizes Stephan Sterns over (REDACTED) and even at one point referred to the ‘sex stuff’ as not evil but the murder of (REDACTED) as ‘evil.’ The interview eventually ended, but (Soto’s mother) did not show the same level of emotion or care in regards to (REDACTED) ongoing victimization by Stephan Sterns than she did her disappearance. It appeared to me that she has already accepted that the victimization was happening, and her emotion appeared fictitious.”
Incident Report by the Orange County Sheriff's Office
MARCH 2 — PHOTO SCANDAL
Sterns waived his first appearance in the Osceola County court, instead being represented solely by his attorney. The judge granted Sterns no bond.
Aside from that, the Instagram account for Osceola County Sheriff Marcos Lopez posted a confidential crime scene photo, which the agency later told News 6 had been “accidentally” shared with the public.
The clothes seen in the photo are consistent with the outfit Soto was believed to be wearing when she was reported missing on Feb. 26.
A caption below the picture read, “Great day with our seniors,” followed by an emoji of a smiley face with a halo.
“Earlier today a post was made on social media about a community event for seniors,” an unnamed Osceola County spokesperson said in an email to News 6. “In the post, an investigative photo was accidentally included. The photo was immediately removed. We deeply apologize for any confusion or disturbance this may have caused. As with any investigation, the information obtained is confidential and any mistaken disclosures will be immediately rectified.”
Former Osceola County Sheriff Russ Gibson, who is running against Lopez in the 2024 election, said the photograph indeed showed Soto’s body.
Osceola County sheriff’s officials did not dispute that the photo stemmed from the girl’s investigation.
On the same day, Nirva Rodriguez — the executive director of the sheriff’s office — shared another photograph on her personal Facebook account that showed her posing with Sterns as he was walking out of a door at the county jail on Friday morning.
“If God’s love has been poured out over your life, don’t allow evil to keep you away from what He has prepared for you,” a caption above the photo of Sterns and Rodriguez stated.
MARCH 6 — STERNS’ ACQUAINTANCE
Released court records show that Sterns is accused of sexually abusing Soto for years. Despite Sterns’ attempts to wipe his phone, investigators were able to recover files showing the sexual abuse, which stemmed back as far as 2022, an arrest warrant affidavit says.
“Upon reviewing the contents of Stephan’s phone, several images and videos were located, which depicted the missing juvenile,” the affidavit reads.
Police also spoke with a former acquaintance of Sterns who had met him three years beforehand while playing a game called “Warhammer.”
According to the friend, he was under the impression that Sterns and Soto’s mother weren’t in a relationship anymore, so he thought it was “odd” when he heard them calling themselves “boyfriend and girlfriend” after Soto’s disappearance.
The acquaintance added that during a previous conversation about the couple’s supposed breakup, Sterns seemed more upset about the “bond he created with Madeline than having a relationship with (her mother),” investigators said.
MARCH 6 — STERNS’ PARENTS
Detectives spoke with Sterns’ parents, learning they disapproved of his relationship with Soto’s mother.
“(Sterns’ mother) stated they didn’t approve of them being together because of drug use. (Stephans’ father) state it was drug use as well as (Soto’s mother) was taking medication for depression and anxiety, and he didn’t think (Soto’s mother) was going to be a good influence for Stephan. They explained that both Stephan and Jennifer would sleep all the time, and it wasn’t a positive thing for the relationship. When both Stephan and (Soto’s mother) would suffer a mental illness episode, they would bring the other person down with them, and it wasn’t a good dynamic.”
Investigative Report by the Kissimmee Police Department
In addition, Sterns had reportedly called his father on the day of Soto’s disappearance, though the way he was speaking was odd.
“During the conversation, (his father) said Stephan was upset as if he was holding himself responsible for Madeline’s disappearance,” a case report reads. “(Sterns’ father) said he felt that Stephan was rehearsing his story on him because it was the same routine that he used during a media interview.”
MARCH 7 — ROOMMATES
Detectives spoke with the two roommates of Soto’s mother, learning more about what happened the night before the girl’s disappearance.
According to one of the roommates, she had heard “noises” coming from the upstairs bedroom, where Sterns and Soto had reportedly been sleeping alone as Soto’s mother slept in a separate room.
“In order for her to hear noises, it would have to be significant based upon the noise would have to travel through two closed doors and across a hallway,” an investigative report reads.
While both Sterns and Soto had been alone in that room in the past, Soto’s mother had told the roommate that Stephan wouldn’t harm Soto, so it was OK, the roommate explained.
MARCH 12 — STERNS CHARGED
The Orange-Osceola State Attorney’s Office announced that it filed 60 counts against Sterns, including the following:
- 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 Ten or More Images
MARCH 13 — BEST FRIEND
Detectives spoke with Soto’s best friend, who explained that Soto had a habit of texting her every morning. But she hadn’t received any messages from Soto on the day she was reported missing.
MARCH 21 — MORE UPDATES
Kissimmee Police Chief Betty Holland held a news conference to discuss the progress of the investigation.
She described the investigation as “very intricate” and that detectives want to make sure they “uncover every single fact and the evidence.”
“We don’t want to put a timeline on it, basically, you know, because the detectives are very meticulous in what they do and we want to be sure that everything is uncovered that possibly can,” she said.
During the conference, Holland was asked whether Soto’s mother was considered a suspect or a person of interest.
In response, Holland said, “Everyone (who) was close to Madeline is considered a suspect until we have proven otherwise.”
APRIL 1 — STERNS’ COMPUTER
Sterns’ father called North Port police to hand over one of Sterns’ old computer towers he’d found while cleaning out Sterns’ old bedroom.
According to investigators, Sterns’ father was afraid there could be more images and videos of child pornography on the device. However, upon examining the computer tower, detectives found it was missing a hard drive.
APRIL 4 — NO AUTOPSY REPORT
The District 9 Medical Examiner’s Office announced that the autopsy report in Soto’s death couldn’t be released due to state statutes deeming it confidential.
However, audio from the 911 calls involved in the case was released by the Orange County Sheriff’s Office.
In the 911 calls, two different voices can be heard speaking with dispatchers. The sheriff’s office explained that the callers’ identities are confidential under state law.
The 911 calls have been combined and can be listened to in the audio player below.
APRIL 10 — PHONE CALL
Deputies said Sterns called his father from jail, telling him, “You know that I would have never wanted that for (Madeline).”
Sterns then added, “I am not sure, really, that any one person is specifically responsible. It’s probably a combination of factors that led to it... I have never felt anything like that before. It was horrible.”
His father responded by saying he hopes the truth will come out, and Sterns replies, “Well, yeah.”
APRIL 11 — STORAGE UNIT
Sterns’ father called detectives while he was cleaning out his storage unit.
According to investigators, Sterns’ father had found a hard drive for a desktop computer in one of the storage bins, along with Sterns’ watch, which Sterns had previously told his father was in his bedroom at their North Port home.
As a result, Sterns’ father told detectives that Sterns must have gotten into the storage unit during his trip to North Port on Feb. 28.
APRIL 12 — RETRIEVAL
Police retrieved the items from Sterns’ father, including the hard drive and two other USB drives.
APRIL 18 — SOTO’S MOTHER
Kissimmee police said they had Soto’s mother and her attorney come in for another interview.
During the interview, the mother said she had returned home from work around 11:30 p.m. to find Sterns and Soto alone downstairs in their home. However, Soto was reportedly not wearing the same clothes that were on her body when it was found after her death.
A detective also asked Soto’s mother why she let Sterns stay at their home even after the two broke up.
“(Soto’s mother) stated Madeline would sleep with her a majority of the time, and when Stephan began staying there, the three of them would sleep in the same bed. (She) stated Madeline never wanted to sleep alone in her bedroom. (Soto’s mother) couldn’t remember how many times she let Madeline sleep with Stephan alone in his bedroom. (She) stated she allowed it because she trusted Stephan, and he treated (Soto) as his daughter. When (Soto’s mother) stated she and Stephan ended their relationship, Madeline had an idea but never spoke about it. (Soto’s mother) said she spoke with Stephan about possibly moving back to help him get on his feet, but she didn’t know if it was going to be permanent or temporary.”
Investigative Report by the Kissimmee Police Department
APRIL 22 — HARD DRIVE
Kissimmee police said that the hard drive found in the storage unit hadn’t been used since 2020 and didn’t contain any evidence.
However, one of the retrieved USB drives contained over 35,000 images of child pornography, police added.
APRIL 24 — MURDER INDICTMENT
Orange-Osceola State Attorney Andrew Bain and Kissimmee police held a news conference and announced that Stephan Sterns was indicted on a first-degree murder charge by a grand jury in the death of Madeline Soto.
“The evidence shows an individual who was entrusted to keep Madeline safe made calculated moves to dispose Madeline’s belongings and place her body in a wooded area before she was ever reported missing,” said Kissimmee Police Chief Betty Holland.
Bain said his office had not yet decided whether it would seek the death penalty against Sterns in this case.
MAY 14 — PHONE CALL
Sterns called his father, who asked why Sterns drove to North Port on Feb. 28.
“I had wanted to grab a few things. And get my ducks in a row,” Sterns reportedly said. “Kinda prepare myself for whatever was coming, but I couldn’t find what I was looking for.”
Sterns’ father then stated he wished he could understand how the whole situation came about, and Sterns replied, “Well, I didn’t start it.”
After his father pointed out that Sterns did participate in it, Sterns just said, “Yeah.” At no point during the conversation did Sterns deny killing Soto, police said.
According to detectives, they believe that Sterns had gone to his parents’ home in North Port on Feb. 28 and used their Wi-Fi to log into his Google account in an attempt to delete the images and videos of the sexual abuse he perpetrated.
MAY 16 — MORE UPDATES
The State Attorney’s Office released several investigative reports and interview audio between Sterns and investigators that dated back to Feb. 27.
According to one of the reports, detectives interviewed a witness (whose name was redacted) about the relationship between Sterns, Soto and Soto’s mother. After showing the witness one of the pictures from Sterns’ Google Drive, the witness became “visibly upset.”
The newly released reports also show that the Google Drive had files going back to at least 2019.
JUNE 3 — BODYCAM VIDEOS
The Orange County Sheriff’s Office released body-camera videos from the investigation on the night when Soto was originally reported missing.
JUNE 10 — DEATH PENALTY
The State Attorney’s Office announced that prosecutors are seeking the death penalty against Sterns.
JULY 23 — SHERIFF LOPEZ CITED
State prosecutors issued a civil summons to Osceola County Sheriff Marcos Lopez after the confidential crime-scene photograph was released back in March.
Under Florida law, images that depict the killing of a minor are confidential and cannot be released by a government agency.
As such, Lopez was cited with violating Florida’s public record laws, a non-criminal infraction that carries a fine up to $500, court records show.
However, prosecutors did not accuse Lopez of intentionally releasing the photograph, which is a more serious misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail. Public officials who willfully disclose such images can potentially face suspension and removal from office.
AUGUST 21 — 911 CALLS
Officials released 911 calls showing that loved ones of Madeline Soto called authorities three times to report her missing, informing them that she never showed up to school.
Three hours passed before Orange County sheriff’s deputies started an investigation into the calls.
AUGUST 26 — INVESTIGATIVE REPORTS
Investigative reports were released, revealing even more details about the case.
For starters, the reports showed Soto’s official cause of death was homicide via strangulation.
During the investigation, detectives discovered that Sterns and Soto had been alone in his room on the night prior to her death on Feb. 26.
In addition, the new reports say that Sterns had searched the terms “Sevoflurane” and “show up in drug test” on his phone in the weeks leading up to Soto’s disappearance. Sevoflurane is an anesthetic that can cause hypnosis, amnesia and analgesia, though it’s typically used during medical treatments.
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