Introduction:

The search for 13-year-old Madeline Soto came to a tragic end on Friday evening when her body was discovered in a wooded area off Hickory Tree Road in Osceola County, Florida, according to deputies. The Orange County Sheriff’s Office had earlier announced that they believed Madeline, who had been reported missing earlier in the week, was deceased and that her mother’s boyfriend, Stephan Sterns, was the prime suspect in her disappearance.

Medeline Soto dead body:

Sheriff John Mina revealed during a press conference that detectives were confident Madeline Soto was dead. Sterns, who had been arrested on Wednesday on charges unrelated to her disappearance after disturbing images and videos were found on his phone during the investigation, is now suspected of involvement in Madeline’s death.

Contrary to Sterns’ initial statement that he had dropped Madeline off near her school on Monday morning, video evidence showed otherwise. Sterns was seen driving a vehicle with Madeline’s body inside on that day. It is believed that Madeline was killed at her Kissimmee home, where her family resided, and Sterns moved her body in the early hours of Monday.

Further evidence, including video footage of Sterns discarding items in a dumpster at the Kissimmee apartment complex and the subsequent discovery of Madeline’s backpack and school-issued laptop in the same dumpster, supported the suspicion that Madeline’s disappearance was not a simple missing persons case.

The investigation has now transitioned into a homicide case, with the Kissimmee Police Department taking over as the lead agency. Kissimmee Police Chief Betty Holland urged the public to come forward with any information that might aid in the investigation.

During the time Madeline went missing, Sterns was seen driving a 2010 Lincoln MKZ with a flat tire in the area of State Road 192 and Old Hickory Tree and Nolte roads. Despite being held on capital sexual battery charges, Sterns has not cooperated with authorities regarding Madeline’s case. He remains in custody at the Osceola County Jail.

Madeline’s family has been notified of her tragic fate, but further details regarding the investigation have not been disclosed. The community is left mourning the loss of a young life, while authorities continue their efforts to seek justice for Madeline Soto.