Florida man charged with murdering girlfriend’s 13-year-old daughter

KISSIMMEE, Fla. — The longtime boyfriend of a Central Florida mother whose teenage daughter was reported missing in February was charged Wednesday with the 13-year-old girl’s murder, officials said.

Stephan Sterns was charged with first-degree murder for the killing of Madeline Soto, according to court documents filed Wednesday in Osceola County.

Madeline Soto was reported missing on Feb. 26 after her mother, Jennifer Soto, said she didn’t find the teen when she went to pick her up from school. Her body was found several days later in a wooded area.

State’s Attorney Andrew Bain said at a news conference that prosecutors have not yet decided whether to seek the death penalty for Sterns. Bain would not say whether the teen’s mother is suspected of wrongdoing, although Kissimmee Police Chief Betty Holland said Jennifer Soto has cooperated with detectives throughout the investigation.

Sterns was held in jail without bond. Online court records show no attorney is listed for Sterns on the murder charge.

Sterns already faced dozens of charges of sexual assault of a child under the age of 12 and unlawful possession of child sex abuse material relating to Madeline Soto. He was scheduled to appear in court on those charges on Wednesday, but his public defender filed a motion to delay the trial while they continued to prepare their defense.