Authorities of Florida found Soto’s body.

Madeline Soto’s school reported that she never showed up, despite the fact that police say Stephan Sterns was scheduled to send her off on Monday morning. (ORANGE COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE, CNN, WESH)

Authorities verified on Friday afternoon that they had found Madeline Soto’s remains.

The 13-year-old went missing on Monday, and according to the Kissimmee Police Department and Orange County Sheriff’s Office, their coordinated search along Hickory Tree Road resulted in the discovery of his body in a wooded area.

The discovery has been shared with Madeline Soto’s family.

Orange County Sheriff John Mina stated during a press conference on Friday that detectives had found video evidence that guided them to the location where they were “confident” the teen’s body was.
According to authorities, 37-year-old Stephan Sterns, the lover of Madeline’s mother, is the main suspect in the crime.

Sterns was the last person to confirm seeing Madeline Soto on Monday morning, according to officials.

Madeline had just turned 13 when she was reported missing, according to the Florida authorities.

Staff personnel at Orlando’s Hunter’s Creek Middle School claim that although Madeline was scheduled to be dropped off at school in the morning by Sterns, she never showed up.
“Our detectives have determined that Madeline was never dropped off the morning of Feb. 26 near her school,” Mina said. “Instead, we believe she was already dead at the time, and that Stephan Sterns moved her body in the early hours of that day.”

During Friday’s news conference, Mina said video evidence shows Sterns throwing away items in a dumpster at the family’s apartment complex in Kissimmee at 7:35 a.m. on Monday morning.

Investigators later searched the dumpster and found Madeline’s backpack and her school-issued laptop.

Less than an hour after Sterns was seen throwing away items in the dumpster, video from 8:19 a.m. shows Sterns returning to the apartment complex with Madeline visible in the car with him. Mina said investigators believe Madeline Soto was already dead at the time.
Sterns was taken into custody by Kissimmee police on Wednesday for allegations of sexual violence and having materials that might be used to abuse children.

When they “discovered those disturbing images and videos when they forensically examined Sterns’ phone,” detectives stated in a Facebook post. An examination of his phone also showed up attempts to remove proof.

Investigators found that the family’s apartment was the scene of the recorded sex offenses.

According to Mina, Sterns had “not spoken to anyone” about the situation as of Friday afternoon.
Because of the sex assault allegations, Sterns is being held at the Osceola County Jail. He was not yet accused with Madeline Soto’s death as of Friday afternoon.

Records from the jail indicate that he is being held without bond.

Mina stated that Madeline’s mother is “not a suspect in this case,” but officials have not stated whether or not she will be charged.

The main agency in this investigation is the Kissimmee Police Department.

Call the Orange County Sheriff’s Office at 407) 254-7000, Kissimmee police at 407-846-3333, or send an anonymous tip to Crime line at 800-423-TIPS if you have any information regarding this crime, according to the authorities.

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