Stephan Sterns, stepfather of Madeline Soto, was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole after reaching a plea deal for the first-degree murder of the minor and 20 sexual offenses.
Police investigate case of man linked to murder of his wife and young daughter in Queens home
Sterns, 39, who was the partner of Madeline’s mother, entered the plea in a Kissimmee court following an agreement coordinated with the girl’s family.
The defendant was sentenced by Judge Keith Carsten of the Osceola County Circuit Court, who imposed life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Pleaded guilty to avoid the death penalty
The man pleaded guilty to the charges to avoid the death penalty. During the hearing, the defendant admitted that he sexually abused Madeline, killed her, and left her body in the woods.
Jennifer Soto did not attend the court hearing; instead, her grandmother, some cousins, and close family friends were present. Madeline’s biological father, Tyler Wallace, attended with his wife and legal team. Sterns’ parents were not present at the hearing.
“I cannot comprehend your selfishness, the depravity of your actions. You are weak, a coward,” Wallace said.
Judge Carsten confirmed that the severity of the crimes, combined with the irreparable harm caused to an innocent child, made any sentence other than life without parole impossible.
Her case shocked Florida
The case of 13-year-old Madeline shocked Florida. The teenager was reported missing on February 26, 2024, after her mother, Jennifer Soto, could not find her when trying to pick her up from Hunter’s Creek Middle School.
On March 1, authorities found her body in a wooded area near St. Cloud in Osceola County, about 30 miles south of Orlando. According to investigators, Sterns sexually abused the girl, strangled her, and abandoned her body where it was found.
The stepfather was responsible for dropping Madeline off at school the day she disappeared and became the prime suspect. Meanwhile, the mother stated that she allowed her boyfriend to sleep in the same room as her teenage daughter.
Authorities discovered compelling evidence on the defendant’s phone and Google Drive account, which contained images of abuse against Madeline dating back to 2022.
Image: DiarioNY
