Mum's lover had 'disturbing' images on phone say cops probing missing girl, 13
The 'prime suspect' in the case of missing 13-year-old Madeline Soto has been arrested after police say they "discovered disturbing images" on his phone.
Stephan Sterns, 37, who is the boyfriend of Madeline's mum, was also the last confirmed person to see her on the morning of Monday, February 26, the day she went missing. She disappeared the day after celebrating her 13th birthday with her family. A massive search was launched along with an investigation that has identified Sterns as the "prime suspect."
The latest update from the police claimed detectives made the discovery of images that "were criminal, and sexual in nature" on his phone. They also say they found attempts to delete evidence. He has been charged with sexual battery and possession of child sexual abuse material.
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A massive search has been launched looking for Maddie (fox35orlando)Detectives say that those alleged crimes were committed at the family home in Kissimmee, and they immediately notified Kissimmee Police. Kissimmee Police Department detectives are leading the sexual battery case, working with staff from the Orange County Sherriff's Office's Criminal Investigations Division.
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The Orange County Sheriff's Office is still "actively investigating Madeline's disappearance". Sterns has invoked his right to an attorney and has been placed under arrest and transported to jail, where police expect he will be held on no bond.
“Stephan Sterns had an opportunity tonight to come clean with detectives and help lead them to information about Maddie’s disappearance,” said Sheriff John Mina. “Her loved ones deserve answers and OCSO and the Kissimmee Police will not stop until we find Maddie.”
Stephan Sterns, 37, is the prime suspect police say (OrangeCoSheriff)The search for Madeline continues after she was last seen wearing a green jacket, black shorts and white Crocs. She has distinctive moles on the left side of her nose and the right side of her chin.
She was last seen around 8.30am on Monday February 26 in Orlando, off of Village Park Drive (in the area of Town Loop Boulevard and Hunter’s Park Lane). Maddie’s distraught mum, Jenn Soto, said that she was spotted on CCTV hanging out in the Peace United Methodist Church parking lot after being dropped off for school, but she never made it inside.
Maddie Soto has been missing since Monday (fox35orlando)Click here to follow the Mirror US on Google News to stay up to date with all the latest news, sport and entertainment stories.
She said: "I’m trying to hope for the best, but I’m scared for her. I want her to be okay; I want her to be safe… I don’t want her to come back harmed. I just want her back – whatever that means, I just want her back."
Sniffer dogs have been brought in to try to track the girl's movements but nothing has been found. According to her mum, Madeline had never run away before and had forgotten her phone at home that day.
Going through her messages, deputies discovered the girl had told her friends she wanted to "live in the woods" after her birthday. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement has said Maddie is "endangered."
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