A Florida Sheriff’s Office was forced to apologize after a crime scene photo seemingly of 13-year-old Madeline Soto’s dead body was shared on the Sheriff’s official Instagram account.
Soto’s body was found on Friday and the next day the Instagram account of Osceola County Sheriff Marcos Lopez shared a photo of a body wearing a green top and blue jeans lying under a mound of brush in a post about a seniors’ social event.
The post was captioned ‘Great day with our seniors’ followed by an emoji of a smiley face wearing a halo.
It was immediately deleted but it sparked uproar online and forced the Sheriff’s office to issue an apology, saying an ‘investigative photo’ was ‘accidentally included’ and ‘immediately removed’.
They did not say who posted the photo and did not confirm the body was Soto’s, but former Sheriff Russ Gibson said the picture was of Soto and said he was ‘shocked and appalled’ that it had been shared.
The picture was shared on the official account of Osceola County Sheriff Marcos R. Lopez
A blacked out version of the post reportedly containing a photo of Soto’s dead body
Soto was found dead on Friday after she was reported missing last Monday, her mother’s boyfriend is the primary suspect in her murder
Soto’s body was found on Friday in Osceola County, Florida in woods off of Hickory Tree Road four days after she was first reported missing.
The grim discovery came hours after police revealed Madeline’s mother’s boyfriend, Stephan Sterns, 37, is the ‘prime suspect’ in her murder.
Sterns is now in jail having been arrested on child porn charges and sexual battery after police recovered photos and videos on his phone which were described as ‘disturbing’.
He has not been charged in connection to the girl’s murder and was not granted bond during an initial hearing.
After the photo was shared, the Sheriff’s office told the Orlando Sentinel: ‘On March 2, 2024, a post was made on social media about a community event for seniors. In the post, an investigative photo was accidentally included.
‘The photo was immediately removed. We deeply apologize for any confusion or disturbance this may have caused. As with any investigation, the information obtained is confidential and any mistaken disclosures will be immediately rectified.’
Florida law forbids the release of photos or video of ‘the killing of a minor,’ without the permission of the surviving family and anyone who ‘willfully and knowingly’ shares photos could be accused of a third-degree felony.
Former Sheriff Russ Gibson wrote on Facebook: ‘This photograph was taken at an active crime scene where Madeline’s body was recovered and it was indeed a picture of Madeline’s lifeless body.
‘This is 100% unacceptable and 100% shameful and disrespectful to Madeline, her family and friends.
‘I do have a copy of the post but out of respect and reverence for Miss Madeline, the photograph will not be posted. The time for Marcos Lopez and certain members of his administration of dishonoring themselves, our agency, and our great County is coming to an end!’
The department came under fire again on the same day the crime scene photo was shared after agency Executive Director Nirva Rodríguez shared a selfie of herself with the main suspect Sterns on her personal Facebook page.
She captioned the photo: ‘If God’s love has been poured out over your life, don’t allow evil to keep you away from what He has prepared for you.’
It has since been deleted.
DailyMail.com contacted Osceola County Sheriff’s Office for comment.
Agency Executive Director Nirva Rodríguez was criticized the same day after she shared a selfie of herself with main suspect Sterns on her personal Facebook page
The department has not confirmed if it was Osceola County Sheriff Marcos R. Lopez who shared the photo
Madeline was reported missing last Monday night in Orlando, Florida, after initial reports said she was last seen that morning near Town Loop Boulevard and Hunter’s Park Lane.
Cops have since said she may have already been dead during her final sighting.
Video has emerged of an interview Sterns gave to Orlando’s WFTV 9 last Tuesday.
‘I dropped her off [at school] early, I could have waited longer,’ he said tearfully.
‘She looked okay she was walking towards the school. I went on with my day. We don’t know where she could be, and we’re scared. I just want her home.’
He added: ‘It just keeps coming in waves, reality keeps hitting. We don’t know where she is, we don’t know if she’s safe. It’s a living nightmare. I just wanna wake up.’
Deputies say they believe Madeline was never dropped off at Hunter’s Creek Middle School on Monday morning, and was dead before then.
They said Sterns allegedly moved her body in the morning hours of Monday after killing her in Kissimmee.
On Friday afternoon, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office held a press conference in which that stated that they were ‘confident’ the girl was dead.
Sheriff John Mina broke the ‘devastating news’ to Madeline’s mother Jenn on Thursday night.
‘We believe he moved her body in those early morning hours, and all that is still under investigation,’ Sheriff Mina explained.
Jennifer Soto (left) – Madeline’s mother – is pictured next to her 13-year-old daughter
Stephan Sterns, 37, the suspect in the murder of 13-year-old Madeline Soto, has not appeared for his first appearance in court as footage has emerged of him saying ‘it’s hard not to blame myself’
Madeline Soto, 13, was reported missing last Monday night in Orlando, Florida after she was last seen that morning near Town Loop Boulevard and Hunter’s Park Lane. She is pictured celebrating her milestone 13th birthday last Sunday
Police found the teenager’s body a short distance away from where she lived
Video evidence shows Stephan Sterns discarding items that included Madeline’s backpack and school laptop in a dumpster at the family’s Kissimmee apartment complex at 7:35am. on Monday, February 26
Police say they believe the teenager was never dropped off at Hunter’s Creek Middle School on Monday morning having been killed hours earlier in Kissimmee.
After Sterns’ arrest last week, investigators said they discovered ‘disturbing images’ when they looked through his phone, along with proof that he attempted to delete evidence of the related material.
Following his arrest, Sterns invoked his right to an attorney and declined to speak during his interview. Investigators said he was also the last person to see the girl. He did not appear in person during his initial court appearance.
Last Friday morning, Sterns was transferred from the Orange County Jail to Osceola County.