The body of 13-year-old Madeline Soto has been found in woods close to where she disappeared, four days after she was reported missing.
Osceola County Sheriff’s Office search teams found her at 4:30pm on Friday afternoon. They say her body found was wearing clothing similar to what Maddie was last wearing – a green sweatshirt, black shorts and white Crocs.
The grim discovery came hours after police revealed Madeline’s mother’s boyfriend, Stephan Sterns, 37, is the ‘prime suspect’ in her murder.
Sterns was seen driving his silver 2010 Lincoln MK car with the teenager’s lifeless body still in the vehicle after dumping her backpack and laptop in the trash.
The area where Soto’s body was discovered is where Sterns had been seen driving and seen at the side of the road changing his tire.
Soto was reported missing on Monday night in Orlando, Florida, after initial reports she was last seen that morning near Town Loop Boulevard and Hunter’s Park Lane. However, cops have since said she may have already been dead during her final sighting.
Sterns is now in jail having been arrested on child porn charges and sexual battery. He has not been charged in connection to the girl’s murder.
Madeline Soto, 13, was reported missing on 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 birthday last Sunday
At about 4:30pm on Friday afternoon, Sheriff’s Office search teams located the body of Madeline Soto in a wooded area off of Hickory Tree Road, Osceola County
Police found the teenager’s body a short distance away from where she lived
Video evidence shows Stephan Sterns discarding items in a dumpster at the family’s Kissimmee apartment complex at 7:35am. on Monday, February 26
Orange County Sheriff John Mina and Kissimmee Police Chief Betty Holland announces that their investigation has led them to believe that 13-year-old Madeline Soto was killed by primary suspect Stephan Sterns
The press conference was held at Orange County Sheriff’s Office headquarters in Orlando
A missing persons flyer for 13-year-old Madeline Soto and primary suspect Stephan Sterns, far right, on display as Orange County Sheriff ‘s Department hold a press conference on Friday
Sterns has not been charged in connection to the girl’s disappearance but is the ‘prime suspect’ and has been arrested on other charged
Deputies say they believe Madeline was never dropped off at Hunter’s Creek Middle School on Monday morning, and was dead before then.
They also 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.
‘Searches are continuing as we speak, and we have people who are working nonstop. So every lead that comes in, every piece of evidence that we receive, we’re gonna follow up on that, and if that leads us to a new search area, we’ll be out all weekend,’ Mina said.
Surveillance footage seen by police sees Sterns throwing items into a dumpster at an apartment complex in Kissimmee at 7:45am on Monday morning.
The objects were later recovered and found to be Madeline Soto’s backpack and school-issued laptop.
Sterns was then captured for a second time on video as he returned back to his neighborhood with Madeline’s body said to be visible.
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.
Police said investigators discovered ‘disturbing images’ when they looked through Sterns’ phone, along with proof that he attempted to delete evidence of the related material.
After 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.
On Friday morning, Sterns was transferred from the Orange County Jail to Osceola County
Sterns was walked to a waiting patrol car with his hands cuffed
After his arrest, Sterns invoked his right to an attorney and declined to speak during his interview
Officials from various agencies were out on the scene in rural Osceola County on Friday as her body was found
Madeline Soto, 13, was reported missing on Monday night in Orlando, Florida after she was last seen that morning near Town Loop Boulevard and Hunter’s Park Lane
During Friday’s press conference Mina also revealed how authorities are currently working to find and recover Madeline’s body
Mom, Jennifer Soto, is pictured alongside her 13-year-old daughter Maddie
Sterns has not been charged with her murder as of Friday evening
The Orange County Sheriff’s Office is ‘confident’ that Madeline Soto, a 13-year-old girl who was reported missing earlier this week, is dead.
On Friday morning, Sterns was transferred from the Orange County Jail to Osceola County.
During Friday’s press conference Mina also revealed how authorities are currently working to find and recover Madeline’s body.
Orange County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Maria Vazquez released a statement following Madeline’s death: ‘I am heartbroken to hear from the Orange County Sheriff’s Office of the tragic death of our precious student, Madeline Soto. My thoughts and prayers go out to Maddie’s family and her school community.
‘To lose a child so suddenly and tragically is extremely difficult especially for family and friends. Counselors continue to be available for any student or staff member dealing with the news. I ask that you keep the entire Hunter’s Creek Middle School community in your prayers as they grieve the loss of one of their own.’
Stephan Sterns, 37, the boyfriend of Madeline mother, was arrested on Wednesday for child porn charges
The search for Madeline began after her mother told Fox 35 that her daughter did not make it to school on Monday morning.
‘I went to pick her up after school and she wasn’t there,’ she said before her boyfriend’s arrest.
‘I drove around and I didn’t see anything. I drove back to the school, the school was closed.’
‘I emailed one of her teachers, they confirmed that she was absent all day. At that point is when I called 911 because I realized something was truly wrong.’
Jenn spoke as Sterns sat quietly behind her and occasionally looked into the camera.
In another interview, the mother said surveillance footage showed her daughter in the parking lot at Peace United Methodist Church after she was dropped off at school that morning.
Jenn also noted that Madeline left her cell phone at home on the morning she was last seen.
Orange County Sheriff John Mina said that the girl’s phone has since been reviewed by police and information on it ‘indicated that she told people’ that ‘she wanted to go live in the woods’ once she turned 13.
Madeline’s mother, Jenn Soto, is seen speaking to the camera while Sterns sits quietly behind her and occasionally looked into the camera
Police found messages on Madeline’s phone that said once she was 13, she wanted ‘to go live in the woods.’ The girl is seen in a picture with her mother Jenn and her boyfriend Sterns
Madeline’s birthday was on February 22, four days before she was last seen alive.
Authorities enlisted the help of K9s, search teams and a piece of Madeline’s clothing to try and locate her scent.
Missing posters have also been posted all over town and on social media, along with a Facebook group called ‘Madeline Soto Strong- Official support Group & Updates.’
A GoFundMe page was also created to raise funds to assist in the effort to locate Madeline before her body was found.
As of Friday, more than $2,200 had been raised and is set to go toward sharing information about Madeline on social media, billboards and printed flyers.
The page also said that the money will go toward ‘supporting the family during this difficult time with any unforeseen costs.’
Andrea, who said she was the the mother’s best friend said: ‘I’ve watched Maddie grow into the beautiful young lady she’s become. She loves arts and crafts, playing video games, and playing volleyball.’
‘She’s a good kid who is loved beyond measure and we just want her safe at home with her family where she belongs.’
The young girl was last seen wearing a green jacket, black shorts and white Crocs.
Missing posters have also been posted all over town and on social media, along with a Facebook group called Madeline Soto Strong- Official support Group & Updates
Authorities have enlisted the help of K9s, search teams and a piece of Madeline’s clothing to try and locate her scent. Pictured: A search crew is seen looking for the girl
The young girl was last seen wearing a green jacket, black shorts and white Crocs. She has two distinct moles on her face- one on the left side of her nose and another on the right side of her chin
The girl’s aunt, Leticia Nunez, said at the time that she didn’t think that Madeleine would’ve ‘pick up and run away with no trace of anything.’
‘I’m trying to believe that she is still alive out there.’
Tatiana Wallace, Madeline’s step mother, also spoke out about the young girl’s disappearance and Sterns’ recent arrest in the days before she was discovered dead.
‘My stepdaughter Madeline has been missing for more than 72 hours. With Stephan Sterns behind bars, we can concentrate on finding her. Share her photo with everyone you know,’ she said.
Jenn has also posted online about her daughter’s disappearance, but has not commented on her boyfriend’s arrest.
‘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,’ the mother said.
Early Thursday morning the mother posted her daughter’s missing flyer on her Facebook and said: ‘Please share! Please bring Maddie home!’