Boyfriend Charged with Murder of Missing Teenage Girl in Kissimmee, Florida

Stephan Sterns, the longtime boyfriend of central Florida mother Jennifer Soto, has been charged with the murder of 13-year-old Madeline Soto, according to court records filed in Osceola County on Wednesday.

Murder Charges

Madeline Soto was reported missing on Feb. 26, and her body was discovered in a wooded area several days later. Sterns has been charged with first-degree murder in connection with her death.

Legal Proceedings

State Attorney Andrew Bain has not yet determined whether the death penalty will be pursued for Sterns. The status of the teenager's mother, Jennifer Soto, in relation to the case has not been disclosed, although Kissimmee Police Chief Betty Holland stated that Jennifer Soto has fully cooperated with the investigation. Sterns is currently being held in jail with no bond set, and no defense attorney has been listed for him in the murder charge.

Prior to the murder charge, Sterns was facing numerous charges, including sexual battery on a child under 12 and unlawful possession of child sex abuse material related to Madeline Soto. A motion to delay the trial for these charges was filed by his public defender as they continue to prepare the defense.