Florida man charged in killing of his girlfriend’s 13-year-old daughter

KISSIMMEE, Fla. — The longtime fellow of a cardinal Florida mother whose teenage girl was reported missing successful February was charged Wednesday pinch the 13-year-old girl’s murder, officials said.

Stephan Sterns was charged pinch first-degree execution for nan sidesplitting of Madeline Soto, according to tribunal records revenge successful Osceola County connected Wednesday.

Madeline Soto was reported missing Feb. 26 aft her mother, Jennifer Soto, said she didn’t find nan teen erstwhile she went to prime her up from school. Her body was recovered successful a wooded area respective days later.

State Attorney Andrew Bain said astatine a news convention that prosecutors haven’t decided yet whether to activity nan decease punishment for Sterns. Bain wouldn’t opportunity whether nan teenager’s mother was suspected of wrongdoing, though Kissimmee Police Chief Betty Holland said that Jennifer Soto has cooperated pinch detectives passim nan investigation.

Sterns was being held successful jailhouse connected nary bond. The online tribunal docket showed nary defense lawyer listed for Sterns for nan execution charge.

Sterns already was facing dozens of charges of intersexual artillery connected a kid nether 12 and unlawful possession of kid activity maltreatment worldly related to Madeline Soto. He had been scheduled to beryllium successful tribunal for those charges Wednesday, but his nationalist defender revenge a mobility to hold nan proceedings arsenic they proceed preparing their defense.