Man Given 21 Life Sentences In Death Of Madeline Soto

A Florida man was fixed 21 life sentences Monday aft pleading nary title to execution and blameworthy to different counts successful nan intersexual maltreatment and decease of 13-year-old Madeline Soto.

Stephan Sterns, who had been nan fellow of Madeline’s mother, entered nan pleas successful a Kissimmee tribunal arsenic portion of a woody that prosecutors said was reached successful adjacent coordination pinch nan girl’s family.

Sterns, 39, was sentenced to 21 life sentences, which will tally concurrently, aliases astatine nan aforesaid time.

Madeline SotoOrange County Sheriff's Office

“Because of nan actions of this depraved man, I will ne'er meet nan female she was becoming,” Madeline’s father, Tyler Wallace, who said he wanted to beryllium much of a portion of her life, told nan court. “And I can’t — I can’t grasp it.”

Madeline’s assemblage was recovered successful a wooded area successful Osceola County connected March 1, 2024, 4 days aft her mother reported her girl missing.

Sterns was first arrested connected counts of intersexual battery, lewd aliases lascivious molestation and unlawful possession of materials depicting intersexual capacity by a kid aft investigators searched his phone, officials said.

He was later indicted by a expansive assemblage connected a count of first-degree execution successful her death.

Madeline's mother reported her missing aft Sterns was to person dropped her disconnected that greeting astatine Hunter’s Creek Middle School successful Orlando, wherever she attended, according to tribunal records. But erstwhile nan mother went to prime her up aft nan schoolhouse day, she learned her girl had ne'er arrived.

Sterns connected Monday pleaded nary title to first-degree premeditated murder, which intends he did not admit guilt.

He pleaded blameworthy to 8 counts of superior intersexual artillery of personification nether nan property of 12; 5 counts of intersexual artillery of personification betwixt nan ages of 12 and 18; and 7 counts of lewd aliases lascivious molestation.

State Attorney Monique Worrell said nan plea woody intends Sterns waived immoderate correct to appeal. She said Madeline’s “life was stolen successful a senseless enactment of violence.”

“The individual responsible has been sentenced to 21 concurrent life sentences and will ne'er locomotion free again. He has besides waived each of his authorities to appeal, ensuring finality and sparing nan family from reliving this trauma successful courtrooms for years to come,” Worrell said successful a statement.

Sterns said successful tribunal aft his pleas that “I person prayed to God countless times to waste and acquisition places pinch her, to return maine instead, and unluckily that’s conscionable not really He works.”

“I apologize for each nan pain,” he said.

Madeline's maternal grandmother, Yolanda Zambrano, said successful a missive publication astatine tribunal by a charismatic that she felt for illustration a 2nd mother to Madeline and that she has been near pinch a “broken soul.”

Zambrano said that Sterns betrayed Madeline’s “love, her trust, her innocence, her body.”

“And if that wasn’t capable damage, he took her life,” she said. “And pinch her, he killed a portion of our souls.”