ORLANDO, Fla. (WFLA) — Stephen Stearns, the man charged with the death of Florida teenager Madeline Soto, did not contest Monday’s teenage murder.
According to Wesh, Sterns was originally scheduled to go to trial Tuesday on 60 counts of sexual abuse and murder at the 13-year-old.
Investigators said the defendant, who was dating the victim’s mother, recorded that he had sexually abused Madeline Soto for years before his death in 2024.
Madeline went missing the day after her 13th birthday party. Kissimmee police said it is believed that Stearns killed her and left her body along the Osceola County road.
During his hearing, Stearns said he had not given a contest to Madeline Soto’s planned murder. However, he pleaded guilty to sexually abusing and abusing the girl.
After a series of influence statements from Madeline’s loved ones, Judge Keith Carsten sentenced her life in prison without parole for murder and rape charges.
“You’re falling,” said Tire Wallace, Madeline’s father. “You’re a coward. You’re a secret thief. You creep up on your family and used them and misuse them.”
“I hope he has lived in prison for a long time and has the same fears that he has visited him by fellow inmates,” he added.
