Madeline Soto’s relatives may be suspects in her death

• Madeline Soto’s case takes a dark turn.
• Suspicion turns to her family.
• An unexpected twist emerges.

In an unexpected turn of events, the Kissimmee Police Department announced that they are expanding the pool of suspects in Madeline Soto’s case.

The murder of the 13-year-old girl, whose body was found in a wooded area in Osceola County at the end of February, has become murkier.

«All individuals close to Madeline are suspects until proven otherwise,» said Kissimmee Police Chief Betty Holland in a press conference.

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New suspects in Madeline Soto’s case

Chief Holland made this statement when asked at a press conference about the involvement of Madeline Soto’s mother, Jennifer Soto, and her boyfriend, Stephan Sterns, in the murder.

«I have nothing new to share that you don’t already know, except that our detectives are working tirelessly every day,» she began.

«We’re doing everything to ensure that all evidence is thoroughly covered during the investigation,» assured Holland.

The limited information provided by police, nearly a month after the investigation began, elicited mixed reactions from those closely following the case.

Is Madeline Soto’s mother involved in her murder?

However, everyone agrees that they want justice for Maddie

«Thank you for working diligently to ensure that all involved in Madeline’s abuse receive appropriate justice,» wrote Brittany Lesley in support of the law enforcement agency.

«I’m sure this is not an easy case for any of the investigators involved,» she commented.

According Chief Holland, there are no autopsy results yet, so the cause of the girl’s death remains unknown.

Soto’s mother’s boyfriend is still behind bars

The police investigation into Madeline Soto’s case that has shocked the entire country, began on February 26 after she was reported missing to the Orange County Police Department.

The report was made by her mother, Jennifer Soto, who realized at 4:00 in the afternoon that her daughter had never arrived at Hunter’s Creek High School.

Jennifer Soto’s boyfriend, Stephan Sterns, 37, had taken Madelines to school that morning and claimed he had dropped her off just a few blocks away.

It was only a matter of hours before Sterns became the prime suspect in the case.

Stephan Sterns has not been charged with murder

Sterns has not been charged with murder in relation to Madeline Soto’s case so far.

According to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, Sterns was caught on camera discarding items in a garbage dumpster around 7:35 a.m. on the day of the disappearance.

Madeline’s backpack and laptop were found at that location.

On the same day, Sterns was seen returning to his apartment complex with Soto in the car, according to the sheriff’s office.

What happens next with the investigation?

Detectives believe Madelines was already dead at that time.

Soto’s body was later discovered in a wooded area off Old Hickory Tree Road in Osceola County.

Authorities claim Sterns was seen in the area that afternoon, changing a tire.

Two days after the search for Madeline began, authorities announced Sterns’ arrest.

What they found on the Sterns’ cell phone

«They found ‘images and videos of a criminal and sexual nature’ on his cellphone,» said Orange County Sheriff John Mina at a press conference.

Based on the images on his phone, Sterns is facing 60 charges related to child sexual offenses and child pornography.

His trial will begin in May, and in the meantime, he is being held without bail.

How will Madeline Soto’s case end?