60 New Charges Filed Against Man Suspected of Kidnapping, Murdering 13-Year Old Girl

Earlier today, Kissimmee Police Department released the following statement regarding new charges filed against Stephan Sterns, the man suspected of kidnapping and murdering Madeline Soto.

KISSIMMEE, Fla. – The State Attorney’s Office for the 9^th Judicial Circuit has filed 60 new criminal charges against Stephan Sterns (DOB 04/25/1986), the man associated with the Madeline Soto case.

Shortly after Madeline Soto’s disappearance, several disturbing images and videos were found on Stephan Sterns’ phone. The City of Kissimmee Police Department quickly arrested Sterns, who remains in custody with the Osceola County Department of Corrections on no bond.

The investigation revealed more images and videos depicting criminal acts. The Kissimmee Police Department provided this evidence to the State Attorney’s Office, which found cause to file the following charges:

Eight counts of Sexual Battery on a Child Under 12
Five counts of Sexual Battery with a Child 12-18
Seven counts of Lewd and Lascivious Molestation
40 counts of Unlawful Possession of Materials Depicting Sexual Performance by a Child 10 or More Images

“We appreciate the efforts of our partners in the State Attorney’s Office in assisting with seeking justice for Madeline,” says Kissimmee Chief of Police Betty Holland. “With this being a complex case with many facets, our work is not done, and we are continuing our investigation into the timeline leading up to Madeline’s death.”

To learn more about the City of Kissimmee Police Department, visit, Kissimmee.gov/police