126: EXPLICIT ADVISORY! Madeline Soto: 13-Year-Old Vanishes and Mom's BF Arrested
In this SERIALously episode, the hosts examine the disappearance and death of 13-year-old Madeline Soto in Kissimmee, Florida. The episode details the disturbing circumstances surrounding Madeline's vanishing after being dropped off near her school by her mother's boyfriend, Stefan Stearns.
It recounts how Stearns quickly became the primary suspect after authorities discovered disturbing child sexual abuse material on his phone and evidence linking him to the disposal of Madeline's belongings. The blurb explores the tragic turn of events as the search for Madeline transitioned into a recovery mission, ultimately uncovering her remains while police build a case against Stearns.
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1-Page Summary
Madeline Soto's Disappearance and Tragic Case
Vanishing After Her 13th Birthday
Madeline Soto, 13, went missing on February 26th after celebrating her birthday in Kissimmee, Florida. Her mother, Jenn Soto, last saw Madeline that morning before school, which she never attended. Jenn reported her missing around 8 PM.
The Last Sighting Raises Suspicion
Madeline was last seen being dropped off near her school by her mother's boyfriend, Stefan Stearns. Surveillance footage showed Madeline lingering briefly in a church parking lot before heading toward the school. Stearns claimed he should have stayed with her longer.
Stefan Stearns Arrested With Disturbing Evidence
Child Sexual Abuse Material Found
Just two days after Madeline vanished, Stefan Stearns was arrested for possession of child sexual abuse material on his phone. Annie Elise reports the images and videos depicted graphic sexual abuse of children.
Stearns Named Primary Suspect
Police found footage of Stearns disposing of Madeline's possessions, including her backpack and laptop. Stearns was named the primary suspect in her disappearance, although not charged in relation to the case at that time.
The Heartbreaking Discovery and Murder Investigation
Search Becomes Recovery Mission
Authorities announced they believed Madeline was deceased, shifting the investigation to a recovery effort. Search teams discovered Madeline's body in a wooded area where Stearns had reportedly experienced a flat tire.
Stearns Facing Additional Charges
Stearns currently faces charges related to the child sexual abuse material. As the murder investigation continues, led by Kissimmee Police, authorities hint that Stearns could face additional charges for Madeline's death.
1-Page Summary
Additional Materials
Clarifications
- Madeline Soto, a 13-year-old girl, went missing on February 26th after celebrating her birthday in Kissimmee, Florida. Her mother's boyfriend, Stefan Stearns, was the last person seen with her before her disappearance. Two days after Madeline vanished, Stearns was arrested for possession of child sexual abuse material, but not initially charged in relation to Madeline's case. Madeline's body was later found in a wooded area, leading to a murder investigation where Stearns was named the primary suspect.
- The connection between the child sexual abuse material found on Stefan Stearns' phone and Madeline's disappearance is not explicitly stated in the text. However, the discovery of such material could indicate a concerning pattern of behavior and raise suspicions about Stearns' involvement in Madeline's case. The presence of this material may suggest a potential motive or provide insight into Stearns' character, but it does not directly confirm his role in Madeline's disappearance. The investigation would need to establish any concrete links between the two aspects.
- Stefan Stearns was arrested for possession of child sexual abuse material, but he was not initially charged in relation to Madeline Soto's disappearance. However, as the murder investigation progressed, authorities hinted that Stearns could face additional charges related to Madeline's death. The legal process involves gathering evidence to establish a connection between Stearns and the disappearance and death of Madeline Soto before formal charges can be brought against him. The authorities are conducting a thorough investigation to determine the extent of Stearns' involvement in the tragic case.
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Madeline Soto's disappearance and the initial investigation
Madeline Soto's disappearance following her 13th birthday leads to a heart-wrenching search as family and authorities strive to uncover her whereabouts.
Madeline was last seen on February 26, the day after her 13th birthday
Madeline Soto, a 13-year-old from Kissimmee, Florida, was last seen the morning after celebrating her 13th birthday with her family. Jenn Soto, Madeline's mother, recalls their last interaction discussing the birthday festivities. Around 4:30 PM that day, Jenn went to pick Madeline up from Hunters Creek Middle School, but Madeline was nowhere to be found. Madeline never made it to school that day; she was marked as absent for all periods. After failing to locate Madeline at her grandmother's office or through contact with friends, Jenn Soto filed a missing person report around 8:00 p.m.
The last person to see Madeline was her mother's boyfriend, Stefan Stearns
Stefan Stearns, Jenn Soto's boyfriend, claimed to have dropped Madeline off near the school that morning. He expressed regret, wondering if he should have stayed with her longer. Jenn Soto explains that Stefan had let Madeline out near a church adjace ...
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Madeline Soto's disappearance and the initial investigation
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- Kissimmee, Florida, is a city located in central Florida, south of Orlando. It is known for its proximity to popular tourist destinations like Walt Disney World and Universal Studios. Kissimmee is part of Osceola County and has a mix of residential areas, commercial districts, and tourist attractions.
- Madeline Soto is the daughter of Jenn Soto. Stefan Stearns is Jenn Soto's boyfriend. Stefan was the last person to see Madeline before her disappearance.
- Stefan dropped Madeline off near the school because she requested it, wanting to walk the rest of the way. This decision was made by Madeline herself, and Stefan obliged her wish.
- The church adjacent to the school where Madeline was last seen dropping off is a location where Stefan Stearns, Jenn Soto's boyfriend, let Madeline out of the car. This church's surveillance footage captured Madeline lingering briefly before heading towards the school, but she never arrived. The footage was grainy and did not provide clear details on which direction Madeline went after leaving the church parking lot. This area near the school and church has become a focal point in the investigation due to Madeline's disappear ...
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The arrest and charges against Madeline's mother's boyfriend, Stefan Stearns
Stearns was arrested two days after Madeline's disappearance on unrelated in the county jail in Florida
Stefan Stearns was arrested on Wednesday, February 28th, facing grave charges unrelated to the disappearance of Madeline. Police found disturbing child sexual abuse material on Stearns' phone which included several images and videos that depicted child sexual abuse. The explicit material featured sexual performance by a child and contained explicit images of genitalia.
Police found disturbing child sexual abuse material on Stearns' phone
Annie Elise reports that the material found on Stefan's phone led to charges of sexual battery and possession of child sexual abuse content. Despite his claims of an accidental factory reset on his phone coinciding with the day Madeleine went missing, the evidence pointed to his possession of the illicit material.
Stearns was named the primary suspect in Madeline's disappearance
Stefan Stearns has been identified as the prim ...
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The arrest and charges against Madeline's mother's boyfriend, Stefan Stearns
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- Madeline is the daughter of her mother, who is in a relationship with Stefan Stearns. Stefan Stearns is Madeline's mother's boyfriend.
- Stefan Stearns was arrested on charges related to possessing child sexual abuse material, including explicit images and videos depicting child sexual abuse. These charges included sexual battery and possession of child sexual abuse content found on his phone.
- Stefan Stearns was linked to Madeline's disappearance through video footage showing him disposing of items in a dumpster where Madeline's belongings were later found. This evidence, along ...
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The discovery of Madeline's body and the transition to a homicide case
From a missing person to a homicide, the case surrounding the disappearance of 13-year-old Madeline Soto has developed into a death investigation following the tragic discovery of her body.
Authorities announced they believed Madeline was dead, transitioning the search to a recovery effort
During a press conference, the Orange County Sheriff's Department conveyed their confidence that Madeline Soto was deceased. The investigation's focus shifted from a rescue to a recovery operation, with the sobering announcement that the search teams were looking to recover Madeline's body. Madeline's family had been informed of this heartbreaking update the night before it was shared with the public.
Search teams found Madeline's body in a wooded area days after her disappearance
Search teams indeed found Madeline's body in a secluded wooded region off Hickory Tree Road, an area where Stefan, the boyfriend of Madeline's mother, had a reported flat tire on the day Madeline went missing. His behavior raised suspicions, as he was seen pacing in an interview with Madeline's mother, behavior which some have interpreted as potentially intimidating. While speculation surrounds the involvement of Madeline's mother, authorities have not presented evidence suggesting her participation in the alleged crimes at this time.
Stearns is currently facing charges related to the child sexual abuse material
Stefan Stearns, Madeline's mother's boyfriend, has been transported from Orange County jail to Osceola County jail and is facing charges related to the possession of child sexual abuse material. Stearns's behavior prior to his arrest and the peculiar circums ...
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The discovery of Madeline's body and the transition to a homicide case
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Clarifications
- Stefan Stearns, the boyfriend of Madeline's mother, exhibited suspicious behavior, including pacing during an interview with Madeline's mother. This behavior raised concerns among investigators. Additionally, Stefan had a reported flat tire on the day Madeline went missing near the location where her body was later found. Authorities suspect Stefan of involvement in the case, leading to his arrest on charges related to child sexual abuse material possession. The investigation is ongoing, with the possibility of additional charges against Stefan as more evidence is gathered.
- Hickory Tree Road is a specific road in the area where Madeline Soto's body was found. It is a wood ...
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