Madeline Soto's alleged killer faces death penalty for death of 13-year-old

Florida prosecutors want the man accused of killing his girlfriend's 13-year-old daughter to receive the death penalty if convicted.

Stephan Sterns is charged with the murder of Madeline “Maddie” Soto earlier this year. The teen's body was found several days after her mother, Jenn Soto, and Sterns reported her missing.

They said she did not come home on February 26. Both men said the child was dropped off near her school that morning, but never made it to class.

Sterns is currently facing more than 60 charges related to the girl's death. He has already been charged with the girl's murder, capital sexual assault, lewd or lascivious molestation and unlawful possession of child sexual abuse material.

Her mother told police that Maddie wanted to be dropped off a block from the school because she was inconvenienced by Stern's car. Sterns said she looked the same as every other morning when she was dropped off.

However, police believe the girl was killed a day before school started.

The Osceola County Sheriff's Office arrested Sterns on Feb. 28 after discovering “disturbing images” on his phone, which he allegedly attempted to delete. Authorities found her body March 1 near Hickory Tree Road in Osceola County.

Police said the photos were “criminal and sexual in nature.”

Three days later, authorities obtained another arrest warrant for Sterns, saying he had been sexually abusing the child since 2022.

Prosecutors believe they can prove the following aggravating circumstances in the case that would allow them to put the death penalty on the table: Sterns had previously been convicted of another capital crime involving the use or threat of violence , the crime was committed while he was in custody. engaged in an attempt to commit aggravated child abuse, the crime was heinous, atrocious or cruel and the victim was vulnerable because of her age.

A grand jury indicted Sterns on first-degree murder charges in April. A preliminary hearing in the case has been set for July 10 and the trial is scheduled for July 16.