The body of a missing Florida teen who has been the subject of a desperate search all week was found late Friday in a wooded area in Osceola County.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Office said the body of 13-year-old Madeline Soto was found off Hickory Tree Road at about 4:30 p.m., WOFL reported. Police found the body after someone called in a tip, following a press conference earlier Friday.
The discovery was in the area where Stephan Sterns, the boyfriend of Soto’s mother, was seen Monday afternoon about 1 or 2 p.m. and stopped to change a tire.
Sterns, who was arrested Wednesday on child pornography charges after police found disturbing images on his cell phone, told investigators he dropped Soto off about a half mile from her school Monday morning.
Earlier Friday, however, Orange County Sheriff John Mina said they now believe that wasn’t true and that “she was already dead at the time and that Stephan Sterns moved her body in the early morning hours on that day.”
Mina also said that investigators had surveillance video showing Sterns tossing items into a dumpster.
“Madeline’s family has been notified. We have no additional information to release at this time. Kissimmee PD is the lead agency in this homicide investigation. That work continues,” the sheriff’s office said, according to NBC News.
According to Kissimmee police Chief Betty Holland, Sterns was spotted Monday afternoon, between 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., driving a 2010 Lincoln MKC with the Florida license plate, “IYLL82,” around State Road 192 and Old Hickory Tree Road, and Old Hickory Tree Road and Nolte Road.
During the time frame of his travel, Sterns may have gotten a flat tire and stopped to change “the tire in this area,” Holland said.
She asked anyone who may have seen the vehicle to contact Crimeline at 800-423-TIPS or 800-423-8477.
Madeline’s mother is not considered a suspect in the case. Check back for updates.
[Feature Photo via via Orange County Sheriff’s Office]
