Current:Home > StocksFlorida girl still missing after mother's boyfriend arrested for disturbing images-DB Wealth Institute B2 Expert Reviews
Florida girl still missing after mother's boyfriend arrested for disturbing images
View Date:2024-12-23 19:09:03
13-year-old Madeline Soto is still missing after her mother's boyfriend, Stephan Sterns, was arrested for sexual battery and possession of child sexual abuse material, Florida officials said Thursday.
Soto was last seen February 26. Sterns, 37, was the last person to see her, the Orange County Sheriff's Office said in a news release.
During the investigation of Soto's disappearance, detectives with the Orange County Sheriff's Office found disturbing images on Sterns's phone, officials said.
The images and videos were "criminal, and sexual in nature," police said. Investigators also found through phone's data there were attempts to delete evidence.
The criminal activity was committed at the family's home in Kissimmee, police said. Kissimmee Police Department was notified, and detectives from the department will now work alongside Orange County's criminal investigations division in a sexual battery case, police said.
Sterns was brought in for questioning on Thursday and invoked his right to an attorney. He and was placed under arrest and transported to jail, and it is expected he will be held on no bond, the sheriff's department said.
Jail records do not provide any details into Sterns' charges.
"Stephan Sterns had an opportunity tonight to come clean with detectives and help lead them to information about Maddie's disappearance," said Sheriff John Mina. "Her loved ones deserve answers and OCSO and the Kisssimmee Police will not stop until we find Maddie."
Madeline was last seen wearing a green sweatshirt, black shorts and white Crocs shoes. Those with information are urged to call 911, 407-836-4357, or contact Central Florida Crimeline, the St. Cloud Police Department, which is nearby, said on Facebook.
- In:
- Missing Girl
- Missing Teen
- Florida
- Orange County
Caitlin O'Kane is a New York City journalist who works on the CBS News social media team as a senior manager of content and production. She writes about a variety of topics and produces "The Uplift," CBS News' streaming show that focuses on good news.
veryGood! (86822)
Related
- John Krasinski Revealed as People's Sexiest Man Alive 2024
- Jasmine Cephas Jones shares grief 'battle,' mourns father Ron: 'Miss you beyond words'
- PGA Tour golfer Gary Woodland set to have brain surgery to remove lesion
- U.S. citizen Paul Whelan appears in rare video inside Russian prison in clip aired by state media
- Dallas Long, who won 2 Olympic medals while dominating the shot put in the 1960s, has died at 84
- Kyle Richards Shares Update on “Very Hard” Public Separation From Mauricio Umansky
- Activists Crash Powerful Economic Symposium in Jackson Hole as Climate Protests and Responses to Them Escalate
- Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow returns to practice as team prepares for Browns
- Mike Tyson is expected to honor late daughter during Jake Paul fight. Here's how.
- Legacy of Native American boarding schools comes into view through a new interactive map
Ranking
- Opinion: Chris Wallace leaves CNN to go 'where the action' is. Why it matters
- John Mellencamp says use of racial slurs are one reason he's 'not a big fan of rap music'
- Strongest hurricanes to hit the US mainland and other storm records
- Jasmine Cephas Jones shares grief 'battle,' mourns father Ron: 'Miss you beyond words'
- Maine dams face an uncertain future
- Maine woman pleads guilty in 14-month-old son’s fentanyl death
- 'I love animals': Texas woman rescues 33 turtles after their pond dries up
- Watch Sister Wives' Janelle Brown Call Out Kody Brown’s Bulls--t During Explosive Fight
Recommendation
-
Why Outer Banks Fans Think Costars Rudy Pankow and Madison Bailey Used Stunt Doubles Amid Rumored Rift
-
Millions of workers earning less than $55,000 could get overtime pay under Biden proposal
-
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton pursued perks beyond impeachment allegations, ex-staffers say
-
North Carolina Gov. Cooper endorses fellow Democrat Josh Stein to succeed him
-
2025 NFL mock draft: QBs Shedeur Sanders, Cam Ward crack top five
-
Oklahoma deputy arrested in fatal shooting of his wife, police say
-
West Point time capsule that appeared to contain nothing more than silt yields centuries-old coins
-
North Korea says it simulated nuclear attacks on South Korea and rehearsed occupation of its rival