Discussions will continue whether the state will seek the death penalty.
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State Attorney Andrew Bain and Kissimmee Police Chief Betty Holland (left) joined 9th Circuit Homicide Unit Chief Will Jay at a press conference Wednesday to discuss the first-degree murder charges against Stephan Sterns. -
First-degree murder charges were filed Wednesday against Stephan Sterns in the death of Madeline Soto.
On the same day that a pre-trial hearing for Stephan Sterns was held — without his presence — the Ninth Circuit State Attorney's Office has filed first degree capital murders charges against him in the death of 13-year-old Madeline Soto.
Osceola County court records were updated Wednesday with the new charge, after a grand jury came down with an indictment earlier in the day.
Court documents show that the grand jury convened and found that Sterns, "On or between the 25th day of February and the 27th day of February, 2024 ... did, in violation of Florida Statute ... from a premeditated design to effect the death of Madeline Soto, unlawfully kill Madeline Soto."
Sterns is scheduled to make an appearance for arraignment on the murder charge on Monday at 1:30 p.m., but he has yet to participate in any scheduled appearance; he was not at a pre-trial hearing Wednesday morning for the 60 charges that include sexual battery on a child and possession of materials depicting the sexual performance of a child.
Kissimmee Police Chief Betty Holland and State Attorney Andrew Bain spoke on the Osceola County Courthouse steps Wednesday afternoon.
The case has been open for almost eight weeks, but Bain said that death investigations generally take five to six weeks to complete and deliver charges, so this investigation has been on pace.
"The Kissimmee Police Department and my office have been working closely to gather and pour over every piece of evidence in this case," Bain said. "We were successful in producing the best case we could. (KPD) have done an amazing job in the heavy lift we've asked of them, as well as the prosecutors in this case."
Now that there's a murder charge, Bain said discussions will look at factors of the evidence to decide whether the state will seek the death penalty.
"We thank the grand jury for their hard work in taking this first step in getting justice for Madeline Soto so her family can have closure," he said.
KPD Chief Holland said an "instrumental collaboration" between investigators and detectives pieced together the case heard by the grand jury, with enough evidence to deliver the indictment.
"It showed (Sterns) made calculated moves to dispose of Soto's belongings and body before she was reported missing," she said. "The indictment signifies a crucial step forward in our quest for justice and commitment to honoring Maddie's memory."
Sterns remains the only person charged; no charges have yet been filed against Madeline's mother, Jennifer Soto, or anyone else. No plea offers have been made on the open case.
That was the extent of details given Wednesday, as Ninth Circuit Homicide Unit Chief Will Jay was adamant that, since the the criminal investigation remains open and ongoing, the facts and details of the case were not available for discussion until Sterns' defense participates in the evidence discovery process.
Cause of death and other facts of the case are not yet subject to public records laws, Jay said, also noting that no others are being charged in the 60 counts already filed.
