Authorities Fear Missing 13-Year-Old Girl Is Dead, Lead Suspect Claimed He Was a Disney World Cast Member

All of Central Florida was shocked this week by the disappearance of 13-year-old Madeline Soto before school on Monday morning. Her mother’s boyfriend, Stephan Sterns, claimed he dropped her off near Hunter’s Creek Middle School in Orlando, but she never arrived.

Related: ‘He Went Through Hell Over This,’ Son Reacts After Mother’s Remains Found Outside Disney World

After an exhaustive search this week, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office now believes that Soto is dead, and Sterns is the prime suspect in her killing.

As the investigation began, Sterns was arrested for sexual battery and possessing child porn Wednesday. He is currently being jailed in Osceola County.

Investigators concluded today that Madeline Soto was dead after finding her backpack and school-issued laptop in a dumpster near her home in Kissimmee.

Sheriff Mina announces investigators “are now confident” missing 13-year-old Madeline Soto is dead.

Evidence revealed she was never dropped off near her school on the morning of February 26.

Law enforcement is still working hard to find her. pic.twitter.com/DprhaPyOpi

— Orange County Sheriff's Office (@OrangeCoSheriff) March 1, 2024

Related: Family Confirms that Remains Found Outside of Disney World Is Woman Missing Since 2012

Orange County Sheriff John Mina said:

Last night, detectives from the Kissimmee Police Department met with Madeline’s mother and they had to tell her the very devastating news that although we have not found Madeline, we are now confident that she is dead. Instead, we believe she was already dead at the time and that Stephan Sterns moved her body in the early morning hours on that day. We have video evidence that shows Stephan Sterns discarding items in a dumpster in that apartment complex in Kissimmee at 7:35 a.m.

During their investigation, Orange County Sheriff’s Office detectives said they found what they called “disturbing images” on Sterns’ phone, and a forensic investigation showed that he had tried to delete those images. Detectives believe those crimes were committed at the family’s home in Kissimmee. Sterns is currently in prison on those charges.

After Stephan Sterns’ arrest on Wednesday, local news began searching for information on social media. On his Facebook account, Sterns claimed that he was a cast member at nearby Walt Disney World. However, Disney World has since denied that Sterns was a current cast member. A representative for Disney World did not respond when asked if he had ever worked at Walt Disney World.

Sheriff Mina told reporters that investigators are now working to recover Madeline Soto’s body and are hoping that Sterns will provide them with a location.

Disney claims that Stephan Sterns does not work for the company, but didn't say whether he previously worked for the company.
Sterns FB says he's a @WaltDisneyWorld cast member.
Sterns is the prime suspect in the disappearance of 13-year-old Madeline Soto & was just arrested for… pic.twitter.com/05j2Wb41R4

— JLR© (@JLRINVESTIGATES) February 29, 2024

Sheriff Mina said: 

Stephan Sterns had an opportunity tonight to come clean with detectives and help lead them to information about Maddie’s disappearance.Her loved ones deserve answers, and OCSO and the Kissimmee police will not stop until we find Maddie.

If anyone saw Sterns’ car or has any information, they are asked to call the Orange County Sheriff’s office Crimeline number is 800-423-TIPS or 800-423-8477.