Authorities believe missing 13-year-old Madeline Soto is dead

• 13-year-old Madeline Soto is missing.
• Police fear that she is dead.
• Stephan Sterns has been arrested.

Frightening news has shaken the community of Orange County, Florida as authorities made a tragic announcement regarding Madeline Soto, the 13-year-old who has been missing since Monday.

The Orange County Sheriff’s Office made the announcement on social media where they stated that investigators are «now confident» that Madeline Soto is deceased.

Nevertheless, law enforcement agencies are still diligently working to locate her.

Before you continue reading, we invite you to listen to the new Tu Mundo Hoy podcast by clicking HERE.

To listen to the podcast click on the image

So far Madeline Soto is missing and her body has not been found. This is a developing news story, and our team is in contact with authorities to obtain further details in the coming hours.

The investigation into the disappearance of Madeline Soto, the 13-year-old girl who vanished on her way to school, has taken a disturbing turn.

Authorities arrested her mother’s boyfriend as the main suspect in her disappearance on Wednesday.

Stephan Sterns is the last person confirmed to have seen her on the morning of February 26.

Stephan Sterns is arrested

Stephan Sterns’ arrest was reported by the Orange County Sheriff’s Office through a statement published on their Facebook page.

Head bowed, hands cuffed behind his back, dressed in white, and without lifting his gaze towards the camera, the suspect was escorted by two officers, towards the patrol car that would take him to prison.

Sterns has been charged with «sexual battery and possession of child sexual abuse material,» stated the Sheriff’s Office.

His arrest was executed nearly 72 hours after Maddi’s mother, Jenn Soto, sought assistance from county authorities because her daughter never arrived at school.

Disturbing content on Sterns’ phone

«Through the work of our Digital Forensics Unit earlier today, detectives discovered images and videos that were criminal, and sexual in nature,» the statement reads.

The material was described by investigators in their report as «disturbing» and they also highlighted the suspect’s intentions to dispose of the evidence.

«A review of the phone’s data revealed attempts to delete evidence,» the statement continues.

Detectives explained that the images and videos on Sterns’ phone were apparently taken at a home in Kissimmee, several miles from Orlando, where the family resides.

More details about the case

Due to the alleged crime occurring in another jurisdiction, officers from the Kissimmee Police Department took over the investigation into the sexual assault.

They joined forces with the team from the Criminal Investigations Division working on Maddie’s case.

Authorities did not clarify whether the findings have any connection to Soto’s disappearance.

However, the Sheriff’s Office pointed out in their statement that «Sterns is considered the prime suspect at this time.»

Madeline Soto is missing

There is still no trace of the Hunter’s Creek Middle School student.

According to official information, Stephan Sterns was responsible for taking her to the school on the morning of her disappearance.

However, for reasons that are still unknown, he said he dropped her a mile away, in the parking lot of the Peace United Methodist Church on Town Loop Boulevard.

More than 100 officers and missing persons experts have joined the search and are tracking the area near the school and the church.

Authorities are committed to finding Madeline Soto

Meanwhile, family, friends and neighbors have been focused on distributing flyers with Maddie’s photograph.

«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,» said Orange County Sheriff John Mina.

The Orange County Sheriff’s Office and the Kissimmee Police Department have publicly committed to not resting until they have answers about Madeline Soto’s whereabouts.

While authorities search for clues, a flyer featuring her smiling face continues to circulate on social media in the hope that someone will reach out at 407-254-7000 or 911 with information.