Madeline Soto suspect Stephan Sterns doesn't show for first court appearance as ... trends now
The suspect in the murder of 13-year-old Madeline Soto did not appear for his first court hearing as creepy footage emerged of him saying 'it's hard not to blame myself'.
Her body was discovered on Friday afternoon in woods close to where she disappeared, four days after she was reported missing.
The Osceola County Sheriff's Office said she was wearing clothing similar to what Maddie was last wearing - a green sweatshirt, black shorts and white Crocs.
The grim discovery came hours after police revealed Madeline's mother's boyfriend, Stephan Sterns, 37, is the 'prime suspect' in her murder.
He did not appear in Osceola County court on Saturday where he faces charges including sexual battery and possession of material depicting sexual performance by a child. The judge ruled he would stay in custody.
Footage has emerged of him giving a tearful interview with local news just a day after Madeline went missing.
Stephan Sterns, 37, the suspect in the murder of 13-year-old Madeline Soto, has not appeared for his first appearance in court as footage has emerged of him saying 'it's hard not to blame myself'
Madeline's body was discovered on Friday afternoon in woods close to where she disappeared, four days after she was reported missing
The grim discovery came hours after police revealed Madeline's mother's boyfriend Sterns is the 'prime suspect' in her murder
Madeline was reported missing on Monday night in Orlando, Florida, after initial reports she was last seen that morning near Town Loop Boulevard and Hunter's Park Lane.
However, cops have since said she may have already been dead during her final sighting.
Sterns, who has been identified as the prime suspect in her murder, was arrested on child porn charges and sexual battery after police recovered photos and videos on his phone which were described as 'disturbing'.
He has not been charged in connection with the girl's murder. Video has emerged of an interview Sterns gave to" Orlando’s WFTV 9 on Tuesday.
'I dropped her off [at school] early, I could have waited longer,' he said tearfully.
'She looked okay she was walking towards the school. I went on with my day. We don’t know where she could be, and we’re scared. I just want her home.'
He added: 'It just keeps coming in waves, reality keeps hitting. We don’t know where she is, we don’t know if she’s safe. It’s a living nightmare. I just wanna wake up.'
Deputies say they believe Madeline was never dropped off at Hunter's Creek Middle School on Monday morning, and was dead before then.
They said Sterns allegedly moved her body in the morning hours of Monday after killing her in Kissimmee.
On Friday afternoon, the Orange County Sheriff's Office held a press conference in which that stated that they were 'confident' the girl was dead.
Sheriff John Mina broke the 'devastating news' to Madeline's mother Jenn on Thursday night.
'We believe he moved her body in those early morning hours, and all that is still under investigation,' Sheriff Mina explained.
'Searches are continuing as we speak, and we have people who are working nonstop.
Madeline Soto, 13, was reported missing on Monday night in Orlando, Florida after she was last seen that morning near Town Loop Boulevard and Hunter's Park Lane. She is pictured celebrating her birthday last Sunday
Video evidence shows Stephan Sterns discarding items in a dumpster at the family's Kissimmee apartment complex at 7:35am. on Monday, February 26
Police found the teenager's body a short distance away from where she lived
A missing persons flyer for 13-year-old Madeline Soto and primary suspect Stephan Sterns, far right, on display as Orange County Sheriff 's Department hold a press conference on Friday
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'So every lead that comes in, every piece of evidence that we receive, we're gonna follow up on that, and if that leads us to a new search area, we'll be out all weekend.'
Surveillance footage seen by police sees Sterns throwing items into a dumpster at an apartment complex in Kissimmee at 7:45 am on Monday morning.
The objects were later recovered and allegedly found to be Madeline's backpack and school-issued laptop.
Sterns was then captured for a second time on video as he returned back to his neighborhood.
Police say they believe the teenager was never dropped off at Hunter's Creek Middle School on Monday morning having been killed hours earlier in Kissimmee.
Investigators said they discovered 'disturbing images' when they looked through Sterns' phone, along with proof that he attempted to delete evidence of the related material.
After his arrest, Sterns invoked his right to an attorney and declined to speak during his interview. Investigators said he was
