The biological father of murdered 13-year-old Florida girl Madeline Soto has spoken for the first time since his daughter’s slain body was discovered on March 1st.
Madeline Soto was reported missing around 8:30 a.m. on February 26 when the 13-year-old girl failed to show up for school. Soto was last seen off Village Park Drive in Kissimmee, near Orlando, according to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office.
On March 1, Soto’s body was discovered in a rural area in St. Cloud, Florida.
Soto’s stepfather, Stephen Stearns, was seen changing a tire in the area, authorities said. Stearns was also reportedly seen that morning throwing items into a trash can at an apartment complex near Kissimmee. The items were identified as Soto’s backpack and school-issued laptop. Waffle.
“We believe he moved her during the early morning hours, but everything is still under investigation,” Sheriff John Mina said of Stearns.
Stearns claimed he dropped Madeline off at Hunters Creek Middle School, but she wasn’t inside.
of daily mail Stearns, who has been identified as the prime suspect in Stearns’ murder, was arrested on child pornography and sexual assault charges after police recovered ‘disturbing’ photos and videos from his cell phone. ” reported.
A Florida man was arrested in February. Paid 8 counts of sexual assault of a child under 12 years of age, 5 counts of sexual assault of a child between 12 and 18 years of age, 7 counts of lewd or indecent sexual abuse, and sexual acts by a child 10 years of age or older. There are 40 cases of illegal possession of depicted materials.
Law enforcement investigators accessed Stearns’ cell phone and found “several explicit photos and videos of the girl that appeared to have been taken at the Kissimmee home where she lived with Soto and his mother,” the report said. Ta. Spectrum News 13.
According to an arrest affidavit, Stearns abused the girl at least twice when she was 11 and 12 years old.
Kissimmee Police Chief Betty Holland said, “There’s no one other than Stearns who won’t cooperate.”
So far, no suspects have been charged in connection with Madeline’s murder.
Madeline Soto’s biological father has spoken publicly about the 13-year-old’s heartbreaking death for the first time since his daughter’s horrific murder.
tyler wallace said WFTV “I love what I had about her, but we should have so much more. Maddie was just the most important person to my wife and I.”
Wallace said the last time he spoke to his daughter was on her 13th birthday, four days before she went missing.
Wallace, who lives in Texas, drove 14 hours to Florida after learning she was missing on February 26.
“Maddie was just the most important person to me and my wife. She was just so full of joy,” Wallace said.
Wallace was asked about Stearns, the “prime suspect” in his daughter’s murder.
“From my interpretation of his demeanor, he seemed like a warm, interested, but unresponsive person,” Wallace said of Stearns.
But when asked what he thought about Stearns now, Wallace said of his stepfather: “I don’t want to say it on camera. I can’t tell you. Any father can tell you what I’m thinking right now.” I know,” he said.
Ms. Wallace was asked about whether she thought Madeline’s mother (Jennifer Soto) may have known about the boyfriend associated with her murdered daughter.
“I don’t know and I’d like to know, but right now there’s no reason to believe either way. These are things that law enforcement is looking into,” Wallace explained.
Wallace said Madeline “meant everything to us.”
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‘The light of my life’: Family and community members gather in Osceola County to honor Madeline Soto…www.youtube.com
