The man accused of killing Florida teen Madeline Soto, but is not authorized.
Instead, Stephan Sterns, 38, is calling from prison. These calls are recorded WESH 2 has been given access For audio.
“Understanding that what I did isn't done while I'm in my rational mind,” Stearns told his parents. “I snapped at that point. I just… I wanted to do the right thing first.
“I wish you were there too,” Stearns' mother replied. “Maybe she could have been saved.”
Madeline, 13, was reported missing on February 26, 2024. It was after she realized that her Orlando Middle School staff had not arrived in class.
Her body was found four days later in the forest forest in Osceola County, with clothing similar to what she had before she disappeared.
Stearns is accused of strangled her to death Before she disappeared, she was confirmed to be the last person to meet a teenager.
Police suspected Stearns, who dated Madeleine's mother, and sexually abused a long-time girl.
On another call, Stearns' mother questioned him about the sexual imagery of a murdered teenage police officer who recovered from his phone. He said the girl's mother knew that Madeline was allegedly having him.
“So why? [the mother] Would you like to send her there and sleep with you? ” asked mom.
The couple regularly shared beds with the teens, According to Fox 35.
“She was joking about it,” Stearns insisted on the phone. “You call it the Electra complex. You were kidding me, “Don't leave me when my daughter is older.” That kind of thing. ”
Madelyn's mother, Jennifer Soto, has not been charged with a crime.
Stearns never admits to killing Madeline in audio recording time, but instead claims that she found her body after she had already died.
“Well, I discovered to her that she was there after everything was said and it was over,” Stearns said. You know, I was up and down all night and I was not in the room the whole time. ”
Stearns also told them over the phone that he admitted that if convicted he could die.
“Are you accepting this? Are you going to be the fall guy for this? Is that a deal?” Stearns' father asked.
Stearns said he's spending the rest of his natural life in a place where no one cares about him.
“I think anyone involved in this needs to serve them justice,” my father replied. “I mean, if you're not, if you're not part of this, you know, let's clear it. That is, if not for you, for the sake of your family.”
Stearns replied, “I'm pretty positive that this was all an accident. There's no one person, the person in charge or everyone who's going to take a bit of responsibility.”
He will be tried in May for the murder.
