Stephan Sterns, a 39-year-old man from Florida, was sentenced on Monday to 21 life sentences after pleading no contest to charges related to the murder and sexual abuse of 13-year-old Madeline Soto. Sterns, who had been in a relationship with Madeline’s mother, entered his pleas in a Kissimmee court as part of a plea deal coordinated with the Soto family. The life sentences will run concurrently.
Madeline’s father, Tyler Wallace, expressed his devastation in court, lamenting that he would never witness the woman his daughter could have become. Madeline went missing on February 26, 2024, and her body was discovered in a wooded area on March 1 after her mother reported her disappearance. Following an investigation, Sterns was arrested on multiple charges including sexual battery and possession of child pornography. A grand jury later indicted him for first-degree murder.
On Monday, Sterns pleaded no contest to premeditated murder and guilty to eight counts of capital sexual battery and additional sexual battery charges. State Attorney Monique Worrell emphasized that the plea deal included a waiver of Sterns’ rights to appeal, which would spare the family from enduring further trauma in court. In court, Sterns expressed remorse, saying he wished he could trade places with Madeline.
Madeline’s maternal grandmother, Yolanda Zambrano, highlighted the emotional devastation caused by Sterns’ actions, describing a “broken soul” and the profound impact of losing her granddaughter. She expressed that Sterns betrayed Madeline’s love, trust, and innocence, ultimately taking her life and a part of their family’s spirit.
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