OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. — The prime suspect in the disappearance of a 13-year-old girl is now in the Osceola County Jail.
▶ READ LIVE UPDATES
Stephan Sterns was arrested on Wednesday on sexual battery and child porn possession charges.
Sterns was moved out of the Orange County Jail on Friday morning.
Read: Madeline Soto Search: Mother’s boyfriend performed factory reset on phone, report shows
Law enforcement said Sterns is the primary suspect in the disappearance of 13-year-old Madeline Soto who vanished Monday. Sterns is the boyfriend of Soto’s mother, Jennifer.
According to an arrest affidavit obtained by Channel 9, law enforcement said Stephan Sterns did a factory reset on his phone the day Madeline vanished.
Investigators said they recovered several photos and videos showing Sterns sexually battering a child.
Sterns is not a registered sex offender, according to FDLE’s sexual offenders and predators’ search.
Orange County Sheriff John Mina is planning to give an update on Madeline’s disappearance at 1 p.m. on Friday.
Watch continuing coverage on Eyewitness News.
©2024 Cox Media Group
