STEPHAN STERNS; THE OPPRTUNISTIC PEDOPHILE; AND HIS COLLECTION OF RED FLAGS

STEPHAN STERNS; THE OPPORTUNISTIC PEDOPHILE; and, his COLLECTION OF BEHAVIORAL RED FLAGS

_______________________________________________

Documents: Over 1,700 images found in Google Drive account on Stephan Sterns' cell phone

As detectives were searching for Madeline, officials arrested Sterns, alleging that he had child sex abuse material on his cell phone. He had voluntarily provided his cell phone to law enforcement to presumably aid in those search efforts. However, he told them that he had inadvertently performed a factory reset on his phone prior to giving it to law enforcement.

Shortly after, Sterns was booked into jail and charged with 60 counts of sexual battery, lewd and lascivious molestation, and unlawful possession of materials depicting the sexual performance of a child.

"I don't know what the heck I did, but somehow, during the massive OS update, I managed to factory reset my phone and lose all of my contacts, all my information," Sterns told police officers, according to a 43-minute recording obtained by FOX 35 in that public records request.

FOX 35 previously reported that the images allegedly found on Sterns' phone were graphic and sexual, and the subject appeared to be a child, according to the probable cause statement connected to those charges. The documents alleged that the photos dated back to June 2019.

According to the newly released documents, law enforcement allegedly found some 1,700 images within a folder within a Google Drive account. Several of those images were explicit, and some appeared to be of Madeline, and they were taken over at least two years.The documents also alleged there was "ongoing sexual abuse" between Sterns and Madeline.

In the interview with police, Sterns confirmed he had saved photos to a Google Drive account and that there were photos of him and Madeline, the report said.  

"When I asked Stephan about all the pictures he had saved, Stephan then asked if he should be talking to a lawyer. Shortly after that, Stephan requested an attorney," a detective wrote in the report.

_____________________________________________________

Documents: Stephan Sterns occasionally slept in the same bed with Jenn Soto and Madeline

The documents also provide details about some of the sleeping arrangements within their home.

Jenn Soto, Madeline's mother, told detectives that she and Sterns had dated on and off for at least seven years and that he lived on and off at the home. When he was at home, however, it was not unusual for the three of them to sleep in the same bed or for him to sleep in the same bed as Madeline while Jenn slept somewhere else or was not home, according to the documents.

These details were contained in a law enforcement summary report following a conversation with Jenn during the search for her daughter and in law enforcement conversations with Sterns.

Sterns told law enforcement that Madeline "always needed human contact when going to sleep," something that Sterns referred to as "snuggling," the report said. 

________________________________________________________

Documents: Madeline Soto's mom reacts to photo of alleged abuse

In the same conversation between law enforcement and Jenn, the report implies that detectives let her know about their suspicions of the alleged sexual abuse.

The report states that "[redacted] did not want (to) believe [redacted] and Stephan were engaged in sexual activity. [Redacted] asked to see the image of Stephan and [redacted]."

When shown a printed photo of what was allegedly found on the Google Drive, Madeline's mom claimed she did not "recognize anything in the picture, as if she was in denial" and later "became visibly upset," the document states.

To be clear, Jenn has not been named an official person of interest or suspect connected to her daughter's disappearance or death, nor has she been charged with anything related to the case. 

However, officials previously said everyone who was close to Madeline was considered a suspect until ruled out. It's also unclear how much or how little Jenn and her family are cooperating with the investigation. Investigators couldn't answer those questions at a news conference last month, citing the ongoing case.

_____________________________________________________________

Stephan Sterns' timeline from the morning of Madeline's disappearance riddled with inconsistencies, interview shows

In a 43-minute interview with law enforcement on the day Madeline was reported missing, police talked with Sterns about where he was during the morning hours, the route he took to take Madeline to school, and where he went immediately after.

In the interview, Sterns appears to have difficulty placing the exact roads and the route he took on the way to Hunter's Creek Middle School and at what times. He blamed apparent inconsistencies in that timeline on not being a morning person and for taking apparent prescribed medications for anxiety when questioned by detectives, according to the report.

911 calls from morning Madeline Soto went missing released 

Here are a few of Sterns' recounts to police, as heard in the interview:

• Sterns said he and Madeline discussed getting breakfast at McDonald's before school, but they never got it.
• Sterns said he was unfamiliar with the road names on his route to Madeline's school.
• Sterns said he and Madeline both forgot their phones at home that day.
• Sterns forgot to mention to police that he drove all the way back to Kissimmee to retrieve the gate clicker for his neighborhood before dropping Madeline off at school.
• Sterns visited a smoke shop after dropping Madeline off at school, twice.
• Sterns forgot to mention to police that he'd gotten a flat tire after dropping Madeline off at school
• __________________________________________________

• Stephan Sterns, Jenn Soto did not look for Madeline when she was reported missing, Sterns tells police

  In an interview with police, Sterns said he and Jenn "stayed local" while the rest of her family went out to physically look for Madeline. An officer asked Sterns if he and Jenn had driven together or separately, and he said he didn't think they had driven anywhere at all. 

  He said he was "zonked out" on anxiety medication and was unable to recall where he was. 

  "My brain was mush, and I was on so many tranquilizers to keep me stabilized," he said, according to the interview.

  _________________________________________________________

  
  

  Documents: Surveillance video captured person ‘slumped over’ in Stephan Sterns vehicle 

  According to the report, during the search for Madeline, detectives obtained surveillance video from the entrance to the gated community in Kissimmee where Sterns, Jenn and Madeline lived.

  The surveillance video showed Sterns' vehicle leaving the complex with a "female wearing a green sweater" in the front seat, the report said. 

  "The female was slumped over to her left, which is an abnormal way for a person to be seated in a vehicle," the report added.

  During the initial search for Madeline, law enforcement previously said they had obtained surveillance video that showed her in a vehicle and that they believed she was dead at the time that surveillance video was captured.

  This newly obtained document does not say what time the surveillance footage was captured, nor does it identify the person in the green sweater as Madeline. Again, details about the circumstances of how Madeline died, how she was found and what she was wearing have not been confirmed or released by law enforcement.

  Jenn and Sterns told detectives that Madeline had been dropped off at school on the morning of Feb. 26. Law enforcement ultimately determined that Madeline was not in school that day. 

  Suspect Stephan Sterns complains about jail, sleeping on concrete during transport 

  Later, investigators found Madeline's backpack and school-issued laptop in the dumpster of an apartment complex in Kissimmee. It remains unclear at this time if her belongings were found at this same apartment complex where the surveillance video was captured. 

  It's also unclear when exactly Madeline was killed, but detectives believe it was between Feb. 25 and Feb. 27, according to documents. 

  __________________________________________________________

  STEPHAN STERNS COLLECTION OF RED FLAGS

  1. Stephen's father stated that on Saturday evening, Stephan was VERY stressed out and was looking for anti-anxiety drugs.

  2. Stephan's dad called multiple times on Monday, and missed his call every time.

  3. Stephan told his father he got a flat tire and he injured his hand changing the tire.Hours later, Stephan returned multiple missed calls. He also told his father there was "AN OCCURANCE', and was on his way to Madeline's mom's office at such time. Stephan told his father that the area that he dropped off Madeline was a "high crime or "high sex trafficking area." In fact, the school is in a an upper-class neighborhood.

  4. Stephan would sleep either with Jenn and Madeline; or just Madeline. Jennifer saw nothing wrong with this behavior.

  5. Father felt that Stephan was being dishonest about "what was really going on." Said his stories sound "rehearsed."

  6. His father advised him to turn over his phone. Stephan said he would but he had "accidentally" factory reset his phone that morning. His dad immediately said he thought "bullshit, you don't accidentally do that."

  7. Stephan called his father and said they had been evicted and had a housing crisis. His father drove the two hours to Kissimmee, Florida to assist Jen and Stephan with vague details given.

  8. Stephan was seen on camera at a shared storage unit he shared with his father. The father noticed a new computer hard drive in the storage area and this concerned him.

  9. Stephan had a lapse in driving coverage during this suspect time frame

  10. When Jenn and Madeline visited Stephan's parents, and stayed, overnight, Madeline would either sleep on the floor in Stephan's room, or Stephan's biological parents would allow her to sleep in their bed.

  11. When Stephan's mom was asked if he was capable of murder, she answered, "no." However, she stated she believed he would cover up and accident. ('accident)"

  12. Roommates had called mother previously to tell her that Stephan and Madeline were alone playing video games together, mother expressed no concern when it was brought to her attention.

  13. Not one of Madeline's friends reported that she ever "came to school extra early", as alleged, by Stephan, on this day.

  14. Mother admits that she never awoke, to see her daughter off for the day; despite having the day off. This is why Stephan, allegedly, took Madeline to school.

  15. Roommates heard movement in the bedroom around 2:30am. The noises were very loud. 

  16. One Croc found in Madeline Soto's mother's bedroom; the matching Croc was found in a dumpster, observed ob camera, which Stephan Sterns put in the dumpster.

  17. There was a tripod for a camera, discovered in Madeline's room.

  18. Roommates said they had observed Stephan and Madeline in his room, alone, with the door locked, and brought it to Jenn's attention. Jenn was very angry and dismissive at any incantations.

  19. Madeline, it was discovered, after the fact, drew sexually inappropriate/ sexually abusive drawings in her school notebook. It was a a young female giving oral sex to a tall man.

  20. She never disclosed her abuse to ANYONE. No friends or family.

  21. Roommates stated Stephan and Jenn didn't have a sexual relationship due to her own medication. Jennifer told her roommate that was why she was breaking up with him.

  22. Roommate stated Madeline did not seem at all sad when Stephan initially moved out of the house. Her grades actually substantially improved. Her friends report that she was "much happier."

  23. Madeline had told several of her friends, beforehand, that she wanted to run away from home after she turned 13. She never stated why, or what she was running from.

  24. Roommate stated this was the first time that she was aware of, that Stephan had EVER been the one to take Madeline to school.

  25. Sterns used Madeline's phone as leverage over her, by telling her that she had to perform oral sex on him if she wanted access to her phone.

  26. 7:35 am Stephan was observed on surveillance cameras throwing away Madeline's backpack and a shoe. Within the backpack was Maddie's school issued laptop computer.