ORLANDO, Fla. (WFLA) — A new video shows the moments Jennifer Soto and Stephan Sterns were questioned by deputies investigating the disappearance of 13-year-old Madeline Soto, NBC affiliate WESH reported.
Sterns is facing charges related to Madeline’s death, including 60 charges of capital sexual battery, possession of child pornographic materials, and murder.
Madeline disappeared on Feb. 26 after Sterns allegedly dropped her off near her Orange County middle school. Her body was found on March 1, and investigators believe Sterns murdered the teen and drove around with her body for hours before disposing of it.
“Do you have any idea of where she could be?” a detective asked Sterns in the video, recorded just a few days before her body was found in St. Cloud.
“No. None at all. No,” Sterns said.
The video details the hours of interrogations between investigators and Sterns.
“Well, I can confidently tell you she did not go to school with her backpack,” the investigator said.
“How’s that?” Sterns replied.
“Because we found it in the trash. So, I’m pleading with you to dig down and do some soul-searching,” a detective said.
Sterns then asked for an attorney and was arrested on the charges of sexual battery and child porn possession.
The charges stem from “disturbing images” detectives say were found on his phone, later revealed to be images of sexual abuse allegedly showing Sterns and Madeline.
Sterns had told detectives he dropped Madeline off near her school because she was embarrassed being dropped off in front of the school. When Jennifer Soto, Madeline’s mother, went to pick her daughter up, she was told Madeline never made it to school that day.
During her interview with detectives on March 1, Jennifer recounted that day.
“At some point, I emailed one of the teachers asking if she made it to class. I checked her attendance, and she didn’t make it at all,” Soto said.
When asked if Jennifer was aware of her daughter’s alleged abuse at the hands of Sterns, Soto said, “I don’t know anything.”
Jennifer reportedly told investigators she could not believe Sterns would kill Maddie during previous interviews.
“Since she was a child since her victimization started, it occurred under your roof, and you acted like it didn’t exist,” the detective told Soto.
“I didn’t know,” Soto replied.
So far, Sterns is the only one facing charges in Madeline’s death, with prosecutors saying they would be seeking the death penalty.
Sterns is due back in court Oct. 14.
