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Crime Stories with Nancy Grace

MADDIE, 13, Vanishes From Church Parking Lot as MOM'S LIVE-IN BUSTED ON SEX CRIMES

Crime Stories with Nancy Grace

iHeartPodcasts and CrimeOnline

True Crime, News

3.97.6K Ratings

🗓️ 29 February 2024

⏱️ 44 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Madeline, 13, has been missing since Monday morning when her mom's boyfriend dropped the teen off near the Peace United Methodist Church, a few blocks from Hunters Creek Middle School in Orlando.

At approximately 4:30 p.m. on Monday, Madeline's mom goes to pick her up and finds that Madeline never reported to school. Police started canvassing the area, looking for any witnesses or surveillance video. Later that evening, police called in bloodhounds. The dog did an extensive search but did not provide any results about her whereabouts.

The last person to see Madeline Soto before she vanished, was the mom's boyfriend Steven Stearns. He is now under arrest for sexual battery and possession of child sexual abuse material. As part of the investigation into the whereabouts of Madeline, Orange County Sheriff's Office Detectives forensically examined Stephan Stearns' cell phone and discovered disturbing images.

Looking into the phone's data, detectives uncovered attempts to delete evidence from the device as well. The Orange County Sheriff's Office is still actively investigating Madeline Soto's disappearance and 37-year-old Stephan Sterns is now the prime suspect.

Joining Nancy Grace Today:

  • Jarrett Ferentino - Homicide Prosecutor in Pennsylvania and Host of, “True Crime Boss” Podcast; Facebook & Instagram: Jarrett Ferentino
  • Dr. Jorey L. Krawczyn – Police Psychologist, Adjunct Faculty with Saint Leo University; Research Consultant with Blue Wall Institute, Author: Operation S.O.S. – Practical Recommendations to Help “Stop Officer Suicide”
  • Dr. Trace Sargent - Search, Rescue & Recovery Expert, PhD in Psychology (with a focus on victimology - criminal profiling - predator behaviors - crime scene analysis), Director of Forensic Investigations and Analysis
  • Chris McDonough – Director at the Cold Case Foundation, Former Homicide Detective; Host of YouTube channel: “The Interview Room”
  • Anna Sonoda – Child Grooming Expert, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, and Author: “Duck Duck Groom: Understanding How a Child Becomes a Target”
  • Hannah Mackenzie - Anchor/reporter for FOX 35 Orlando; IG & X: @hannahh_mackk/FB: @Hannah Mackenzie

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

Crime stories with Nancy Grace. A 13-year-old little girl seemingly vanishes into thin air.

0:21.4

Her birthday was February 22 and she had said in the past when I turn 13 I want to go

0:29.9

away from everybody and go live alone in the woods and right now I think I know why.

0:37.0

Is this little girl still alive?

0:41.0

Where is

0:43.4

Maddie? I'm Nancy Grace. This is crime stories. Thank you for being with us here at crime stories and on

0:49.9

serious XM 111. Right off the top, there is a very strong chance Maddie could still be alive.

0:59.2

Tip line, 107254,7,000.

1:04.0

Repeat.

1:05.0

4.05 4, 5,000.

1:08.9

Every minute counts with what we are dealing with right now.

1:14.0

Her mother devastated and in the last hours around 10 p.m. last night

1:20.0

a break in the case but still no

1:23.6

maddy first of all take a listen to sheriff

1:27.1

John Meena Orange County

1:29.0

this is every parents worst nightmare uh... many of our detectives and deputies who are working the case,

1:36.0

they also have children.

1:38.0

So they're working extra hard to find Madeline.

1:41.0

We can't even imagine the pain and anguish that Madeline's family is going through.

1:48.0

But I do want to assure the community that we have well over 100 deputies detectives, intelligence analysts, and

1:57.5

specialized personnel who are investigating this case and

2:00.9

searching for Madeline right now and we will not stop

...

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