This is Hidden Killers with Tony Bruske.

Here now, Tony Bruske.

Welcome back as we continue to break down the jailhouse calls between Stefan Stearns and his parents.

Stefan accused of being the murderer of Madeline Soto.

Charged with first-degree murder.

Also, charge with child exploitation because he had been sexually abusing her for years and had tons of that stuff on his phone, including images of her and him.

That's the type of person we are dealing with here.

From a psychological standpoint, it's fascinating to listen to these calls as he slowly tries to

manipulate the last two people in his life that care about him into being on his side as the evidence grows darker and darker.

And this one, Stefan talks about glasses, candy, and the prison commissary, like he's navigating a minor

inconvenience, not a capital murder case. But then, a moment of honesty. He reflects on

regret. On the phone, he's hurt. It's fleeting, but it's kind of there. Or at least he's

acting like it is. His father, meanwhile, is doing mental math on the likelihood of conviction, saying you're pretty much effed on the other stuff, meaning the child exploitation charges, because the evidence is the evidence. It's there.

It's pictures of him with Madeline. She's a child. He's not. There's no question about

what was happening there. And just like that, we're snapped back into reality. This isn't a

misunderstanding. This isn't a wrongful accusation. It's something much darker and it is closing in

fast. As we listen right in the comments, what your thoughts are on what's going on here.

Be sure to press subscribe as well so you don't miss our continuing listening session to these

calls and the coverage that we're bringing on this case and many others.

Let's take a listen.

You may begin speaking.

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