The Mind Behind Stephen Stern’s Final Words | The Psychology Hidden in his Sentencing Speech

Hidden True Crime

True Crime, Documentary, News, Society & Culture, News Commentary

4.6 • 2.5K Ratings

🗓️ 17 August 2025

⏱️ 62 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Stephen Sterns was recently sentenced for both the abuse and the murder of Madeline Soto after taking a plea deal. Clinical and Forensic Psychologist Dr. John Matthias is here to assess the sentencing statements, the risks of re-offense, and more. Save 20% off Honeylove by going to https://honeylove.com/hidden About Hidden True Crime: What started as a simple conversation at their dinner table became a captivating podcast. Join the dynamic duo of Dr. John Matthias, a criminal psychologist, and Lauren Matthias, an investigative journalist, as they delve into the psychological facets of unthinkable crimes every week. Their unique perspectives and in-depth analysis offer a fresh take on true crime storytelling. Thank you for your support through sponsorships, subscribing, listening, and becoming a Patreon member at Patreon.com/hiddentruecrime Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	I'm sure many of you have heard of hormone harmony by Happy Mammoth, these supplement with over
0:05.9	50,000 glowing reviews and 98% of women saying they recommend it to friends and family.
0:11.9	It's designed to help women maintain optimal hormone levels, and it's become one of their most
0:17.1	loved products. But here's the real game changer, pairing it with prebiotic collagen protein,
0:23.1	because your gut health directly impacts your hormones. Combining these two can amplify your
0:27.8	results. Prebiotic collagen protein helps relieve occasional bloating, reduce sugar cravings,
0:32.9	and keep you feeling satisfied longer. It also supports energy and overall well-being. For me, adding
0:38.7	prebiotic collagen protein has been a way to feel more balanced throughout the day. I love
0:43.2	that Happy Mammoth uses plant-based, science-backed ingredients, no shortcuts, no compromises.
0:49.4	Here's the offer. Right now, you can try prebiotic collagen protein and hormone harmony risk-free
0:56.0	and get 15% off your entire first order with code hidden true at checkout. Just head to
1:03.5	happy mammoth.com and use code hidden true for 15% off today. Hello, we have an important show for you tonight before we begin a trigger warning.
1:16.6	We will be talking about the murder of 13-year-old Madeline Soto.
1:21.6	Madeline Soto disappeared in February, 24. She was found March 1st, 2024.
1:27.9	Her body was found.
1:29.8	She had been murdered by her mother's boyfriend, Stefan Stearns.
1:35.0	Stefan Stearns took a plea deal, and he was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole
1:43.5	for both being 13-year-old Madeline as well as murdering 13-year-old Madeline Soto on July 21st, 2025, just less than a month ago.
1:58.0	It's something that John and I were following and have been following and have wanted to cover the sentencing.
2:06.8	I think that many understand the trigger warning, now that I've shared what this is going to be about, but John is going to go back.
2:16.9	Dr. John Matthias is a criminal psychologist as well as a clinical psychologist. We have
2:23.3	been covering this case. One thing John does is assess offenders and you plan to talk in depth
	...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Previous episode | Next episode

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Hidden True Crime, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of Hidden True Crime and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.