Man accused of killing girlfriend’s daughter files motion to strike death penalty in case

OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. (WWSB) – Stephan Sterns, the man accused of murdering 13-year-old Madeline Soto, has filed a motion seeking to have the death penalty removed from his case.

Sterns was arrested on Feb. 28, 2024. He is facing one charge of first-degree murder and 60 charges related to sexual battery of a child and possession of sexual material.

Sterns, of North Port, was dating Soto’s mother at the time of her disappearance and detectives say he had been sexually abusing the 13-year-old for years…

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