A Florida man facing dozens of sexual assault charges in connection to the February killing of 13-year-old Madeline “Maddie” Soto is now charged with capital murder in her death, court records show.
Stephan Sterns , already accused of 60 child sex abuse-related charges, was charged with first-degree murder on Wednesday, according to Osceola County Circuit Court records . The Kissimmee Police Department and the Orange County Sheriff’s Office initially arrested Sterns in connection to the case on Feb. 29.
Madeline “Maddie” Soto disappeared on Feb. 26 from her home in Kissimmee, a city about 20 miles south of Orlando. The girl’s body was found on March 1.
Sterns was the last person to see Maddie alive, according to an X post by the Orange County Sheriff’s Office.
He’s slated to be arraigned on the new charge Monday before Judge Keith Carsten.
If convicted of capital murder, Sterns faces the death penalty.
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