- By Sakshi Srivastava
- Tue, 22 Jul 2025 04:38 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
In a case that horrified Florida, 39-year-old Stephan Sterns was sentenced to 21 life terms on Monday for the rape and murder of 13-year-old Madeline Soto, the daughter of his then-girlfriend. Sterns entered a plea deal in a Kissimmee court, pleading no contest to first-degree premeditated murder and guilty to a series of sexual abuse charges. All sentences will run concurrently.
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Prosecutors said the deal was made in close consultation with Madeline’s family to avoid a painful, prolonged trial. State Attorney Monique Worrell confirmed that Sterns waived all rights to appeal, ensuring the sentence is final.
A Disappearance That Turned Deadly
Madeline was reported missing on February 26, 2024, by her mother, who believed Sterns had dropped her off at Hunter’s Creek Middle School in Orlando. When she went to pick her up, school staff informed her that Madeline had never arrived.
Four days later, on March 1, Madeline’s body was found in a wooded area in Osceola County. A search of Sterns’ phone led to his initial arrest on charges including capital sexual battery, lewd or lascivious molestation, and possession of child sexual abuse material. He was later indicted for first-degree murder.
Heartbreaking Statements From Family
During sentencing, Madeline’s father, Tyler Wallace, gave a moving statement: “Because of the actions of this depraved man, I will never meet the woman she was becoming. And I can’t — I can’t grasp it.”
Madeline’s maternal grandmother, Yolanda Zambrano, wrote a letter that was read aloud in court. She described Sterns as having betrayed Madeline’s “love, trust, innocence, and body.” “And if that wasn’t enough damage, he took her life,” Zambrano said. “And with her, he killed a piece of our souls.”
Sterns Expresses Regret, But Family Gets No Closure
In his own brief address to the court, Sterns said, “I have prayed to God countless times to trade places with her… I apologize for all the pain.” While Sterns expressed remorse, the impact of his actions left irreversible damage to the family. The plea deal spares them years of revisiting the trauma through trials and appeals, but the emotional toll remains.
State Attorney Monique Worrell said the plea deal means Sterns waived any right to appeal. She said Madeline’s “life was stolen in a senseless act of violence.” “The individual responsible has been sentenced to 21 concurrent life sentences and will never walk free again. He has also waived all of his rights to appeal, ensuring finality and sparing the family from reliving this trauma in courtrooms for years to come,” Worrell said in a statement.
