ORLANDO, Fla. — Ninth Judicial Circuit State Attorney Andrew Bain announced Monday that he will seek the death penalty for Stephan Sterns, who is accused of sexually abusing and later kidnapping and killing 13-year-old Madeline Soto.

According to investigators, Soto's mother said Sterns was supposed to drop the teen off at school on Feb. 26, but when she went to pick her up at the end of the day, she discovered that the girl never arrived. 

What You Need To Know

  • Ninth Judicial Circuit State Attorney Andrew Bain has announced he will be seeking the death penalty for Stephan Sterns in the death of 13-year-old Madeline Soto

  • Sterns has been charged with first-degree murder in the case, but is also facing dozens of other charges, which include capital sexual battery, lewd or lascivious molestation and unlawful possession of materials depicting a sexual performance by a child

  • Soto was reported missing by her mother on Feb. 26, and her body was found in a wooded area of Osceola County on March 1

When she reported her daughter missing, detectives searched Sterns' phone — which he reportedly said had been accidentally reset to the factor settings — and "law enforcement found several disturbing pictures and videos on Sterns’ phone," a release from Bain's office said.

He was arrested on dozens of charges, which included capital sexual battery, lewd or lascivious molestation and unlawful possession of materials depicting a sexual performance by a child.

Soto's body was found in a wooded area of Osceola County on March 1. In April, a grand jury indicted Sterns on a charge of first-degree murder in Soto's death.

According to Bain's office, the decision to seek the death penalty in the homicide case is based on several aggravating factors the State intends to prove, including:

  • The capital felony being committed while the defendant was engaged in the commission of, or an attempt to commit, aggravated child abuse.

  • The victim being particularly vulnerable because the defendant stood in a position of familial or custodial authority over the victim.

  • The capital felony was especially heinous, atrocious or cruel.

  • The defendant was previously convicted of another capital felony or a felony involving the use or threat of violence to the person. (The current sex charges against Sterns will serve as priors if he is convicted.)

Sterns is also facing other charges in the case, including:

  • Eight counts of sexual battery on a child under 12
  • Five counts of sexual battery of a child aged 12-18
  • Seven counts of lewd and lascivious molestation
  • 40 counts of unlawful possession of 10 or more images depicting a sexual performance by a child

According to the State Attorney’s Office, Sterns remains the sole defendant in the case.