OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. — It has been one year since 13-year-old Madeline Soto of Kissimmee was first reported missing, and four days later, her body was found in a wooded area in St. Cloud.

Her mother’s boyfriend, Stephan Sterns, is facing several charges including murder and sexual battery on a child.

What You Need To Know

  • Wednesday February 26 marks one year since 13-year-old Madeline Soto was reported missing and four days later found dead in a wooded area in St. Cloud

  • Her mother’s boyfriend, Stephan Sterns, is facing several charges including murder and sexual battery on a child

  • Justice for Maddie is raising money to refurbish and add a plaque to a bench on the boardwalk of Lakefront Park in St. Cloud

  • The St. Cloud Parks and Recreation program to dedicate the bench costs $1,125 and 'Justice for Maddie' hopes it will be completed by Spring Break in mid-March

He is set to stand trial sometime in 2025.

Until then, community advocates have been working to get justice for Madeline.

This past weekend, dozens of people gathered at Lakefront Park in St. Cloud for a day of remembrance and to celebrate Maddie’s birthday. She would have been 14.

“It was a very difficult day and the whole week has been dreadful,” said Justice for Maddie group leader Jenny Esquivel.

Esquivel says they have been working to provide updates on Maddie’s case and working with school districts and law enforcement agencies to adjust laws and policies to help children reported missing.

But their main goal right now is to make sure Maddie is remembered.

“We wanted to have this bench and plaque out there for when the kids come out of school for spring break, so they can have the opportunity to go out there to a beautiful park and have a little moment to reflect on the friend that they’ve lost,” Esquivel explained.

Esquivel says they started a community T-shirt drive to raise $1,125 to pay the city of St. Cloud Parks and Recreation.

That money will be used to refurbish and add a plaque to the bench at Lakefront Park.

It is a place that Esquivel says is where one of the last photos of Maddie was taken.

As she tries to honor Maddie, Esquivel is also trying to balance celebrating her own family, which she says has been difficult.

“That is the toughest thing. For us to celebrate my daughter’s birthday by fate or coincidence, I don’t know, on the same day that we lost her (Maddie) has changed my perspective on many things,” Esquivel said.

Esquivel says knowing her daughters are just as committed to getting justice for Maddie has made things easier on her.

And as the sun sets on such an emotional day, Esquivel says it brings her solace to know they’re close to ensuring Maddie is remembered forever.

“If there’s one thing that we have learned how to embrace is the movement that we created in seeking justice and honoring Maddie,” she said.

Esquivel says they are on track to reach their goal of $1,125 by next week and hope to have this project complete by spring break in mid-March.