In this emotionally raw first jailhouse phone call, Stephan Sterns reaches out to his parents following his arrest for the murder of 13-year-old Madeline Soto. His voice is calm — too calm — as he explains that he’s been moved between jail pods and placed on lockdown, casually mentioning that he missed his mother’s birthday. Then, in a moment that stops everything cold, he tells them about the first-degree murder charge.

What follows is a gut-wrenching conversation in which Stephan's parents oscillate between disbelief, confusion, and protective instinct. Stephan downplays the accusations, stating that they’re “artificially inflating” charges. His parents, clearly struggling, begin clinging to logistics — looking for his social security card, discussing paperwork, and mentioning future birthdays he might not be there for.

This is the beginning of a horrifying journey. The beginning of Madeline Soto’s story, told from the inside.

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The latest on The Downfall of Diddy, The Trial of Karen Read, The Murder Of Maddie Soto, Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK’s Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, The Menendez Brothers: Quest For Justice, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, The Murder Of Sandra Birchmore, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com