While his mother tends to a dog giving birth, Stephan talks about root beer barrel candy, commissary price hikes, and snack strategy. You’d never guess this is a man accused of murdering a 13-year-old girl.

But that’s what makes this call so unsettling. It’s quiet. Casual. And profoundly disturbing. Because in the background of this light conversation is the death of Madeline Soto — a tragedy no one can face directly.

This is what emotional dissociation sounds like. And it’s chilling.

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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

In Call 7, Stephan turns heavily to scripture. He talks about Exodus, redemption, forgiveness — but not about Madeline Soto. His mother references Romans. His father jokes about vending machine coffee. It’s a coping mechanism, a refuge in routine and belief.

But the deeper truth is this: faith, in this moment, isn’t helping anyone face reality. It’s being used to explain away what happened to Madeline Soto without ever saying her name.

This episode asks: is faith helping this family heal? Or is it helping them avoid the darkest parts of the truth?

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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

This call begins with a cold, clinical announcement from Stephan: “They’re seeking the death penalty.” His tone is serene, disturbingly so. His parents, though visibly shaken, try to stay calm — but you can hear the heartbreak crack through.

Stephan explains that his attorneys are assembling a team. His mother distracts herself by cooking ravioli. His father begins thinking through legal paperwork. But the shadow of death — and the death of Madeline Soto — looms over everything.

This conversation reveals a terrifying truth: this isn’t just a murder case. It’s a possible execution. And this family is trying to survive the unbearable weight of it.

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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

How does someone accused of murdering a child talk about saltine crackers and reading glasses as if nothing happened? That’s exactly what unfolds in this surreal fifth call between Stephan Sterns and his parents. As his parents express financial stress and emotional fatigue, Stephan discusses his favorite jail snacks, mackerel cans, and silicone chess pieces.

Beneath the surface, there are flickers of something deeper. Stephan mentions “regret” — though it's unclear whether it’s for the crime, the consequences, or just being caught.

The case of Madeline Soto continues to hang over everything, unspoken and massive. His parents are still trying to hold their son close while reality pushes him further away.

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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

Call 4 shows a family under siege. Stephan’s parents begin attacking former roommates and YouTubers who have come forward with disturbing claims. They’re furious — not at Stephan, but at those who say they saw warning signs. As the Madeline Soto case gains national attention, his parents begin to defend his character and question the motives of anyone who dares to speak out.

But Stephan doesn’t deny much. Instead, he calmly confirms some details, counters others, and maintains his innocence in a way that feels rehearsed. His parents spiral into conspiracy, suggesting that people are out for attention or money.

This call isn’t just about blame — it’s about self-preservation. And the Madeline Soto murder case is becoming more than just a legal battle. It’s turning into a public unraveling.

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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

This call is a turning point. Stephan Sterns tells his parents that he didn’t realize Madeline Soto had died until hours after it happened. He speaks about discovering her cold body with an alarming lack of emotion. He blames being “up and down” during the night, leaving the room, wandering around, and never checking on her until it was far too late.

His father quietly presses for details, trying to understand how something so horrifying could happen without Stephan noticing. The responses are murky, defensive, and incomplete. Stephan paints himself as a witness to tragedy — not a participant. But the facts suggest otherwise.

This call is when the veil starts to lift. The cracks in Stephan’s version of events begin to show. The weight of Madeline Soto’s murder finally begins to press down on his family.

#MadelineSoto #StephanSterns #JailCalls #TrueCrimePodcast #ChillingConfession #FamilyGrief #JusticeForMadeline #MurderInvestigation

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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 

Call 2 picks up with Stephan Sterns sounding calm and upbeat, despite being in jail for the murder of Madeline Soto. He brings up the autopsy report — not in fear, but with a disturbing degree of detachment. His mother quickly shuts down further discussion, likely sensing how legally dangerous any comment could be.

Meanwhile, Stephan’s father reveals rumors that are now spreading online. Former roommates, dark web activity, disturbing internet searches — all reportedly linked to Stephan. The family begins discussing his items, like a watch hidden in a toy box, as if those physical things could restore normalcy.

But the horror of the Madeline Soto murder case creeps into every sentence. This call reveals a family teetering between denial and emotional collapse, searching for something — anything — that makes this nightmare make sense.

#StephanSterns #MadelineSoto #DarkWeb #AutopsyReport #JailhouseCalls #TrueCrimeCommunity #InternetSleuths #JusticeForMadeline #FamilyDenial 

 

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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 

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

STEPHAN STERNS: “I wish I had run downstairs and shaken her awake and called 911 and all that.”

That line—staggering in its simplicity—is one of the first real cracks in the story Stephan Sterns has told from the very beginning. It came during a jailhouse call with his parents, and it was a total deviation from what he’s claimed all along: that he dropped off 13-year-old Madeline Soto at school the morning of February 26, 2024, and never saw her again.

But now, months after his arrest, locked in the Osceola County jail and speaking a little too freely, Sterns admitted something huge—he found Madeline’s body. He was there. He saw her face, her blue lips. Her ice-cold skin.

His words were calm, almost rehearsed. Like he was recounting a scene in a book he’d read, not describing the death of a child he'd allegedly assaulted and murdered.

“She had gone to be with me earlier in the night,” he told his father. “But I’d left her alone for quite a while... By the time I realized it was far too late... she was past the point of no return.”

That’s the first time Sterns has publicly acknowledged being in the same house with Madeline at the time of her death. It’s also the first time he’s stopped pretending he wasn’t.

In these four hours of recorded jail calls—recently obtained by Court TV—we hear Sterns move from denial to vague admissions, surrounded by justifications, sidesteps, and increasingly disturbing commentary. It’s like eavesdropping on a man who can’t quite decide whether he wants to clear his name or just shift the blame somewhere more convenient.

The calls, made about three months after his arrest, are with his parents—Debra and Chris Sterns. And while they start off as the kind of supportive, if awkward, chats you’d expect from shell-shocked parents trying to hold it together, they quickly devolve into something else: uncomfortable reminders of what Stephan Sterns is accused of.

When they bring up the digital evidence—the sexually explicit images of Madeline found on his phone—his response isn’t what you’d expect from someone who claims innocence. When asked directly if he’s attracted to minors, he doesn’t say no. He says he isn’t “generally” attracted to them. He adds that he can’t say more without incriminating himself.

Then he makes this chilling remark: that Madeline had “feelings” for him. And that her mother, Jenn Soto, used to joke: “You better not leave me for my daughter when she’s older.”

Jenn Soto hasn’t been charged with anything related to Madeline’s abuse or death. She says she didn’t know it was happening. But she did allow her daughter to sleep in the same bed as Sterns, something she’s admitted.

Sterns’ calls are full of odd priorities. While facing over 60 counts of sexual abuse, capital murder, and possession of child sexual abuse material, he spends a surprising amount of time venting about itchy blankets, bad coffee, and jailhouse ants. He’s worried about the effects of jail on his skin. He complains about anxiety meds, wants better lotion for his worry lines, and he misses his collectible purple dragon popcorn bucket.

He’s genuinely concerned about the whereabouts of his “mouse droid”—a Star Wars-themed toy—and gets so irritated trying to explain what it is that he tells his parents to just “Google it.”

Then there’s the coffee. Coffee is crucial.

“Coffee is very comforting,” he says. “Every time I drink a cup of coffee it releases all types of happy chemicals in my brain.”

He asks for Michael Crichton novels, toiletries, hard candies. His mother draws the line at “Pet Sematary” because she didn’t like the story.

The emotional whiplash in these calls is constant—one minute, Sterns is waxing poetic about the joys of instant coffee, and the next, he’s defending himself from the kind of charges that can end in a needle. His parents plead with him to read the Bible. He tells them he’s not a monster. He cries at movies. He’s a good person, he insists.

“I know I’m not bad, evil or a monster,” he says. “I couldn’t have done it.”

But then, he admits: “Murder one is about as bad as it can get. And the death penalty is about as extreme as it can go.”

And a moment later: “I guess that’s not so bad, right? You go to sleep, and then you go to heaven.”

It’s the kind of thing you say when you’ve already accepted what’s coming.

Sterns’ legal journey is far from over. His first trial—for the sex abuse charges—is scheduled for May. The murder trial is set for September. Earlier this week, his defense team tried to get the judge to bar media and the public from pre-trial hearings, claiming that the coverage is prejudicial. The judge says a decision is coming within 10 days.

But with jailhouse calls like these—where the defendant admits to finding the victim’s body, where he dances around horrifying evidence, and where his biggest concern is coffee and collectibles—it may not be the press that paints the clearest picture of Stephan Sterns.

#MadelineSoto #StephanSterns #TrueCrimePodcast #JailhouseTapes

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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

In this gripping deep dive, we explore the disturbing details surrounding the murder of 13-year-old Madeline “Maddie” Soto and the man accused of killing her—Stephan Sterns. Through newly released 2025 jailhouse phone calls between Sterns and his parents, we hear the chilling moment he admits to finding Maddie’s lifeless body and discusses her death in hauntingly casual terms. With the public now hearing his voice for the first time, Sterns' words paint a disturbing picture of regret, denial, and a fatal awareness of the death penalty he may soon face. This episode examines how those calls flipped the case upside down.

We’ll also break down the latest forensic evidence revealed by investigators, including the cadaver dog alert in Sterns’ car and surveillance footage that prosecutors say disproves his original alibi. Combined with the digital evidence pulled from Sterns’ phone and Google accounts—allegedly containing years of sexually abusive material involving Maddie—the case against him has only grown stronger. Hear how the prosecution is building a timeline they believe proves premeditated murder and how Sterns’ own shifting story may be his downfall.

Finally, we look ahead to the courtroom battles already in motion—from defense motions to suppress key evidence to the fight over whether this capital case should play out in public or behind closed doors. With the murder trial scheduled for later this year and the state pushing hard for the death penalty, the Maddie Soto case continues to unravel in ways no one saw coming. Subscribe now as we bring you inside one of Florida’s most harrowing and high-profile murder investigations.

#StephanSterns, #MaddieSoto, #MaddieSotoCase, #JusticeForMaddie, #TrueCrime2025, #FloridaCrime  

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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