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Madeline Soto had just celebrated her 13th birthday in February 2024.   She had a small party with her grandmother Yolanda, and a few friends.   She had been spending a lot of time with her grandmother.   When Madeline had to go back to the home of her mother, Jennifer Soto, she cried.

Madeline and Jennifer were living in a condo with many roommates.  One of the people living there was Stephan Sterns.   Stephan and Jennifer had a relationship for years, but according to her, as of February 2024, they were no longer intimate.  

Despite this, the sleeping arrangements in the home meant that Madeline and Stephan would share a bed.  Jennifer had her own separate bedroom.  This was explained because apparently the teen needed human contact to sleep and Jennifer needed her own space.

On February 26, 2024, Jennifer went to collect Madeline from school.  She allegedly discovered that Madeline had not attended classes that day.

A search began for the teen.  Her body was found in a wooded area five days later.

Stephan would end up being charged with Madeline’s murder.  He was also charged with multiple counts of heinous crimes relating to children.  

In July 2025, Stephan was sentenced to 21 concurrent life sentences with no chance of parole for the role he played in Madeline’s abuse and murder.

Read our blog for Madeline here

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