Police Chief offers little to no new information at Thursday press conference
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Kissimmee Police Chief Betty Holland addresses the media Thursday about the investigation into 13-year-old Madeline Soto's death.
Kissimmee Police Chief Betty Holland addressed the media on Thursday but had little more to share than what has already been made available about the disappearance and death of 13-year-old Madeline Soto.
Soto was reported missing on Feb. 26, a day after her 13th birthday party, and her body was discovered in a wooded area off Hickory Tree Road east of St. Cloud on March 1, five days later.
During that week, Stephan Sterns, the boyfriend of Soto's mother, Jennifer, was arrested arrest on Feb. 28 on charges of sexual battery and possession of child sexual abuse material. As the investigation was ongoing, the State Attorney's Office, working off police work, charged Sterns with 60 counts that included sexual battery on a child under 12, sexual battery on a child aged 12-18, lewd and lascivious molestation, and 40 counts of possession of materials depicting the sexual performance of a child. His rather quick arrest was an effort to, "Act swiftly to remove Stephen Sterns from our streets ... he's not going anywhere."
We still don't know much more of that, from the police investigation, after Thursday's press conference. In fact Holland admitted, "I don't have anything new that you don't already know."
"We understand the importance of investigating every lead ... each person interview is treated as involved until proven otherwise," she said. "All interviews have been vital to the case."
That includes Jennifer Soto, the mother, who Holland said has been interviewed, and was cooperated — in fact, "Everyone has cooperated, except for Sterns," who she said has "invoked his rights to a lawyer," meaning he has not made any jailhouse statements.
She said investigators are still piecing together the timeline of what occurred on Feb. 26, including having video evidence that Sterns threw Soto's backpack and laptop into a dumpster at their Hoagland Boulevard at 7:35 a.m., returned to the complex apparently with her at 8:19 a.m., then was observed in the area where the body was found between 1-2:30 p.m. Investigative leads help put Stern's silver Lincoln MKZ in the area of southeast St. Cloud where Madeline's body was discovered by the Osceola County Sheriff's Office. There is no timeline for between that.
Part of what may be slowing down the investigation is that KPD awaits the Medical Examiner's report from the crime scene. That can, and has, taken two, to as many as three to four, weeks for a report to come back to Osceola from Orange County, where the circuit's examiner's office is located.
"Death investigations are complex," Holland said. "We are fueled by our unwavering commitment to uncover the truth. We will provide updates when possible. Rest assured, our department is working diligently on the investigation. We must prioritize the integrity of the investigation. We vow to do everything we can to ensure Madeline's merry is honored with justice. Talk to your children, there are agencies out there to help. Report any suspicions to your SRO or to any adult."
