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Cause of death revealed for Madeline Soto, 13, whose mother's boyfriend is accused of abusing and killing her

Police say Stephan Sterns was charged with murder weeks after Soto disappeared on his way to school

<p>GoFundMe</p> <p> Madeline Soto” src=”https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/bh7EE2xTNqVQYkPzupRWlQ–/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/aol_people_articles_471/aec7f15b6 98c6fa5c0b933a992f7dd30″/></p> <p>GoFundMe</p> <p> Madeline Soto” src=”https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/bh7EE2xTNqVQYkPzupRWlQ–/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/aol_people_articles_471/aec7f15b69 8c6fa5c0b933a992f7dd30″ class=” caas-img”/></p></div> </div> </div> </figure> <p>Authorities have announced the cause of death of 13-year-old Madeline Soto, whose disappearance led to the arrest of her mother's boyfriend earlier this year.</p> <p>Soto was found dead in a wooded area on March 1, days after she was reported missing from her home in Kissimmee, Florida, on February 26, the Orange County Sheriff's Office previously said.</p> <p>A medical examiner has now ruled the manner of her death a homicide and determined she died as a result of strangulation, FOX 35 Orlando, WESH and Click Orlando report.</p> <p>Before her body was found and while investigating her disappearance, police arrested her mother's boyfriend, Stephan Sterns, 37, on charges of sexual assault and possession of child sexual abuse material, the sheriff's office said.</p> <p>He did not face those charges in connection with the teen's disappearance, but police said they considered him a prime suspect in the case.</p> <figure class=
<p>Orange County Jail </p> <p> Stephan Sterns” src=”https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/7wIlFee.SNKN_NixMGf8kw–/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTcwNTtoPTg3OQ–/https://media.zenfs.com/en/aol_people_articles_471/f0c178a8b926 cb7878b96c0402511d7a” /></p> <p>Orange County Jail </p> <p> Stephan Sterns” src=”https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/7wIlFee.SNKN_NixMGf8kw–/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTcwNTtoPTg3OQ–/https://media.zenfs.com/en/aol_people_articles_471/f0c178a8b926 cb7878b96c0402511d7a” class=”caas-img”/></p></div> </div> </div> <div class=

Orange County Jail

Stephan Sterns

In April, Sterns was charged with first-degree murder in connection with Soto's death, Osceola County authorities announced. Investigators “found several disturbing images and videos” that led to 60 charges, including aggravated assault, lewd or lascivious molestation and possession of child pornography, prosecutors said in a statement.

Related: A 13-year-old Florida girl has been missing since Monday — and her mother's boyfriend was just arrested

The sheriff's office said they had evidence that Soto was “never dropped off near her school” on the morning of Feb. 26, as reported on X (formerly Twitter). Sterns was the last person seen with her.

The night before her disappearance, Soto's mother allegedly sent her to bed with Sterns because the mother needed to rest after coming home late from work, she told authorities, according to a “supplemental case report” cited by WESH. emerges.

The next morning, Sterns was seen in a video discarding items in a trash can at the apartment complex where he lived with Soto and her mother, investigators said, according to WESH. Authorities later recovered the child's backpack and laptop from the trash can.

About an hour later, Sterns was seen in the car with Soto and the sheriff's office believes the teen was already dead at that point, according to WESH.

Related: Missing Florida girl Madeline Soto, 13, found dead, police suspect her mother's boyfriend took her body

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Sterns is accused of sexually abusing Soto and videotaping his abuse, authorities said Orlando Sentinel, WESH and Click Orlando. Authorities say his alleged abuse can be traced back to 2022, when Soto was 11 years old.

According to Click Orlando and the Osceola News-Gazette, Sterns has pleaded not guilty to all 60 charges.

If you or someone you know is a victim of sexual abuse, text “STRENGTH” to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor.

If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453 or visit www.childhelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available around the clock in more than 170 languages.

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Read the original article on People.

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