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THE prime suspect in the death of Florida teen Madeline Soto has admitted that it is “not hard to blame” himself for her disappearance in a tearful interview.
Madeline, 13, vanished on Monday and her remains were found in the woods in Central Florida at around 4:30 pm on Friday, police say.
Police swooped in on Stephan Sterns, the boyfriend of Madeline’s mother, who was arrested on Wednesday after detectives found “disturbing” images and video on his phone.
Sterns, 37, told Orlando’s WFTV 9 the day before his arrest that his life had been a “living nightmare” since Madeline’s disappearance.
“It’s hard not to blame myself,” Sterns told the outlet.
“I dropped her off [at school] early, I could have waited longer. She looked okay she was walking towards the school.
“I went on with my day. We don’t know where she could be, and we’re scared.
“I just want her home.”
Sterns initially said that he dropped Madeline off in the carline at her middle school, however cops later revealed that he had in fact left her in a church parking lot a few blocks away.
“It just keeps coming in waves, reality keeps hitting,” he continued.
“We don’t know where she is, we don’t know if she’s safe.
“It’s a living nightmare. I just wanna wake up.”
Sterns added that Madeline’s mother was “a lot stronger” than he was and Jenn was “handling it well.”
SAD DISCOVERY
Madeline’s body was found in the area of Hickory Tree Road, the same street where Sterns was known to have been driving between 1 and 2:30 pm on the day Madeline disappeared.
Suspect Sterns is being held without bond after he was booked on charges of sexual battery and possession of child abuse materials.
Investigators found that he did a factory reset on his mobile phone the day that Madeline vanished.
Further information about how Madeline died and additional charges against Sterns wasn’t immediately available.
The community held a vigil for the girl on Friday night.
The Orange County Public Schools superintendent released a statement after Madeline’s body was found.
“I am heartbroken to hear from the Orange County Sheriff’s Office of the tragic death of our precious student, Madeline Soto,” Maria Vasquez said.
“My thoughts and prayers go out to Maddie’s family and her school community.”
