FL MADELINE SOTO: Missing from Orlando, FL - 26 Feb 2024 - Age 13 *Found Deceased*

Madeline Soto missing: Florida mom begs for daughter's safe return home

A mother in Orange County is begging for help locating her missing daughter.

www.fox35orlando.com

Madeline Soto missing: Florida mom begs for daughter's safe return home​

A mother in Orange County is begging for help locating her missing daughter.

Madeline ‘Maddie’ Soto was last seen on Monday, one day after she and her family celebrated her 13th birthday. Maddie’s mother, Jenn Soto, said surveillance video shows Maddie hanging out in a church parking lot on February 26 after being dropped off for school, but she never made it inside.

"I’m trying to hope for the best, but I’m scared for her," said Jenn Soto. "I want her to be okay; I want her to be safe… I don’t want her to come back harmed. I just want her back – whatever that means, I just want her back."

Jenn Soto said sheriff’s deputies are using K9s and a piece of Maddie’s clothing to try to track her scent near Town Loop Boulevard.

According to Jenn Soto, Maddie had never run away before. She said the teen had forgotten her cell phone at home that morning, but that was normal.

As of Wednesday morning, a variety of search teams are out searching for Maddie.


MEDIA - MADELINE SOTO: Missing from Orlando, FL - 26 Feb 2024 - Age 13

 

[GrandmaBear]

I'm open to listening to interviews and reading documents- it's my preference to learn info from the source, of course- but I won't watch Grizzly or Plunder. I'd rather live without the info than support those channels in any way, shape, or form.
Anyway...
Simply put, I think Jenn was exceptionally naive and trusting of Sterns and that Sterns was/is exceptionally devious and manipulative and so I'd expect she'd have difficulty accepting evidence that he'd been molesting Madeline.

I'm not anti to that point with either but I have been at times where I just go away. They were what came up and Grizzly was the first I saw with released interviews and I'm not so anti I am going to not watch them. My thing with her is just her opinion mostly on one case and that's just my personal snit with feeling that way. BOTH pay FOR and get documents and FOIA all sorts of things.

But I get your point and have been that way myself but I also am never someone's out with one strike type of judgment.

And if they have the court things and no one else does, yep, going to watch such.

I don't support either. Never paid to watch anything in my life. Okay, maybe at a movie theater LOL!

But I get ya, you probably mean even to give them a view and I do get that way. But with Grizzly, I took a break, and I don't seek her out but was never so bad I said never again. With Plunder well she's been around far more years and I've been on both sides of the coin there.

Regardless, this is one of the newer cases I am following closely and am not going to miss things that came FROM the case. And yeah, I didn't need PLunder's whole lead in, just wanted to see the interview. Same with Grizzly, first one I saw she was the first with any that I saw, she had to interrupt DURING the interview and I HATE that.

So I get ya.

I'm beyond Jenn being that naive any longer. I did allow for it for a long time. And as always we do not have to agree. There's just getting to be too much. And boy she's been naive through most of her child's 13 years then and never learned or picked up on a thing.

So okay, she was so naive, even when told and shown video or pictures, she can't accept it? And actually worries about HIM and his dad getting him a lawyer? What did sh tell herself, the cops manufactured the things in her home and Stephen's uhm "unit" in the pictures....??????

Sorry but no.

I know you aren't going to agree and no problem.

And I'm not convinced she was involved but I am REALLY starting to WONDER. And by that I mean in the murder and disposal. I'm convinced she was covering and helping lie for him with the we this and many other things.

Whether she will ever be charged or they have enough or even will, no idea.

Her daughter was 13 years old. That's sure a lot of years of Jenn being naive.

A TWIN BED. So uhm that's okay? There she is in a queen or whatever and can't have her daughter with her. In her "master".

I think the burning question here is the why. This molestation went on for years and why did Maddie need to go now? And I mean whether she was involved OR NOT. He was asked to come up. That's another thing. He was stressed, anxious and nervous as heck the day before per his dad. For me, that means he knew what he was going to do to her. Yet he hadn't even been present for there to be problems recently... WTH is going on here?

I do understand anything his parents say that isn't corroborated with LE is what they said but man they were pretty darned forthcoming. And they did not spare him.

If you haven't seen that interview because Plunder has it, I'd say find it if you will not watch it because of that.

But with what they said and with what IS known and putting all together, well...

I can't clear her. No way, shape or form. In fact, I think this may have been a plan when he went up there, and one even possibly with Jenn.

I'm not sold, don't get me wrong, but she is losing points with me not gaining.

And I think LE is playing the long game because they have to.

 

[Regina]

And her keys were gone, why would he be with dad?

If she was trying to find him, I'd expect her to have checked with his dad.

His mother thinks by the way the person seen on video that was at first thought to be Maddie was Jenn dressed like Maddie. At the church.

Explain to me why she corrected Stephan as to what she was wearing and to the cops. She didn't see her you said right?

That's right; she'd only seen the church video in which the person was wearing shorts.

You know, he was extremely anxious about something and upset the day before he headed there. All I can figure is the plan was already in place or there was a need to ensure Maddie ended up dead.

Anxious and upset? Very interesting!

 

[GrandmaBear]

If she was trying to find him, I'd expect her to have checked with his dad.

That's right; she'd only seen the church video in which the person was wearing shorts.

Anxious and upset? Very interesting!

As to dad, I'd say it depended on what she knew. Knew her keys were gone, that he was gone longer than he portrayed, I think they knew dad was going to his corporate office in Orlando with his car so why the heck would she think him with dad?

So the woman sleeps through everythign, her daughter's murder, her daughter somehow being carried out of the home, Stephan leaving at all these times and you name it. Not buying it. And IF you don't know when he left, you don't say he's been gone about 25 minutes.

Not to mention if she simply sleeps through everything and let's Stephan be in a bedroom with a gun a tripod and a single bed with her daughter, she's a LOUSY mother. And even sends them off to sleep together.

I am running late for work so will come back to the church video and clothing.

Anxious and upset. Yes. Very. Very noticeable. Parents were on pins and needles as he was noticeably dealign with something, worried about something big, etc.

He asked his dad if he possibly had anything for anxiety. Dad did't. just Heart and diabetes meds. Asked his mother the same. Had nothing either. Came back and said he'd found something four years old he'd taken.

I actually feel for his folks. They have not had it easy with him and the raising of him. Not saying they were perfect but I think they did what they could.

Again the interview is worth a watch and man do I have to step on it. Shoes aren't on, teeth not brushed and should be out the door by now.

You have a GREAT day!

 

[Regina]

Something else I think needs to be added. The day STephan headed to Orlando I think dad talked to him and knew he arrived like at around 6:30 if I recall. But then he said it threw him when at around 8:30 or somewhere thereabouts there was some kind of pass which I take to be a toll pass, I forget what he called such, that must go onto dad's account. TWO OF THEM. Back and forth? Crossed two? Unsure. Wish I recalled what they were called but he had charges I take it to him and so could see such.

Now Jenn claimed I forget what time her sister dropped Jenn off and thought Stephan showed up a short time later. Ten minutes, more or some such...

And on top of it, he was NEVER invited to the family functions like the bday party, Christmas, etc. Clearly her family had a big problem with him.

I think the toll road pass in Florida is called a Sun-something or another (lol!). I came by that from the Dan Markel murder case.
Anyway, yeah, it sounds like Sterns was likely avoiding crossing paths with the aunt and you know, we've previously discussed indications to us that her family was disapproving of the relationship...

WTF were they even having him come for?

Jenn said he would help with the dog but I think she gave another reason that I couldn't hear.

 

[Guess Who]

I think the toll road pass in Florida is called a Sun-something or another (lol!). I came by that from the Dan Markel murder case.
Anyway, yeah, it sounds like Sterns was likely avoiding crossing paths with the aunt and you know, we've previously discussed indications to us that her family was disapproving of the relationship...

Jenn said he would help with the dog but I think she gave another reason that I couldn't hear.

SunPass. Most of the tolls in Florida are not manned and they record your SunPass token or if you don't have one, they run your tags and bill the owner of the vehicle.

 

[GrandmaBear]

I think the toll road pass in Florida is called a Sun-something or another (lol!). I came by that from the Dan Markel murder case.
Anyway, yeah, it sounds like Sterns was likely avoiding crossing paths with the aunt and you know, we've previously discussed indications to us that her family was disapproving of the relationship...

Jenn said he would help with the dog but I think she gave another reason that I couldn't hear.

Yeah SunPass was what the father said. You know the father thought it odd he left after arriving there and so I wonder where he went. Father didn't say what roads I don't think, at least not in the interview...

How is it that he got in now that I think about it. I believe Maddie was home first and he came like ten minutes after but was this after she got home or did the two leave even...

He more than likely would not have had a clicker because I don't think he'd been up there in awhile and they were broken up. The day he killed her (allegedly) on one trip back Jenn had to buzz him in as he had forgotten the clicker she likely gave him one he got there.

Also the plan was for him to stay a week. Why? To babysit and care for the dog so Jenn could sleep and train?

If I heard it right Maddie allegedly called him and asked him to come for her birthday, or it may have been Jenn, per his parents. Again why? Her birthday was over, he was not invited to the party, and there were clearly no celebration plans with mom and Stephan, it was back to school the next day and to bed when Jenn got home that night. Never heard a word of anything indicating he or anyone did anything for her birthday other than Jenn's family.

Another interesting thing is that the father said Stephan seemed to always have money... He would have to bail him out, pay for his keep, provide gas, phone, more but then packages would arrive at their door, all those dumb game figures I think and other things. Dad conjectured stealing from them at times but also wondered about if some other source of income... No figures as if he had "much" money but everyone else was always having to pay for him. Jenn was supposedly paying for his trip there. Dad did fill his car though...

Not sure I buy he didn't somehow first text or suggest he wanted to come up and parents just may not have known that because it just seems to me with his anxious and upset mode the day before, he or they planned on killing Maddie. As we know he wasted no time in doing so once arriving there.

I keep saying and I will again, something is missing here. The reason mainly.

 

[GrandmaBear]

I think the toll road pass in Florida is called a Sun-something or another (lol!). I came by that from the Dan Markel murder case.
Anyway, yeah, it sounds like Sterns was likely avoiding crossing paths with the aunt and you know, we've previously discussed indications to us that her family was disapproving of the relationship...

Jenn said he would help with the dog but I think she gave another reason that I couldn't hear.

As for her family, yeah, i'd like to hear THEIR interviews...

Also what good would it do to have him there for a week. She was still going to have the same child, dog and working hours all the following weeks.

Although both parents of his said she coudn't stick to any job longer than two weeks, or any schooling, or anything else.

 

[GrandmaBear]

Another vid of Jenn's, probably won't watch tonight but watched start of. Jennifer is offering the dog handling cop clothes from the last day they "had" Maddie and she means Sunday. Well that's not true supposedly they had her Monday too.

Regardless, why would you offer those instead of her pajamas as the last? I'm serious, did she know she would be nude with Stephan, no pajamas? And it's almost like she wants to pick and choose which clothes for the scent or something. Just kind of odd.

LE asks her if they are separate and not contaminated and they aren't, they are in a basket with both dirty and clean clothes. That sounds like some great housekeeping, not, but besides the point. She wasn't at her party and how would she even know what she came home in unless till wearign it when Jenn got home at 11 or whatever it was? Which is doubtful because Stephan said she'd done what was supposed to for getting ready for bed and school, did her shower, etc. She also said somewhere can't recall about last clothes being on bathroom floor, well that's not the same as the last ones in a laundry basket... And again what about pajamas? SERIOUSLY. WHAT did she put on after showering, wouldn't for most at night it be what you were going to relax and then sleep in?

Again probably wont' get through it all tonight. Maybe it's one I already watched but I don't think so, I don't recall any of this info or the dog, etc..

 

[GrandmaBear]

Okay, this is what I've been wondering, where such interviews were.

Now I haven't watched The Docket a lot, the few times I have tried, it seems a bit slow going and he puts a lot in one show. When I clicked in this is four hours plus long.

BUT it is from what he is saying a MULTITUDE of interviews. By slow going, I mean him. Not an insult, he just talks a bit slow, etc... Counselors, best friend, maternal aunt, grandpa, more are IN THIS.

I have respect for him because he gets documents, it is what he does in cases, and MANY a YTER then takes his links for what he paid for and obtained, etc... In many a case. Hence his name The Docket.

I am going to watch it but I will probably have to piece meal it and just look at it as each interview separately and each of course won't be that long as the whole, but he wanted to get them out I'm sure.

There's HOURS of stuff he received, including police canvassing the area and a ton more. Before I finish it, with him with such first from what I've seen, Grizzly and Plunder and others will probably take what he has and run with it.

 

[GrandmaBear]

Okay. I'm through one short interview, was the gate guard with Stephan with Maddie (dead we believe in the car) and now to a teacher. And the teacher doesn't know a lot but she knows plenty as far as she was always missing her class, she was always in the clinic, had anxiety, or went home from there, classes were switched because she was having some problem with students. When less attentive than normal which sounds as if it was every great, they blank it out but guessing mom was texted, and mom said oh I forgot to give her her meds. Did such get better, no. Always sad looking, reserved, more. She noticed a bigger change in January.

This teacher has had her ONLY this year... Jennifer I'd say was he caretaker in January and this time period...

Can't give her her meds apparently... Lots of problems. Her grades were Ds and Fs. Even more tired and inattentive than usual which was already it sounds like not great.

I am only minutes into a second interview after a short one with a gate guard.

I am not going to try to give byplay throughout what is HOURS of of interviews, I may, I may not, I don't have the time generally.

BUT is mom not picking up on ANYTHING??? Teacher certainly is. And what's mom doing about it? Ensuring she takes her meds? Doesn't sound like it.

Sorry but from what I've heard probably smoking pot steady, medicating , sleeping and ignoring daughter, and failed to launch herself. Her kid is in the school clinic it sounds like almost every single day!

 

[GrandmaBear]

So after about 15 or 16 minutes is when he started the interviews and all now listening tall these interviews. He does come in once or twice to answer a chat question but pretty much flowing with interviews uninterrupted.

For instance, this was live (not for me now) and many in chat coming in late were wondering about his picture on the screen while he was playing audio recordings and no video and it is of the canine dog HITTING on the tire of the car on a positive hit.

I haven't watched him a lot as I said but from what I know of him, I would not doubt he has every single LE interview he obtained linked in full with no commentary on his site or even below on each one in the 'more" box. I haven't looked but I would bet on one can find the uninterrupted recordings of every single interview he obtained on his channel.

 

[GrandmaBear]

I'm not through even a school employee interview yet or even close, this one only had her this year and I am irate at mom.

Grades were never great but they changed in that quarter and January seems notable too. WHAT was going on here and leading to February? That's what I'm wondering... More tired ec. Well he wasn't there apparently.... I can't help but go to wondering about the pregnancy thing but htey've sure never charged or said such... LE I mean.

There is another possibility and that is this child was groomed at least by him since a VERY young age and he to her may have been her person relied on even if he was molesting and abusing her, to her it was a norm, it is said it becomes that way, her attention, her one always with her and perhaps never mom as much. With him gone, she lost thought he one molesting her, the one she played games with, probably mistakenly thought loved her (not knowing any different from a young age and groomed...

I don't know but then mom saying she forgot to ensure she took her meds and you are seeing her in her natural state to this teacher...

I am outraged. And it isn't like mom it sounds like has ever held a job that she cannot SEE to her daughter!!! Per his dad, she doesn't want a job also to interfere with state benefits and her disability. All well and fine but well then you're home and you have but ONE kid. Who is at school all day nine months of the year so ya know our can sleep all day then right and get baked all day. Your kid is in the clinic ALL of the time, the school one...

WHAT is going on here?! Why is she more tired even when he is gone? At least from the parents and other interviews, I don't think he was up there in January for instance. I think they said maybe Thanksgiving and Christmas but of course again he wasn't invited to any of her family things for the holidays...

And I'm not coming down on pot, people with disabilities, or anything else, I am talking about mothering your ONE child. I mean Jenn sure can talk the calm, fairly intelligent game in interviews until she thinks she may have paused too long or said the wrong thing then blames taking her meds and it making her spacey.

His parents said her and Jenn were at loggerheads a lot over the recent past. That Maddie was showing bipolar signs which panicked Jenn who per his mom, is bipolar. That they were butting heads, etc.

Yet we have a kid who can't socialize at school and is reserved and more and tired and avoiding but at home she can go at it... If true of course...

I'm starting to at least dance with something and consider something in this case I almost never do... Many "out there" do immediately and jump and run to such thoughts and they are usually wrong, but not always...

i'll leave that at that.

Boy if Delphi only had this kind of open records laws, etc. and things not sealed and it took some months but they followed their rules on the FOIA requests and man we are getting tons...

 

[GrandmaBear]

So I listened to a gate guard, then a teacher, then a school couneselor and onto the best friend.

JENNIFER TOLD THE BEST FRIEND that SHE dropped her off at the church that morning. There are so many instances now of at least the WE and now we have her saying SHE did.

She did this repeatedly in her interviews, the "we". Stephan told one of his parents, the dad I believe, when they FIRST heard what had happened or that Maddie was missing that he dropped her off at school/the church that morning, and he felt he was blaming self, sobbing, etc. He later also felt the whole charade and story was his practice for the exact same one he did with LE and on camera not long later in hindsight. AFTER that though, he kept telling his parents "we" dropped her off.

If this isn't evidence of at least part of a story they TRIED and matching up stories, I don't know what is. It isn't a one time thing said, or to only one person EITHER. BUT multiple now, by both of them.

Per the best friend Maddie was off her meds for about the last two weeks. She did not want to take them, felt had more energy without, etc. She also said she was impulsive and moody and even was irritable with her and was upset when she did not give her any money at her birthday party. She was counting on money from the party and did not get the money she expected to get...

These are some things from it. Not sure how much I will come back and share or when will watch all but it is interview after interview. On rare occasion the host stops it and has something to say but isn't interrupting during over over talking which I can't stand with some YTers.

There's more of course but just touching on some of the things.

He wanting to leave is touched on, and her no being happy with her mother is talked of as well.

I will add she did say to her school counselor that she didn't like Stephan much, but when asked why, it was because he ate all their food, did nothing and hung out in the living room and common areas etc.

The counselor thought she seemed better at a time when it coincided with Stephan leaving and then giving her ways to cope with her mom.

Why then would SHE ask Stephan up for her birthday. I meant doubtful he was going to give her money.

Both he and her mother sound like total nonproducing couch potatoes indulging in what they felt like. He was supported by his folks and she had a roof over her and her daughter's head only thanks to her dad.

I fell asleep during this last night so when I started it this morning I was actually at a later pointing in it after all interviews and it was the after discussion with people watching, etc. I watched a bit when I first awoke and then decided to dial it back to where I was when I fell asleep because I will hit it again anyhow as I watch the rest. Interesting discussions there though too. After. Of all the things in all of these released interviews.

So that's SOME take on it so far, again, can't do all, not sure how much I will continue to be able to come and comment on but probably will of the absolute top things but not all things.

Oh one last thing, the best friend knew what she was wearing from Jenn too. A green top, even knew the BRAND, and spandex bottoms, white Crocs. When detective said so black pants, s, friend said no, shorts. Color? Black.

Jenn sure does know sh*t being she never saw her. And going by the laundry situation where her last thing worn was mixed in a basket with clean and dirty clothes, pretty sure not so organized that she could name what she was wearing by process of elimination and what was not in the home.

And I shouldn't say last thing because again, where are any pajamas....

 

[GrandmaBear]

Pretty specific with the clothing. The friend said a kelly green RVS hoodie that SHE actually gave Maddie, it is a company her dad works for I think she said... Pretty specific. Relistened to that part and said black spandex and then detetctive said black spandex pants, she said in response, shorts.

Pretty specific. From Jenn. What was she found in....

 

[GrandmaBear]

Now another teacher is up.

 

[GrandmaBear]

Not a ton in that one. Short. Similar things, always tired, getting no sleep he assumed (yeah I'd guess with Stephan molesting and drugging) but then go a bit better...

 

[GrandmaBear]

Another teacher.

 

[GrandmaBear]

Okay.

This teacher was not surprised by clothing desription because that hoodie and black biker shorts and Crocs were things she wore like ALL of the time...

That's interesting.

Was this something she wanted all of the time or was it due to lack of other things and clean laundry? Whatever the situation, other classmates and teachers alike would note such and wonder why.

I mean getting gas picture of always tired, always needing the clinic or counselor, and in the same clothes every day?

And then the hoodie came from the friend. Did she have other clothes? Did Jenn buy her any?

I mean I'm sorry but between what was being done to her by MOM's BF and all of this, then her mentioning last thing worn mixed in clean and dirty laundry AND per his dad and mom, she coudln't hold a job, is she getting her clothes or taking care of her needs? Considering too what was being done to her, I'd take every piece of laundry from that home if I were LE clean OR DIRTY.

I'd also be asking what she wore to bed routinely and determining how many changes of clothing were used in the last how many days and when laundry last done.

Just seems to be at least a theme coming about of neglect at minimum. Not seeing to her meds ore ENSURING she took them, clean clothes, same outfit, you name it.

I mean dad had to pay for the dog at the hotel (his dad, her dog)...

Boy I get tough times but no one is even trying here or working, etc. From the picture I am getting of BOTH J & S. Gaming, getting baked, sleeping, you name it. One whose dad supports him, the other whose dad does too and owns the home they are/were all in.

 

[GrandmaBear]

Boy the way schools operate now I'd need understood as a separate subject.

But another day.

Wearing a hoodie all the time stood out and she never dressed out for PE.

Not a lot in this short interview BUT a general thing is showing through in all....

 

[GrandmaBear]

So several teachers now another friend. Going to quit for a bit as the AC is running and can't hear it well anyhow.