‘A slap in the face’: Stephen Sterns reacts to murder charges in newly released prison conversation with parents

OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla – Prosecutors on Friday released more than 1,500 pages of documents related to the Madeline Soto investigation.

The shared recordings also included a phone conversation with Stephan Sterns after his arrest earlier this year.

The phone call indicates that Stephan Sterns spoke to his father, Chris Sterns, on May 13 while he was incarcerated at the Osceola County Jail.

[TIMELINE: Here’s where things stand in the Madeline Soto case]

In the audio recording, Stephan Sterns first tells his father that he hasn’t been able to call lately because the prison has been locked down so often.

“It’s probably more to do with staffing levels,” explains Stephan Sterns.

Chris Sterns then puts the call on speaker so that Stephan Sterns’ mother can join in the conversation.

“Happy birthday – belated birthday, mom,” says Stephan Sterns. “And happy, belated Mother’s Day.”

However, Chris Sterns quickly turns around and asks if Stephan Sterns was expecting the murder charge that was brought against him in connection with Madeline Soto’s death. However, Stephan Sterns answers: “No.”

“Obviously that’s not true,” he says. “You know, I would never have wanted her to be gone for any reason. So, you know, first-degree premeditated murder is kind of a slap in the face.”

Chris Sterns then asks if Stephan Sterns cooperated with investigators, although Stephan Sterns replies, “There was no opportunity for me to cooperate with anything.”

“As far as I know, the police keep saying that I’m not cooperating, but they haven’t asked me for anything to cooperate with,” says Stephan Sterns.

Stephan adds that his lawyers have instructed him to “keep his mouth shut until the trial begins” so as not to harm his prospects in court.

“Of course there are concerns that (investigators) are artificially inflating everything as much as possible,” he said.

Chris Sterns turns around again and asks Stephan about the Saturday evening before Madeline Soto disappeared in February.

“You were pretty upset about something. Did this have anything to do with what happened in Kissimmee and what happened over the next few days?” Chris Sterns asks.

Stephan replies that he’s just “stressed about money” and other things and claims that it’s “going to be a great week.”

But then Chris Sterns brings up the topic of Stephan’s 300-mile trip to North Port shortly after Soto’s disappearance.

Chris: “Is there an explanation as to why you left and where you went?”

Stephen: “I was just driving around.”

Chris: “OK, I understand that you are driving around, but you know where. You know where you’ve been driving around and We knowledge.”

Stephen: “I wanted to grab a few things and get my ducks in a row to kind of prepare for whatever was to come, but I couldn’t find what I was looking for. And then I kind of drove around aimlessly.”

Chris: “I mean, you asked me to come up (to the hotel) and we barely spent 35 minutes the entire time I was there all day. And it’s like, I wasn’t sure why I was there, and then I was surprised by what happened later that afternoon, and obviously I haven’t seen you since.

Stephen: “Well, I just felt like I needed an ally there.”

Chris: “Well, I wish you had come to me and talked to me about a few things and maybe we could have helped you in some way…give you some advice. But certainly in extenuating circumstances, which was later found out, obviously “It doesn’t help you any further than what has already happened. So the most logical thing would be to face the matter and have a conversation with the relevant authorities or the lawyer or something like that.”

Then Stephan Sterns begins talking to his parents about his documents, including his birth certificate, hospital records and his social security card.

But Chris Sterns is bringing up the allegations again and how they could affect her future.

Chris: “Well, you know, the punishment for the crimes you are charged with is at least 40 years. So it’s clear we’ll be gone. Rick will be gone. We’ll all be gone. I mean, we’re sad. Of course we’re sad about that because when you get out, no one will be there for you.”

Stephen: “Yeah, well, I’m lucky too if I still have 40 years ahead of me, so…”

Chris: “I wish there was a way that you and I could have a conversation, we could all have a conversation, to understand what happened, how it happened, why you were here, because it would help us. “Understand the situation better. Because we just can’t understand how this all came about. I mean, we’re just completely stumped.

“You didn’t start it, but you took part in it, which is just as bad as not starting it. But that’s for another day.”

Stephen: “If you arrange a visit with me or something, maybe we can find a way to talk.”

Chris: “I don’t know. I think we’re always being recorded, so there won’t be an opportunity to do that. Now we need to make sure you sign the power of attorney so we can do something with this car. And I’d have to bring a document.

“They don’t even allow me to see you. I would just hand it to the classification officer. He would bring it in, you would sign it. They would probably notarize it and give it back to me.”

Stephen: “I think I just got the one-minute warning.”

Chris: “OK.”

Stephen: “Give them what you need and I’ll sign what I need to sign. In the meantime, I’ll try to call back in the next few days and we’ll talk some more. If you wouldn’t mind putting a little more money in my cash register too…”

Chris: “All right. I can’t do much because we really – when I say we’re absolutely broke, I mean we’re absolutely broke. But I’ll do what I can.

Stephan Sterns and his parents then say goodbye before ending the conversation.

THE CASE SO FAR

Madeline Soto, 13, was reported missing back in February after it was discovered that she never arrived at school that day.

Investigators say Stephan Sterns – Soto’s mother’s boyfriend – was responsible for dropping her off, although he claimed he let her out a short distance away.

In the days that followed, investigators said they gathered enough evidence to point to Stephan Sterns as the perpetrator, such as surveillance footage of Sterns driving around with Soto’s body inside. Investigators said they believed she was already dead when she was reported missing.

Additionally, investigators said they found evidence that Sterns sexually abused Soto for years.

Ultimately, Soto’s body was found in a wooded area off Hickory Tree Road in Osceola County.

Sterns was arrested and now faces dozens of charges, including first-degree murder, child molestation, sexual battery against a child and possession of child pornography. In June, the SRH announced that the public prosecutor’s office was demanding the death penalty against Stephan Sterns.

At the time of writing, the trial date in the child abuse battery case is scheduled for February 24, 2025. The trial in the murder case is scheduled for September 22, 2025.

News 6 is also reviewing the remainder of the investigative documents released Friday and will provide updates as they become available.

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