The sheriff for the area where 13-year-old Madeline Soto disappeared and died is under fire for seemingly posting a photo from the crime scene, and now the department is apologizing.
On Saturday — a day after Madeline was found deceased — a photo of human remains was reportedly posted to the official Instagram account for Osceola County Sheriff Marcos Lopez. The photo, believed to be a confidential image from the crime scene and since deleted, is said to show a body matching Madeline’s description lying dead on the ground.
The Sheriff’s office is neither confirming nor denying the photo depicted Madeline’s body.
Nirva Rodriguez, the OCSD executive director, shared the image on her personal Facebook page … showing Sterns being led out of a building in handcuffs. She reportedly captured her post … “If God’s love has been poured out over your life, don’t allow evil to keep you away from what He has prepared for you.” Unclear what her intent behind the post/message was.
MAJOR DEVELOPMENT in the case of missing 13-year-old Madeline Soto:
This evening, the Kissimmee Police Department, working in conjunction with the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, arrested Stephan Sterns, 37, for sexual battery and possession of child sexual abuse material.…
— Orange County Sheriff’s Office
Law enforcement has not specifically tied those charges to Madeline’s case just yet … nor have they officially charged him in her disappearance or death. He has yet to enter a plea.
While multiple law enforcement agencies were involved in locating Madeline and bringing Sterns into custody — the Kissimmee Police Department is now the one in charge of investigating the teen’s death and disappearance … and Florida law broadly prohibits the release of photos depicting the killing of a minor without permission from surviving family.
