The tragic search for 13-year-old Florida teen Madeline Soto has come to a devastating end after her remains were discovered in a wooded area in Osceola County. Madeleine, who was reported missing earlier this week, was found dead wearing clothes similar to those she was wearing before she disappeared.
The prime suspect in the case, Stefan Stearns, 37, a boyfriend of Madeline's mother, was arrested Wednesday on separate charges of sexual assault and possession of child sexual abuse material. But authorities consider him the main suspect in Madeleine's case.
Police revealed that surveillance cameras captured Stearns throwing items into a dumpster at an apartment complex in Kissimmee, Florida, at 7:35 a.m. on Monday, the same day Madeline was reported missing. Authorities later recovered Madeleine's backpack and school laptop from the same dumpster. that Stearns had moved his body in the early hours of the morning.
The case remains under active investigation, and authorities are withholding additional information at this time. Stearns, who is currently in custody, has not been charged in connection with Madeleine's death, but he is considered the prime suspect in the case.
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