Madeline Soto: Story Jennifer Soto gave law enforcement doesn’t line up with what investigators know

WFTV Channel 9

5 Mar 202404:51

Summary

TLDRThe tragic case of 13-year-old Melina Soto's death continues to unfold with new evidence revealing inconsistencies in the statements provided by her mother, Jennifer Soto, and her boyfriend, Steven Sterns, who is the prime suspect. Prosecutors are calling for an investigation into the local sheriff's actions after a controversial photo surfaced on his personal Instagram. The video script delves into the conflicting timelines, highlighting Soto's claim of seeing her daughter on the morning of her disappearance, contrasting with evidence suggesting Melina was already deceased. As investigators piece together the final hours of Melina's life, scrutiny intensifies over the truthfulness of initial interviews and statements made by the key individuals involved.

Takeaways

😞 13-year-old Meline Sodo was found dead, and her mother Jennifer Sodo's statements about the timeline of events do not align with what investigators have uncovered.
🕵️ Prosecutors are calling for an investigation into the local sheriff's actions, as a photo appearing to show a body in the woods was accidentally posted to the sheriff's personal Instagram page.
👨‍💼 Stephan Sterns, Jennifer Sodo's boyfriend, is the prime suspect in Meline's death, and investigators believe he never dropped her off at school as claimed.
🕰️ According to new documents, Jennifer Sodo told deputies she saw her daughter getting ready for school on the morning of her disappearance, contradicting her earlier statement.
📹 Video evidence shows Meline's belongings being dumped in a dumpster at 7:35 am by Sterns, and her believed to be deceased in his vehicle at 8:19 am.
🚔 The case has been transferred to the CMPD (Central Metropolitan Police Department), and sources say Sodo has been interviewed multiple times by detectives from two agencies.
📃 Sterns initially told investigators that Meline stopped to look in her book bag before he drove away, but the same bag was found in the dumpster after her death.
🕵️‍♀️ Detectives are closely examining all statements made by both Sterns and Sodo, as inconsistencies have been found in their accounts.
🚨 The state attorney's office is asking the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to investigate how and why the sheriff had a photo that appeared to show a body in the woods.
😥 The tragic death of Meline Sodo has deeply impacted the entire community, and more developments are expected in this ongoing case.

Q & A

What was the initial timeline provided by Meline Soto's mother regarding the morning of her disappearance?
-According to the new report, Jennifer Soto initially told deputies that she saw her daughter Meline getting dressed for school at 8:00 AM on the morning of her disappearance, and that her boyfriend Steven Sterns took the teen to school.
What did the authorities determine about Meline's whereabouts on the morning of her disappearance?
-Authorities have determined that Meline Soto was never dropped off at school. Instead, they believe she was already dead earlier that morning, and Steven Sterns moved her body in the early morning hours.
What evidence did investigators find regarding Meline's belongings?
-Video footage showed Meline's belongings being dumped in a dumpster at 7:35 AM by Steven Sterns. Additionally, the same book bag that Sterns claimed Meline stopped to look at before leaving his car was found in the dumpster after her death.
What discrepancies were found in the statements provided by Jennifer Soto and Steven Sterns?
-There were inconsistencies between the initial statements provided by Jennifer Soto and Steven Sterns regarding the timeline of events on the morning of Meline's disappearance. Their statements about dropping off Meline at school contradicted the evidence gathered by investigators.
What action is being taken regarding the Orange County Sheriff's handling of the case?
-The state attorney's office is asking the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to investigate how and why a photo that appeared to be a body in the woods was posted to the Orange County Sheriff's personal Instagram page less than 24 hours after Meline Soto's body was found.
What was the reason given for the Orange County Sheriff posting the potentially inappropriate photo?
-Sheriff Marcos Lopez stated that he accidentally posted the image when sharing a post of himself visiting a senior citizen's area. However, the sheriff's office has not explained why the sheriff had the photo or who took it.
What is the current status of the investigation?
-The case has been moved to the Criminal Mischief Investigations (CMI) police, and sources indicate that Jennifer Soto has been interviewed multiple times by detectives from two agencies, who are closely examining all the statements she has made.
What was Steven Sterns' account of his actions after allegedly dropping off Meline at school?
-According to the report, Steven Sterns told investigators that after Meline got out of his car, she stopped to look in her book bag before he drove away. He then said he went home for about an hour after going to a vape store and running errands, and was home until 2:30 PM.
What additional information did detectives uncover about Steven Sterns' actions on the day of Meline's disappearance?
-Detectives received a tip showing that Steven Sterns was changing a flat tire that day, not from the location where Meline's body was found later that afternoon.
How has Meline Soto's death impacted the community?
-The script mentions that developments in this tragic story continue to come out in the community, and that the impact of Meline's death on the entire community will be shown in a later news segment.

Outlines

00:00

🕵️‍♀️ Inconsistencies in the Meline Soto Case

The paragraph discusses inconsistencies between Jennifer Soto's initial statements to law enforcement and later evidence regarding the timeline of events surrounding her 13-year-old daughter Meline's disappearance and death. It highlights discrepancies in Soto's account of when she last saw Meline and whether her boyfriend, Stephen Sterns, dropped Meline off at school on the day she went missing. The paragraph also mentions that prosecutors are calling for an investigation into the local sheriff's office, suggesting potential issues with how the case was initially handled.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Missing person

A missing person refers to an individual whose whereabouts are unknown or unclear. In the context of this video, it relates to the disappearance of 13-year-old Meline Soto. The script discusses the initial report of her going missing and the investigation into her whereabouts, stating "at that point her daughter Meline had been missing for one day."

💡Investigation

An investigation is a systematic process of gathering facts and evidence to determine the truth or circumstances surrounding a specific event or situation. The video highlights the ongoing investigation into Meline Soto's death, with prosecutors calling for an inquiry into the local sheriff's handling of the case. It also mentions investigators looking into the statements provided by Meline's mother and her boyfriend, who is the prime suspect.

💡Suspect

A suspect is a person who is believed to have committed a crime or is being investigated for potential involvement in a criminal act. The script refers to Stephan Sterns as the "prime suspect" in Meline Soto's death, indicating that he is the primary person of interest in the investigation.

💡Inconsistent statements

Inconsistent statements refer to accounts or details provided by individuals that contradict or conflict with each other or other known facts. The video script highlights inconsistencies in the statements made by Meline's mother, Jennifer Soto, and her boyfriend, Stephan Sterns, regarding the timeline of events on the day Meline went missing. These inconsistencies have raised suspicions and prompted further investigation.

💡Timeline

A timeline is a chronological sequence of events or activities, typically arranged in the order in which they occurred. The script emphasizes the importance of establishing an accurate timeline of events surrounding Meline Soto's disappearance and death, as investigators seek to piece together what happened in the final hours of her life based on statements from Jennifer Soto and Stephan Sterns, as well as video evidence.

💡Evidence

Evidence refers to information, facts, or objects that support or refute a particular claim, belief, or theory. In the context of the video, evidence is crucial in the investigation into Meline Soto's death. The script mentions video evidence showing Meline's belongings being dumped in a dumpster and her body being moved, as well as a tip about Stephan Sterns changing a flat tire, which contradicts his earlier statements.

💡Law enforcement

Law enforcement refers to the individuals and agencies responsible for enforcing laws, maintaining order, and investigating criminal activities. The video discusses the involvement of various law enforcement agencies, including the local sheriff's office, the Orange County Sheriff's Office, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, in the investigation into Meline Soto's death and the potential mishandling of the case by the local sheriff.

💡Tragedy

A tragedy is an event or situation involving great suffering, misfortune, or distress. The script repeatedly refers to Meline Soto's death as a "tragic story" and a "tragedy in our community," highlighting the profound sorrow and impact her untimely demise has had on the local community.

💡Interviews

An interview is a conversation or meeting in which questions are asked and answered to gather information or gain insights. The video mentions that Meline Soto's mother, Jennifer Soto, was interviewed multiple times by detectives from different agencies, as they scrutinized the statements she provided regarding the events surrounding her daughter's disappearance and death.

💡Body

In the context of the video, the term "body" refers to the physical remains or corpse of Meline Soto. The script discusses the discovery of Meline's body and the controversy surrounding a photo that appeared to depict her body in the woods, which was accidentally posted on the local sheriff's personal Instagram account, leading to an investigation by the state attorney's office.

Highlights

Jennifer Soto, the mother of the deceased 13-year-old Meline Soto, initially told law enforcement that she saw her daughter getting dressed for school at 8:00 AM on the morning of her disappearance, and that her boyfriend, Stephan Sterns, took Meline to school.

However, the Orange County Sheriff's Office later determined that Meline was likely already deceased earlier that morning, and that Sterns never dropped her off at school.

Surveillance video shows Meline's belongings being dumped in a dumpster at 7:35 AM by Sterns, and Meline herself is seen in Sterns' vehicle at 8:19 AM, believed to be deceased.

Sterns initially told investigators that after dropping Meline off at school, he went home for about an hour before running errands, but a tip showed him changing a flat tire, not from where Meline's body was found.

Sterns also told the news team in an interview that he dropped Meline off at school on the morning of her disappearance, contradicting law enforcement's findings.

The State Attorney's Office is asking the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to investigate how and why a photo that appeared to be a body in the woods was posted to the Orange County Sheriff's personal Instagram page less than 24 hours after Meline's body was found.

The discrepancies between Jennifer Soto's and Stephan Sterns' initial statements to law enforcement and the evidence gathered by investigators are being closely examined.

The case has moved to the Criminal Mischief Investigation Police, and sources indicate that Soto has been interviewed multiple times by detectives from two agencies regarding the statements she has made.

Sterns is the prime suspect in Meline's death and has been charged, though the specific charges are not mentioned in the transcript.

The timeline of events surrounding Meline's disappearance and death is being pieced together through various sources, including interviews with Soto and Sterns, surveillance footage, and tips from the public.

The impact of Meline's death on the community is mentioned, with the news team indicating that they will cover this aspect in their evening broadcast.

The Orange County Sheriff's Office initially claimed that the Sheriff, Marcos Lopez, accidentally posted the photo of the body in the woods when sharing a post about visiting a senior citizen's area.

The news team notes that it is unclear why the Sheriff had the photo or who took it.

The case involves multiple agencies, including the Orange County Sheriff's Office, the Criminal Mischief Investigation Police, and potentially the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

The transcript provides a detailed account of the discrepancies in the statements made by the key individuals involved in the case, highlighting the importance of thoroughly investigating and verifying the information provided by all parties.