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Stephan Sterns, the man named by Central Florida authorities as the prime suspect in the disappearance and death of 13-year-old Madeline Soto, waived his first appearance in Osceola County court.

Sterns, 37, described as the boyfriend of Soto’s mother, was instead represented solely by his attorney, who said that they knew what he was being charged with. The judge granted Sterns no bond amount. News 6 is working to learn what new charges Sterns may be facing.

Madeline’s body was found on Friday in Osceola County by authorities searching the woods off Hickory Tree Road, some four days after her mother reported the 13-year-old was missing.

Sterns — who law enforcement noted ahead of his arrest on Wednesday was the last person to have seen Soto — was named the prime suspect in her disappearance after interviews with investigators led detectives to disturbing pictures and videos on his cellphone, prompting charges against Sterns of sexual battery and possession of child sexual abuse material. Sterns initially told investigators he “accidentally” performed a factory reset on his phone the same day Soto was reported missing.

The Orange County Sheriff’s Office, which worked in conjunction with Kissimmee police to make Sterns’ arrest ahead of his transfer to Osceola County, said the crimes depicted in the images and videos were committed at the family home in Kissimmee. The Kissimmee Police Department was promptly notified, going on to take the lead on the sexual battery case.

At a news conference Friday, held before the discovery of Soto’s body was announced, Orange County Sheriff John Mina said investigators already believed that the 13-year-old was dead.

“Last night, detectives from the Kissimmee Police Department met with Madeline’s mother and they had to tell her the very devastating news that although we have not found Madeline, we are now confident that she is dead,” Mina said on Friday.

The girl’s mother had told Orange County deputies that Sterns dropped Soto off near Hunter’s Creek Middle School on Monday morning, yet Mina said Friday that his detectives had since determined the 13-year-old was never dropped off.

“Instead, we believe she was already dead at the time and that Stephan Sterns moved her body in the early morning hours on that day,” Mina said. “We have video evidence that shows Stephan Sterns discarding items in a dumpster in that apartment complex in Kissimmee at 7:35 a.m.”

The sheriff said around 8:19 a.m., detectives found the girl’s backpack and her school-issued laptop in the dumpster.

“We have evidence that shows Stephan Sterns returning to the complex and Madeline was visible in that vehicle. We believe she was already dead at that time,” he said. “As a result of that, although the initial missing persons investigation started in Orange County, the Kissimmee Police Department will now be taking over the investigation and will become the lead agency.”

Kissimmee police Chief Betty Holland provided the following statement

The search for 13-year-old Madeline Soto came to a grim conclusion. The once hopeful pursuit turned into a somber recovery effort, shattering the hopes of finding the missing teen alive. Orange County Sheriff John Mina confirmed that Madeline’s disappearance led investigators to a horrifying discovery – a body found in the dense woods of Osceola County.

The ominous turn of events points fingers at Stephan Sterns, the boyfriend of Madeline’s mother, who now stands as the primary suspect in this devastating case. Sterns, 37, was the last person seen with Madeline before her disappearance. Surveillance footage captured Sterns disposing of items in a trash bin at their Kissimmee apartment complex, with Madeline’s backpack later unearthed from the same location.

Authorities revealed chilling details from their investigation, indicating Sterns’ involvement in appalling crimes. He stands accused of sexual battery and possession of child sexual abuse material, casting a dark shadow over the family’s home. Forensic examination of Sterns’ phone uncovered disturbing evidence, painting a grim picture of the events leading to Madeline’s disappearance.

Despite the absence of an official confirmation from the medical examiner, the clothing found on the body strongly resembles what Madeline was last seen wearing, leaving little room for optimism. Sheriff Mina expressed a solemn certainty of Madeline’s demise, shifting the focus of their efforts towards recovering her remains.

As the community grapples with the heartbreaking reality of Madeline’s fate, Kissimmee police take charge of the criminal investigation while the sheriff’s office continues its relentless pursuit of answers.

Amidst the sorrow and shock, one truth remains undeniable – a promising young life has been tragically cut short, leaving behind a grieving family and a community in mourning.

A teenage girl who went missing in central Florida earlier this week is likely dead, investigators said.

Orange County Sheriff John Mina said the boyfriend of 13-year-old Madeline Soto’s mother is the primary suspect in the girl’s disappearance.

Florida authorities found a body in their search for Soto, and confirmation is pending.

That body was found Friday afternoon in some woods in Osceola County.

“A tip led us to the area of Hickory Tree Road about a mile and a half from here. Where someone potentially said that they saw some involvement in the case. So what we did was we sent our units out here and we did discover what appears to be a body,” said Osceola County Sheriff Marcos Lopez.

In a briefing Friday night, the county’s sheriff said they were waiting on an official confirmation from the medical examiner as to whether the body is that of Soto, but the body had clothing very similar to what the girl was last seen wearing.

Meanwhile, Mina announced Friday that the search for the missing girl is now a recovery effort.

“We are now confident that she is dead,” Mina said. “Our efforts will be focused on recovering Madeline.”

Stephan Sterns, 37, was the last person to see Madeline alive Monday morning, Mina said. Video evidence shows Sterns discarding items in a trash bin at the family’s Kissimmee apartment complex early Monday morning, officials said. Madeline’s backpack was later found in the bin.

Video also shows Sterns returning to the complex with Madeline visible in the car later in the morning, and detectives believe she was already dead, Mina said.

Sterns was arrested Wednesday and charged with sexual battery and possession of child sexual abuse material, officials said. Detectives discovered the abuse images and videos when they forensically examined Sterns’ phone, officials said. Investigators believe sexual crimes were committed at the family’s home.

Kissimmee police will take over the criminal investigation, while the sheriff’s office focuses on finding the girl.

Stephan Sterns was a no-show for his first appearance in Osceola County court. His lawyer didn’t want the judge reading out the charges.

At the first appearance, Sterns faced charges including sexual battery and possession of material depicting sexual performance by a child. Sterns had voluntarily handed his phone to investigators, who managed to recover photos and videos that they call “disturbing.”

Investigators said he was also the prime suspect in Maddie Soto’s disappearance.

Search teams finally recovered Maddie’s body on Friday evening after an exhaustive search through the woods in Osceola County. The judge said Sterns would stay behind bars.

The Orange County Sheriff’s Office has turned over the case to Kissimmee Police. Sheriff John Mina said they had proof Sterns tried to cover his tracks after Maddie’s death. “We have video evidence that shows Stephan Sterns discarding items in a dumpster in the apartment complex in Kissimmee at 7:35 on Monday, February 26.

Detectives later recovered Madaline’s backpack and school-issued laptop from that dumpster.

“At 8:19, we have evidence that shows Stephan Sterns returning to the complex, and Madeline was visible in that vehicle,” he said, “we believe she was already dead at that time.”

Kissimmee police said they weren’t releasing any further updates on the case.

Former Orlando Police chief, Orlando Rolon, said Sterns may have thought he could fool investigators.

“This is a prefect example of someone who probably though ‘Eh, I can get away with this,’ and fortunately everything is now pointing to the face that he had now been caught for the murder of this child.”

Madeline Soto disappeared at the morning after Stephan Sterns, 37, the boyfriend of Soto’s motherm was supposed to drop her off at school.

According to deputies, Sterns was the last person confirmed to have seen Soto and is now the prime suspect in her disappearance. Sterns was detained at night and faces several charges, including sexual battery.

The upsetting news of Soto prompted many to gather at her middle school for what was meant to be a night of praying for her return, but shortly turned into a night filled with tears as many were shocked to learn of her murder.

“We did what God calls us to do,” said Pastor Gaby Melendez of Unity and Fire Church, who helped organized Friday’s vigil. “In this time of grief and hardship — truly a devastating time — we came together.”

Along with many, Melendez is working with those who knew Madeline — or ‘Maddie’ as her best friends called her — to carry on her legacy and remember her for who she was.

“She was like perfect. She was always happy. She would comfort you. If you asked for a favor, she would do it,” said Savanna Bobets of her best friend, while wearing a green hoodie Soto switched with her prior to her disappearance.

At Friday’s vigil, Soto was described as energetic and thoughtful, and as someone who never showed signs of living in danger.

The makeshift memorial was attended by several alumni and parents who hope to bring awareness on child abuse.

“We hope for education, we hope for healing,” said Maria Vazquez, whose child graduated from Hunter’s Creek.

Vazquez didn’t know Soto personally, but described the loss as “personal.”

“We hope for parents and the schools to just be able to look at children and listen to them,” Vazquez said.

Crews are working to clean up a train derailment in Pennsylvania that led to several cars landing in the Lehigh River.

It happened on the morning in Lower Saucon Township in Northampton County, fire and county officials announced on Facebook. Photographs show box and tanker cars off the tracks.

“There are currently no evacuations, no injuries, and no leaks from any containers,” the County of Northampton said while asking people to stay away from the site and allow first responders to do their jobs.

Northampton County Emergency Management, Lehigh County Hazmat and Nancy Run Fire Company are on the scene off Riverside Drive.

The train belongs to Norfolk Southern, Northampton County says. Crews from the company are on site doing an assessment.

Norfolk Southern had multiple derailments last year, with one of the most notable in Ohio “when 38 cars of a 151-car train carrying hazardous materials derailed and 12 others caught fire,” CBS News Philadelphia reports.

Norfolk Southern said in a statement to Fox News Digital they responded to the incident near Bethlehem and “appreciate the quick, professional response by local emergency agencies.” Crews and contractors are developing a clean-up plan at the derailment site. 

A corporate fact sheet from Norfolk Southern says the company “has the most extensive intermodal franchise in the East” and ships over 2,900 commodities for its customers. The company also says it is the “largest rail shipper of metals in North America.”

The body of missing Florida girl Madeline Soto was found in a wooded area Friday afternoon, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office said, hours after the department said they believed the 13-year-old was dead.

Her mother’s boyfriend is suspected of moving her body and the case is a homicide investigation, Sheriff John Mina said at a news conference earlier in the day.

Madeline’s body was found around 4:30 p.m. by Osceola County Sheriff’s Office search teams in a wooded area off Hickory Tree Road, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office said in an update.

“Madeline’s family has been notified. We have no additional information to release at this time. Kissimmee PD is the lead agency in this homicide investigation. That work continues,” the sheriff’s office said.

The sheriff’s office previously said Madeline was last seen at the morning when her mother’s boyfriend, Stephan Sterns, 37, dropped her off a few blocks from Hunter’s Creek Middle School in Orlando.

Evidence now reveals she was never dropped off near her school that morning, Mina said in a Friday press conference.

Sterns, who authorities call the “prime suspect” in the case, was arrested at the night on separate charges of sexual battery and possession of child sexual abuse material after detectives found “disturbing images” and videos that were “criminal, and sexual in nature” during a forensic examination of his phone.

It is believed Madeline was killed in Kissimmee, where her family lived in an apartment, and that Sterns moved her body in the early morning hours, Mina said.

“We have evidence that shows Stephen Stern’s returning to the complex and Madeline was visible in that vehicle. We believe she was already dead at that time,” the sheriff said. Authorities did not state what time that footage was captured.

Video evidence recovered by authorities showed Sterns discarding items in a dumpster at the Kissimmee apartment complex at 7:35 a.m. Detectives later recovered Madeline’s backpack and her school-issued laptop from the dumpster.

Detectives informed Madeline’s mother about her suspected death at the  night. She is not considered a suspect in the investigation.

The Kissimmee Police Department will take over the case now that it has transitioned into a homicide investigation.

Kissimmee Police Chief Betty Holland had asked the public to come forward with tips as the search for the child was ongoing.

Sterns was seen driving a silver 2010 Lincoln MKZ between 1 and 2:30 p.m. in the area of State Road 192 and Old Hickory Tree and Nulty roads. It is believed he had a flat tire and might have been seen changing the tire in this area.

Mina said Sterns has not spoken to anyone regarding the case. He has been moved to the Osceola County Jail where he’s being held on capital sexual battery charges filed by Kissimmee police.

The dead body of Madeline Soto was found dead in a wooden area five days after the 13-year-old was reported missing, and police suspect her mother’s boyfriend moved her body.

Florida’s Orange County Sheriff’s Office announced the news hours after sharing during a press conference that they were “confident” Soto was dead.

The sheriff’s office said that search teams from the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office located her body at about 4:30 p.m. in a wooded area off Hickory Tree Road and that Madeline’s family had been notified.

“We have no additional information to release at this time. Kissimmee PD is the lead agency in this homicide investigation. That work continues,” the update said.

News of her death comes days after she celebrated her 13th birthday on Feb. 22, reports the Orlando Sentinel.

Madeline and her family lived in an apartment in Kissimmee, Fla. and she attended school in Hunter’s Creek Middle School in Orlando, according to NBC News.

Although it was believed that Madeline was last seen on her way to school, Orange County Sheriff John W. Mina said during the press conference that detectives determined that Madeline was never dropped off by her mother’s boyfriend, Stephan Sterns, 37.

“Instead, we believe she was already dead at the time and that Stephan Sterns moved her body in the early morning hours on that day. We have video evidence that shows Stephen Sterns discarding items in a dumpster in that apartment complex in Kissimmee at 7:35 a.m” Mina said.

“Detectives later recovered Madeline’s backpack and her school-issued laptop from that dumpster. At 8:19 a.m., we have evidence that shows Stephan Sterns returning to the complex, and Madeline was visible in that vehicle,” continued Mina. “We believe she was already dead at that time.

Kissimmee Police Chief Betty Holland said that the case remains an “active and ongoing situation” and that “there is a lot of additional information that we cannot release at this time.”

According to Holland, Sterns was transported from the Orange County Jail to the Osceola County Jail.

Sterns had been arrested and charged with sexual battery and possession of child sexual abuse material by Kissimmee Police. Although the charges were not connected to Madeline’s case, police said he was the prime suspect in her case.

According to a previous update from the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, detectives found “disturbing images and videos” when they forensically examined his phone and learned that he attempted to delete evidence.

If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual abuse, text “STRENGTH” to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor.

Louisville first responders are at the scene of a crash on the Clark Memorial Bridge in Kentucky, which spans the Ohio River, after a semi-truck crashed through the bridge’s guardrail barrier and dangled over the water.

The initial crash was reported around 12:15 local time. The truck was moving northbound on the bridge when it apparently crossed the lane and crashed through the bridge’s guardrail, according to local reports.

Dramatic video shows a first responder being lowered to the semi truck from a ladder in order to lift the driver to safety.

The trailer of the truck could be seen wedged against the beams of the bridge, stopping it from falling into the water below. The hood of the truck also popped open and could be seen hanging from the truck’s cab.

The truck’s trailer and cab, which remained intact during the rescue, carry the name “Sysco,” a food distribution company.

A spokesperson for Sysco praised the first responders for their rescue.

“Sysco is enormously grateful to rescue services and law enforcement who quickly and safely resolved the accident on the Clark Memorial Bridge today,” a spokesperson told Fox News Digital in a statement.

“We are thankful our Sysco colleague is safe and thank the first responders for their courageous efforts rescuing our driver. Safety is a priority at Sysco, and we are cooperating with the law enforcement investigation.”

Officials said that a motor vehicle collision led to the truck crossing lanes and ultimately crashing through the guardrail.

The Clark Memorial Bridge is currently closed to traffic as first responders continue working.

After authorities acknowledged it was “more than likely” the body of Kiely Rodni that volunteer divers had found in a California reservoir on Sunday, just over two weeks after the 16-year-old vanished from a campground party, her boyfriend uploaded a video to social media expressing his grief. “This was an insanely fucked-up situation,” Jagger Westfall said, adding that he didn’t think he would ever be able to process it. “I know that it fucking hurts,” he added, “and I know that it hurts all of you.

And I just wanted to say thank you to everyone that put the effort in. And tried so fucking hard to bring her home.” In a statement also made Monday, Rodni’s family thanked “the army of warriors, matriarchs, healers, and helpers” who aided in the search for their daughter. “While we accept this sadness cast under death’s shadow,” the Rodni-Nieman family said, “the rising sun shines light upon us, reminding us not to mourn our loss, but to celebrate Kiely’s spirit and the gift that we all received in knowing her. Kiely will surely remain with us even though we will not get her back.”