Missing Girl’s Case Leads to Arrest for Child Porn Crimes
When a Florida girl didn’t arrive at school on February 26, police originally investigated the situation as a missing person case. Then it turned into a homicide case when the 13-year-old girl was found dead four days later. The suspect was the boyfriend of the girl’s mother, who was arrested for child porn crimes two days earlier. The Orange County Sheriff’s Office arrested the 37-year-old man on multiple charges, including sexual battery and child pornography possession.
The 13-year-old girl from Kissimmee was reported missing after she never arrived at Hunters Creek Middle School, even though she was allegedly dropped off in the area by her mother’s boyfriend. While the man didn’t drop her off in the carline, he instead left her in the parking lot of Peace United Methodist Church, a few blocks away.
Two days later, the boyfriend was arrested after police questioned him and found disturbing images on his phone. According to the Digital Forensics Unit, the images were criminal and sexual in nature.
It is believed that the alleged crimes were committed at the family home, so the girl was likely the victim. The phone’s data showed that Sterns allegedly attempted to delete evidence, according to the sheriff’s office. At the time, the man was considered a prime suspect in the girl’s disappearance. The following day, the Kissimmee Police Department told the girl’s mother that she was likely dead.
Sadly, that turned out to be the case. On the afternoon of March 1, police found the girl’s body in a wooded area in Osceola County.
Police believe that the girl was already dead on February 26, the day after the girl turned 13. It is believed that the mother’s boyfriend was trying to move her body that morning. There is video evidence of the man throwing items in a dumpster in an apartment complex in Kissimmee. The girl’s laptop and backpack were found in the dumpster.
There is also evidence of the man returning to the apartment complex about 30 minutes later. At that time, the girl was visible in that vehicle but likely already dead at that time. The man was seen driving a silver Lincoln MKZ near Kissimmee that same day, with a possible flat tire.
There is still a lot of information that police cannot release yet. However, the girl’s mother is not a suspect in this case. While the man is not facing charges related to the girl’s death just yet, he is currently in the Osceola County Jail and is being held without bond.
Contact a Legal Professional for Help
Child porn crimes are sometimes related to other crimes, so law enforcement officials will do a thorough investigation if you are accused of a crime.
These crimes are hard to defend. Get the help you need from a Florida child pornography lawyer from the Law Offices of Gilbert A. Schaffnit. Schedule a consultation by calling (352) 505-1799 or filling out the online form.
Sources:
wfla.com/news/florida/last-person-to-see-missing-florida-teen-arrested-on-child-porn-charges-deputies-say/
msn.com/en-us/news/crime/missing-florida-teen-madeline-soto-s-body-found-as-mom-s-boyfriend-named-main-suspect/ar-BB1jchpO?ocid=hpmsn&cvid=1f5ad066555a4edbb1db74cafa3286cc&ei=13
