Police Off The Cuff

Breaking: State to seek capital case against Stephan Sterns. - The State Attorney’s Office intends to seek the death penalty against Stephan Sterns, the man accused of killing his girlfriend’s daughter, 13-year-old Madeline Soto, according to court records. Sterns is charged with first-degree murder in the case. He is facing one charge of first-degree murder and 60 charges related to sexual battery of a child and possession of sexual material. According to court documents, the State cited four aggravating circumstances that led to their decision: The defendant was previously convicted of another capital felony or of a felony involving the use or threat of violence to the person. The capital felony was committed while the defendant was engaged in the commission of, or an attempt to commit aggravated child abuse. The capital felony was especially heinous, atrocious, or cruel. The victim of the capital felony was particularly vulnerable due to advanced age or disability, or because the defendant stood in a posit