Found Deceased FL - Madeline Soto, 13, Missing Child Alert, 13500 blk Town Loop Blvd, Orlando, 26 Feb 2024 *arrest* #5

[tlcya]

Yes. At first blush, it feels like a waste of a presser.

But we learned something.

About who was standing beside the podium.

And who wasn't

Said it without saying it.

agreed. they stopped just shy of calling someone aside from SS a POI or suspect, but didn't go so far as to say that person WASN'T one either.

I am super curious why the ME hasn't turned over their report. Madi was found relatively quickly after being reported missing so . . . toxicology maybe? Perhaps there was no trauma or easily identifiable COD so must wait for testing to come back?

 

[MassGuy]

particularly since you are charging her significant other with sex crimes against her deceased minor daughter. wouldn't they need and want her assistance in buiLding that case against him? To add context to the when's where's how's etc of the ongoing abuse that covered years?

I AM STUNNED THEY HAVEN'T INTERVIEWED HER MORE THAN THE ONCE??

Does that indicate her having obtained counsel or them not being that interested to hear what she has to say about anything because she is not credible in their mind after her inconsistencies?

Even if she’s not credible, you’d still want to interview her, as that would mean she had something to hide.

If she is credible, you’d want to interview her to answer questions you uncover along the way.

So either way, I’d expect multiple interviews. So I see two likely possibilities. She’s lawyered up and shut down, or, she’s holed up in a mental hospital or something.

 

[Beekarina]

I felt the police chief looked upset, at least in the beginning to middle of what we watched. This could be nerves if she's not frequently giving this type of update, at least not with this level of broader interest, but something I observed and found interesting. It's understandable, just something I picked up on.

I did not notice this with her in other videos.

 

[Skigh]

Yes. At first blush, it feels like a waste of a presser.

But we learned something.

About who was standing beside the podium.

And who wasn't

Said it without saying it.

Could you have expand on that ,I would not recognise who was or was not there!

 

[Universecalling]

Yes. At first blush, it feels like a waste of a presser.

But we learned something.

About who was standing beside the podium.

And who wasn't

Said it without saying it.

So true!
Wonder if this was to rattle a few fam members.
First one that talks…

 

[Curious Me]

I'm not sure it'd be appropriate for family members to be standing near the podium today at the PC. At this point, there are no murder charges. All they have is a ton of SA charges against SS. The investigation is ongoing. It would be inappropriate for a family member, for MS's mother, to be standing there at this time because of the nature of the charges. That's JMO.

Was there any reason for this Press Conference? Some want to say it was to get others to start talking and turn on each other or whatever. MOO, it's not time for that. I don't think LE is playing games, but just gave this PC to tout they're working hard, and there's no ulterior motives to it. Also MOO, it's too bad suspicions still surround other family members and this PC did nothing to clear them of speculations swirling.​

 

[Gemmie]

I also feel like that question tripped her up a little, like there’s more to that answer than she could give. And, cooperating doesn’t mean innocent. The fact that they still refuse to say she isn’t a suspect is suspect, IMO. Especially considering the party line before was “not at this time,” which has now become, “everyone is suspect until proven otherwise.”

If this were just SS acting on his own I feel like there would be less mystery surrounding the investigation.

Here's an observation I've made about Chief Holland from a previous (1st?) presser. Watch her closely as there are "tells" there. For one, she's a head-nodder, and not barely nodding either, I've seen a big up-and-down motion. Sure, she can do things less obvious, but that's when I first noticed. Mina was taking Q&A's, someone asked something, she was standing just behind him and boy did her head start nodding in agreement and didn't stop. lol So ever since then I watch her very closely at pressers.

 

[photoprose1122]

I felt the police chief looked upset, at least in the beginning to middle of what we watched. This could be nerves if she's not frequently giving this type of update, at least not with this level of broader interest, but something I observed and found interesting. It's understandable, just something I picked up on.

I did not notice this with her in other videos.

I actually just watched the beginning cause I didn’t catch it before, and I agree with you. She seemed emotional to me. It could be nerves, but it definitely seemed emotional.

 

[gloomy]

particularly since you are charging her significant other with sex crimes against her deceased minor daughter. wouldn't they need and want her assistance in buiLding that case against him? To add context to the when's where's how's etc of the ongoing abuse that covered years?

I AM STUNNED THEY HAVEN'T INTERVIEWED HER MORE THAN THE ONCE??

Does that indicate her having obtained counsel or them not being that interested to hear what she has to say about anything because she is not credible in their mind after her inconsistencies?

Sadly I agree with what you're saying. I say sadly because I honestly don't want the mom to be involved in any way... it's just so depressing to think about.

I do remember the PD Chief saying something like - ''we are still trying to figure out the timeline for that'' - when asked about how long the relationship between SS and JS was. Wouldn't JS have given that info during her one interview?
Honestly, I have more questions now because of this presser. imo.

 

[photoprose1122]

I feel like we can at least take away that there are most likely other Persons of Interest, because of the way she worded her responses to those questions. As I said before, I believe if SS was the only actor involved, there would be less mystery surrounding it. Take Audrii Cunningham’s case for instance - charges were pressed immediately and there was never any speculation about other actors involved and no evasive non-answers. I realize they’re taking their time because he’s not going anywhere and they’re waiting for ME report, but I feel like more information would be forthcoming if SS acted alone - whether in the SA/CSAM or her death. They keep talking about protecting the integrity of the investigation, and to me that says they need other things in order to press charges against another actor, or definitively say there weren’t any other actors, which could imply there’s evidence that there is the possibility of another actor/actors.

I just don’t think it would be handled that way if SS was the only one involved. OMO.

So all that to say, as others have said, maybe the non-update actually did tell us something.

 

[Universecalling]

How long does it take to get DNA results back?
I wonder if they were able to get his DNA before they locked him up… should they need to match it with any evidence found on Maddie or during autopsy.

 

[Pruddennce]

'Everyone close to Maddy is a suspect."

So does that include Grandma Yolanda? Interesting choice of words.

IMO, the comments by the chief regarding, 'talking to your children', reporting abuse and mentioning resources, etc., then says, "PEOPLE CAN REPORT SUSPICION TOO"....I kind of felt there were family members or friends who suspected something and revealed that to LE when interviewed.

sure, it includes JS's mother. but does anyone believe the 'family' mentioned who were 'close' to Madeline, had prior knowledge (not suspicion) and/or were involved in her ongoing abuse, ultimately her death and coverup?

IMO, JS is the primary suspect concerning the events surrounding her death.

sexual abuse:...JS knowledge: IMO, there are so many components to compile the timeframe/individual events over several years to determine what role, if any, or knowledge she had.

 

[Sjöberg]

Reporter: “Do you believe that there are any other victims”

• “Uh no it appears that this was isolated to the home”

I wonder what is this based on.

Presser felt like:
C.o.D - no idea
Anyone else involved - no idea
Where did she die - no idea
Why did SS give his phone - no idea
Have there been other investigations about this family - nothing like this, no
Are people cooperating - yes, other than SS
Are there other victims - NO, no way, totally isolated incident

...

Confusing.


(yes, of course LE knows a great deal about these no idea's, and I'm sure they are working hard - just frustrated).

 

[Skigh]

Even if she’s not credible, you’d still want to interview her, as that would mean she had something to hide.

If she is credible, you’d want to interview her to answer questions you uncover along the way.

So either way, I’d expect multiple interviews. So I see two likely possibilities. She’s lawyered up and shut down, or, she’s holed up in a mental hospital or something.

If she was credible and realised that her televised interviews and public viewable police statements appeared to show inconsistencies,wouldn't she be keen to clear up any doubts and misconceptions . If she was made to say things under duress or realised in retrospect she could have been drugged and misled by SS would she not be bending over backwards to clear her name.

 

[Vaderman]

Well, I stand corrected. It really was a no-update update. Do not understand the need for a press conference if that’s all they were going to say.

It just seems to be the norm more often than not. Radio silence for several weeks followed by the news of a press conference that leaves all of us fuming over what a waste of time it was.

 

[photographer4]

Personally I think MoD could be obvious but they’re still waiting for toxicology to see if there was a drug element as well.

If they did a hair follicle test they could go back a looooong time too.

 

[photographer4]

I didn't watch the presser, I was basing my response of @photographer4's summary:

- Is mom and family members cooperative? Have they lawyered up? Is dad part of the investigation? We have interviewed all close fam members. Mom cooperated and did give us an interview. No one other that SS is not cooperative.

If that isn't what was said, then hopefully someone will clarify.

I was typing and listening and did note I paraphrased and shortened. So mileage may vary. I think she did give original police an interview as she signed a sworn statement. But I don’t know if she cooperated since then. Or if she lawyered up. Police today did not say.

 

[photographer4]

They say that about suspects all the time, so that doesn’t move the needle for me. Cooperating doesn’t mean telling the truth, and they don’t want to close the door by saying she’s not cooperating.

They also had an opportunity to say that she wasn’t a suspect, and deflected by saying that pretty much everyone is a suspect.

They said everyone they have interviewed is a suspect until they aren’t and they’ve interviewed everyone close to Madeline. I imagine this means a lot of work for the police.

 

[photographer4]

Even if she’s not credible, you’d still want to interview her, as that would mean she had something to hide.

If she is credible, you’d want to interview her to answer questions you uncover along the way.

So either way, I’d expect multiple interviews. So I see two likely possibilities. She’s lawyered up and shut down, or, she’s holed up in a mental hospital or something.

Did I misunderstand the PResser March 1 before she was found dead - did Le say that mom was interviewed multiple times by various agencies? Or have I missed the mark? I am not at desk to rewatch that. Plan to this eve though.

 

[photographer4]

So true!
Wonder if this was to rattle a few fam members.
First one that talks…

I really didn’t notice who was at the podium or not but I did notice they had a Spanish speaking woman doing mic tests pre presser. I wonder if they think other family members know things they haven’t revealed yet?