FL - Madeline Soto, 13, Missing Child Alert, 13500 blk Town Loop Blvd, Orlando, 26 Feb 2024 *arrest* #15

[floridafreshsqueez]

Ss:

"I've prayed to God take me instead."

"I pray she's in heaven. I hope she's in the choir because she has a beautiful voice."

I can't with this.

Like ok, then why did he just agree to a plea deal so the DP would be taken off the table? After TW calling for prison justice in open court why is he opining on how he wishes he was dead?? He must want a transfer to a different state real bad.

Moronic loser.

Pity party for one, coming right up.

 

[Killer hunter]

Honest question: Why? He can only physically serve one life sentence. What's the point of sentencing him to more?
Agree he should have had to plead guilty to murder.

It's a principal thing as far as the consecutive life terms I think and also for the family that needs justice and that what was done is recognized.

 

[ttjo]

Sterns brief Statement:

I agree that it’s not fair that Madeline is not here anymore.

I still have a hard time contemplating a world where she’s not around, a world which feels less vibrant and less colourful than it did before.

I’ve prayed to God countless times to trade places with her, to take me instead and unfortunately that’s just not how he works.
I have nothing but sorrow for her loss and I miss her all the time.
Her passing has torn me and my family apart as well, and she truly was a joy.
I pray to God that she’s in heaven and that he’s taking good care of her and I hope she gets to join the choir because she had a beautiful voice.
I’ll miss her all the time and Ill never not honour her memory and I apologize for all the pain.

A bunch of empty and meaningless drivle.
Its not fair? less colorful and vibrant ( meaningless)

he wished to trade places but god doesnt work that way.
( god had nothing to do wth it, that was all you)

he has sorrow for her loss?? and him and his family have suffered also
and he hopes shes in the choir....
I apologize for all the pain ( he left out , "That I CAUSED")
what a bunch of meaningless nonsense.
Im actually disgusted that noone could help that dolt to write something more than chicken scratch, how disrespectful.

 

[Leilei]

Any time you don't have to risk a jury making the decision for you is a win....I have had cases that I just KNEW were slam dunks, and a jury walked the guy, to my absolute shock and bewilderment. A plea is a guarantee AND comes with a waiver of appeal, so you're DONE. However, they should have made him plea guilty to the murder, not no contest.

I get it, Rio, but it just seems so unfinished and almost like a "win" for this perv/killer.
It's also very gross that he was able to make a statement, but we've seen that before, too.
I'm not going back to re-watch, but did the judge say anything to his crimes? Anything about him being the worst of the worst?
Maddie's case will haunt me for a very long time.
IMO.

 

[ttjo]

They had him dead to rights on the sexual abuse charges, and just due to how long it was going on and how he documented everything (the pics), he would have gotten LWOP anyway. That's why I don't understand why they allowed him to plead no contest to the murder charge. He would have been in prison anyway, so try the murder case, possibly get evidence of JS being involved along the way, charge her, and send him back to his prison home.
Something spooked the State, IMO.
This is just weird and doesn't feel like justice for Maddie at all.

Of course, it may also have been because they didn't want to bring those photos in to show at trial, which would victimize Maddie all over again - and this evil *censored* would probably enjoy it.

IMO and my heart hurts all over again.

I heard him on a phone call with his parents and it sounded like they preferred the death penalty because hed be more protected, so I am ok that he didnt get it. I can accept not wanting to draw this out and all the reasons for that.
I just wish there was a little more for the victims, so they werent left feeling stripped. He spoke as though, this was out of his control, so they will go away with no satisfaction that he understands the impact that this has had on them.

But I also know a stone is incapable of giving blood.

 

[Gemmie]

I heard him on a phone call with his parents and it sounded like they preferred the death penalty because hed be more protected, so I am ok that he didnt get it. I can accept not wanting to draw this out and all the reasons for that.
I just wish there was a little more for the victims, so they werent left feeling stripped. He spoke as though, this was out of his control, so they will go away with no satisfaction that he understands the impact that this has had on them.

But I also know a stone is incapable of giving blood.

Stones are also incapable of having empathy for others.

 

[lonetraveler]

I don't know how to feel. On the one hand I am immensely glad that no jury will be subjected to the images they would never be able to scrub from their brains. I am thankful we won't have to hear a "I didn't start this" defense from SS which would just be so offensive to have to witness.

He will never harm another child, never walk free, so why do I feel as if justice hasn't been done? I am still very angry with SS. I don't know that he could ever suffer enough to satisfy my anger.

I really wanted the prosecutor to ask him about the "I didn't start this" statement. I have a feeling it was about MS's mother JS.

 

[lonetraveler]

wonder how long that will last...

I'm hoping it is a very short time. Am I bad for thinking that?

 

[lonetraveler]

The talking heads on Fox 35 Orlando saying that they think JS was there via Zoom.

Such a coward.

 

[Gemmie]

I really wanted the prosecutor to ask him about the "I didn't start this" statement. I have a feeling it was about MS's mother JS.

Maybe. I'm more of the camp that his "I didn't start this" it wasn't about JS starting it. By Maddie likely doing things innocently because 8 year old's do NOT understand the ways of men. Maybe sitting on his lap, putting her arms and legs around him, cuddling with him, etc. She was just an innocent little girl with no fear of her mom's BF, and he took those things as "she started it". JMO

 

[lonetraveler]

Why did the State acquiesce?

Phone records were in. They could have held the irons to the fire. He pleads guilty and allocates or it's DP. He was in no position to bargain.

(Trial) cost analysis maybe. But that isn't satisfying. Why why why did they let him off easy? He should have been forced to say guilty, say whether he acted alone. Otherwise DP stays.

Maybe everyone is gunshy after Caylee but this was solid.

The State caved.

SS brought NOTHING to the negotiations table.

No contest.

That is not right.

JMO

I'm really surprised that he pleaded no contest on the murder charge. No where have I seen where there was evidence that he is the one who actually killed Madeline. Yes, no brainer on the sexual abuse inflicted upon this little girl. Yes, no brainer he disposed of her body. But nowhere have I seen any evidence that he was the one who strangled her to death. Wish there was, but up to now, I've been wondering what evidence was going to be presented in the murder case and now we're not going to see anything at all.
Was he protecting JS by pleading No Contest on this charge. My mind is in overload.

 

[lonetraveler]

I heard him on a phone call with his parents and it sounded like they preferred the death penalty because hed be more protected, so I am ok that he didnt get it. I can accept not wanting to draw this out and all the reasons for that.
I just wish there was a little more for the victims, so they werent left feeling stripped. He spoke as though, this was out of his control, so they will go away with no satisfaction that he understands the impact that this has had on them.

But I also know a stone is incapable of giving blood.

I for one is very glad that he is going into general population and not secure on death row.

 

[Gemmie]

I for one is very glad that he is going into general population and not secure on death row.

He's going to be preyed upon with unwanted attention by men he wished would leave him alone. Sound familiar?

Maddie was preyed upon with unwanted attention by a man she wished would leave her alone.

 

[lonetraveler]

Sterns brief Statement:

I agree that it’s not fair that Madeline is not here anymore.

I still have a hard time contemplating a world where she’s not around, a world which feels less vibrant and less colourful than it did before.

I’ve prayed to God countless times to trade places with her, to take me instead and unfortunately that’s just not how he works.
I have nothing but sorrow for her loss and I miss her all the time.
Her passing has torn me and my family apart as well, and she truly was a joy.
I pray to God that she’s in heaven and that he’s taking good care of her and I hope she gets to join the choir because she had a beautiful voice.
I’ll miss her all the time and Ill never not honour her memory and I apologize for all the pain.

A bunch of empty and meaningless drivle.
Its not fair? less colorful and vibrant ( meaningless)
he wished to trade places but god doesnt work that way. god had nothing to do wth it, that was all you
he has sorrow for her loss?? and him and his family have suffered also
and he hopes shes in the choir....
I apologize for all the pain ( he left out , "That I CAUSED")
what a bunch of meaningless nonsense.
Im actually disgusted that noone could help that dolt to write something more than chicken scratch, how disrespectful.

Kinda sounds like he is taking the blame for someone else's actions.

 

[Mars Investigates]

I'm hoping that JS is held accountable to some extent. The fact she wasn't at the hearing was just beyond comprehension. Or was she told not to go...

 

[Leilei]

Maybe. I'm more of the camp that it was about Maddie starting it. Likely doing things innocently because 8 year old's do NOT understand the ways of men. Maybe sitting on his lap, putting her arms and legs around him, cuddling with him, etc. She was just an innocent little girl with no fear of her mom's BF, and he took those things as "she started it". JMO

That is a terrible take on this.
An eight year-old does not "start" things like this.
This is all on SS and JS, not Maddie.

 

[Gemmie]

Please don't get what I said wrong. I never said she started it. I said HE took innocent things as her starting it when he had said "I didn't start it". That was totally on him.

 

[Ladyotm]

And where is Jen Soto... She couldn't manage to attend a plea hearing for her daughter's rape and murder?
Her and Sterns are both cowards.


I thought this hearing would give some closure... I can't speak for anyone else but it made me even more angry and upset.

Hearing Maddie's father saying that she'd agreed to go and live with him once she turned 13 broke my heart.

I am so sorry what happened to Maddie. And I'm thinking about all the other 13 year old girls with similar stories we've heard about.

The deal should have been that he took responsibility for her murder. Despite all the things he did to her, there was a chance, one she deserved, to heal and grow and accomplish all her dreams.

Forever in our hearts Maddie Bug..

Adding...she wanted to go live with her dad at 13. She was escaping him. This could have been his motive all along. MOO

 

[Leilei]

Please don't get what I said wrong. I never said she started it. I said HE took innocent things as her starting it when he had said "I didn't start it". That was totally on him.

Maybe re-word it? I get that you didn't mean that Maddie didn't start it, but the comment can be taken that way. IMO.
ETA my opinion

 

[Inthedetails]

Adding...she wanted to go live with her dad at 13. She was escaping him. This could have been his motive all along. MOO

Wow - you might be right! Having her dad, a real man, learn what happened to Maddie for years absolutely could've been this cowardly creep's motive.

jmo