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

[Bounceycat]

SS's CSAM case has been closed. But his murder case has not been closed.

What's left open in the murder case? He pleaded no contest and accepted a LWOP penalty.

 

[floridafreshsqueez]

I’m wondering if SS is clutching to hope JS might be charged in the future too. I don’t see his parents giving that up so easily. It’s not like SS wouldn’t be able to appeal the DP and drag things out. He’d be on death row for a while. I think he’d actually be safer too.

He’ll never get out, but avoiding the DP and civil liability as the main reasoning for “no contest”? Idk I’m not totally convinced. And he’s no less of a monster just because he didn’t plead NG. If he wanted to claim he absolutely did not kill MS the Alford plea would make more sense, but a No Go for the state. But pleading NC may mean he’s willing to cooperate in proceedings if JS were to be charged for a lesser crime, or for example, an accessory to a crime.

I guess I can’t comprehend that there’s 0 evidence that could be used against JS for negligence at a minimum for the SA & CSAM. They really had absolutely nothing to charge her with obstruction of justice in the murder investigation given all of the inconsistencies in her statements to LE?

How on earth did she manage to be so well insulated against any legal consequences whatsoever…or am I just refusing to accept that she had no idea Maddie was dead or where her body was? Ugh.

 

[Seattle1]

'Worst of the Worst': Reactions to Stephan Sterns' Plea Hearing

A discussion of recent plea deals: If you're going to have the death penalty, wouldn't Stephan Sterns and Bryan Kohberger be the poster boys?

www.courttv.com

7/21/24

 

[IzzyBlanche]

What's left open in the murder case? He pleaded no contest and accepted a LWOP penalty.

No contest is not the same as admitting guilt, by far.

As I understand it, no contest is essentially saying that the prosecution has a strong enough case against you that you'll probably be convicted, without actually admitting guilt.

It's a way to avoid taking responsibility for his heinous acts.

 

[Seattle1]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1947345019708342403

 

[Bounceycat]

No contest is not the same as admitting guilt, by far.

As I understand it, no contest is essentially saying that the prosecution has a strong enough case against you that you'll probably be convicted.

It's a way to avoid taking responsibility for his heinous acts.

Yes, I'm aware of what that plea is and I hate that he was allowed that cop out. That's not what I asked though, sorry for any confusion in that.

 

[Seattle1]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1947357865733206258

 

[Gemmie]

What's left open in the murder case? He pleaded no contest and accepted a LWOP penalty.

I don't have more info than what's at the Osceola court site linked below.

Search

 

[IzzyBlanche]

Yes, I'm aware of what that plea is and I hate that he was allowed that cop out. That's not what I asked though, sorry for any confusion in that.

Oh okay, thanks for the clarification.

I think what's left open is his motive for killing her.

I feel I've been focusing too much today on SS. So to change the subject to who is important here:

I listened to the witness statements today from many people who loved Maddie.*

It's clearer than ever that she was a beautiful soul. I cannot even imagine what strength she had, to be that person to the outside world while abominable things were being done to her out of the light of day.

*And those glowing descriptions of her do not jibe in the least with the portrait JS painted of her.

 

[Spectrix]

What I would have liked to hear from Jennifer Soto is an acknowledgement that she failed to protect her daughter.
Remorse over the horrors that Maddie went though over five long years.

For goodness sake, she could at least pretend to care.

Sterns no contest plea and Jenn's refusal to even acknowledge her daughter's tragic death are cowardly and disgusting.

How I wish Maddie had been allowed to live with her Dad. In his statement he showed genuine sorrow and remorse over what happened to his daughter. He showed that he has the love for Maddie that she deserved from JS and SS.

 

[Knox]

Me too.

He should be serving consecutive life sentences at a minimum. And he should have had to plead guilty to murder.

And where the eff is Jen?

After I saw the headlines I came here to read.

Beyond being angry about the plea deal. That was my second question, where is Jen. Still MIA?

 

[Kittypoo]

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

I have issue with M being described as 13 years old continually. She was 13 for what, one day? Likely the day she was killed as well! There is a big difference between a 12 and 13 year old and SS took that life step away from her.
Where was the lioness instinct to protect in JS? Disgusting excuse
RIP

 

[girlhasnoname]

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.

Sad but true, so good to see you @riolove77

 

[girlhasnoname]

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

If so, than I am right there with you @lonetraveler.

 

[girlhasnoname]

Im not sure how to interpret her not showing up.
I understand she was in a no win situation, whether she showed up or not.
but now she lives as though she is guilty of something in the eyes of the public, maybe she doesnt care.
That was a missed opportunity, for her to say something that might change how people react to her, but she chose not to. What does that tell us?

It tells me that she was a horrible and uncaring mother when Madeline was alive and an even worse one, if that's possible, after her death.

Her constant worry, denial and support of SS throughout this was despicable as was her total lack of emotion over the 4+ years of rape and death of her daughter.

jmo

 

[girlhasnoname]

What was that big huddle about with the judge?

Should we expect a flood of FOIA requests now? Or will there be nothing much available since Maddie was a minor?

IDK but I hope none of the more gruesome details (other than what we already know) are released. Madeline deserves some privacy and respect in death because she sure didn't receive it in life.

JMO

 

[Notascreenname]

I strongly feel that justice has not been served and that the plea deal was in SS's best interest, not Madeline's, and if JS had any say in the agreement to the deal she likely would have been happy to go ahead with it because it meant that any potential accusation against her by him wouldn't be played out in a courtroom, and she wouldn't have to attend court. Which she didn’t.

Edited to include 'not Madeline's'

 

[CuriousCricket]

Oh okay, thanks for the clarification.

I think what's left open is his motive for killing her.

I feel I've been focusing too much today on SS. So to change the subject to who is important here:

I listened to the witness statements today from many people who loved Maddie.*

It's clearer than ever that she was a beautiful soul. I cannot even imagine what strength she had, to be that person to the outside world while abominable things were being done to her out of the light of day.

*And those glowing descriptions of her do not jibe in the least with the portrait JS painted of her.

Perhaps her father gave us the motive. If Maddie had gone to live with her father when she turned 13 and (I'm guessing) could tell the judge which parent she wished to live with:

a. if the judge allowed it, Maddie would be beyond SS's reach, and therefore no longer useful to him;
b. if Maddie had spoken to the judge for a change of custody, she might have said something to alert the authorities of SS's activities OR
c. even is Maddie did not say something in court, once she was away from SS she might have told her father or someone else and SS could/would be in major trouble.

She and her knowledge were too dangerous to SS.

As for the no-contest plea to protect JS. I very much doubt SS would ever protect anyone other than himself. If the murder case had gone to trial, there is no doubt in my mind he would have sworn JS had killed her daughter. The "no contest" plea was completely for himself so he can always pretend his innocence. The state took it because a jury might not have been positive enough to convict, and as a poster pointed out earlier keeping this out of a jury's unpredictable hands was a win.

I suspect SS's life in prison will make him wish for the Death Penalty .

 

[FluffyBat]

Of course he is.

SS His statement to the court was disgusting. Why would the court enable him to make the comments he did about Maddie, couldn’t his statement be checked prior and rejected? Vile that an ABSR of children can be allowed to describe his victim as a joy to him. Out of order imo

 

[ttjo]

SS His statement to the court was disgusting. Why would the court enable him to make the comments he did about Maddie, couldn’t his statement be checked prior and rejected? Vile that an ABSR of children can be allowed to describe his victim as a joy to him. Out of order imo

This is exactly what Ive been saying!!
If there is no one to help him process and write a proper response then it should be rejected , as it was, it just did further harm. IMO


,;'