Former Disney Employee Expected to Plead Guilty in Murder and Child Sexual Abuse Case

A former Walt Disney World employee is expected to plead guilty in a serious criminal case involving a 13-year-old girl from Osceola County, Florida. Stephan Sterns, 39, is scheduled to appear in court on Monday, July 22, where he may enter a plea that would resolve multiple charges, including a count of first-degree murder.

The plea hearing, set for 1:30 p.m. at the Osceola County Courthouse, could swiftly resolve the high-profile case, which has drawn significant media attention since early 2024. Prosecutors have charged Sterns with dozens of offenses related to alleged unlawful conduct with a minor, as well as the girl’s tragic death.

If the court accepts Sterns’ plea, it would eliminate the need for separate jury trials originally scheduled for later this month and into the fall. According to legal sources familiar with the case, the state may consider a sentence of life in prison, foregoing a capital trial.

The case stems from the disappearance of Madeline “Maddie” Soto, who was reported missing in February 2024 after failing to return home from school. Following an intensive search, her body was discovered in a wooded area in Osceola County several days later. The medical examiner later determined that her death was the result of intentional harm.

Sterns, who had been residing in the same household as the girl due to a personal relationship with her mother, was arrested shortly thereafter. Law enforcement officials say their investigation uncovered evidence of prior misconduct that predated the girl’s death.

Sterns initially pleaded not guilty to the charges. However, in recent weeks, his legal team has shifted toward negotiating a plea agreement after a judge ruled that key digital evidence obtained during the investigation would be admissible in court.

Stephan Sterns working at @Disney as a cast member on the Journey into Imagination ride in Epcot just a few months before he was arrested for having child porn in his phone.
Also the prime suspect in the murder of his step-daughter Madeline Soto.https://t.co/66rb90OU0I pic.twitter.com/isnCb6KTM4

— JLR© (@JLRINVESTIGATES) March 7, 2024

Should the plea be accepted, it would close the criminal proceedings and likely result in a life sentence without the possibility of parole. If the plea is rejected or not finalized, jury selection for the first scheduled trial would proceed on Tuesday.

The case has profoundly affected the local community, especially in the Kissimmee and St. Cloud areas, where residents followed the case closely. Advocates for child safety have renewed calls for greater oversight and support systems to protect vulnerable individuals from harm.

Family members are expected to deliver impact statements during Monday’s hearing, offering their perspectives on the past year’s emotional toll.

As the plea hearing approaches, many are watching closely to see whether this chapter in a deeply troubling case will end or proceed to trial for the former cast member.