Sword and Scale Sword and Scale

Episode 360

Jul 21, 2026 · 58m

Summary

This episode details the disappearance of 13-year-old Madeline Soto in Kissimmee, Florida, after her mother’s boyfriend, Stefan Stearns, dropped her off near school. Investigators uncover inconsistencies in Stearns’ alibi, revealing he drove around with Maddie’s body in his car before dumping her belongings and moving her remains. The story highlights the tragic shift from a missing person case to a homicide investigation based on surveillance evidence.

Topics discussed

Introduction and content warning The 911 call and delayed police response Missing child statistics and initial search Maddie's background and living situation Theories on why Maddie might have run away Maddie's behavior and ADHD challenges Jennifer's medication and morning routine Teacher insights and Maddie's school life Stefan's inconsistent timeline and alibi Surveillance footage reveals Maddie was dead Evidence found at the crime scene Stefan's trip to North Port and phone reset Discovery of abuse images on Stefan's phone Conclusion and teaser for next episode
Listen ad-free on Castria