The Florida Sheriff’s Office was forced to apologize after a crime scene photograph apparently of the dead body of 13-year-old Madeline Soto was shared on the Sheriff’s official Instagram account.
Soto’s body was found on Friday and the next day Osceola County Sheriff Marcos Lopez’s Instagram account shared a photo of a body in a green blouse and blue jeans lying under a mound of brush in a post about a social event for seniors.
The post was captioned “Big day with our elders” followed by an emoji of a smiling face with a halo.
It was immediately removed, but caused an uproar online and forced the Sheriff’s Office to apologize, saying an “investigative photo” was “accidentally included” and “immediately removed.”
They did not say who posted the photo and did not confirm that the body was Soto’s, but former Sheriff Russ Gibson said the photo was of Soto and said he was “shocked and dismayed” that it had been shared.
The image was shared on the official account of Osceola County Sheriff Marcos R. López.
A blacked out version of the post that supposedly contains a photo of Soto’s body.
Soto was found dead on Friday after she was reported missing last Monday, her mother’s boyfriend is the main suspect in her murder.
Soto’s body was found Friday in Osceola County, Florida, in the woods off Hickory Tree Road, four days after she was first reported missing.
The grim discovery came hours after police revealed that Madeline’s mother’s boyfriend, Stephan Sterns, 37, is the “prime suspect” in her murder.
Sterns is now in jail after being arrested on child pornography and sexual assault charges after police recovered photos and videos on his phone that were described as “disturbing.”
He has not been charged in connection with the girl’s murder and was not granted bail during an initial hearing.
After the photo was shared, the Sheriff’s Office told the Orlando Sentinel: ‘On March 2, 2024, a post was published on social media about a community event for seniors. A research photograph was accidentally included in the publication.
‘The photo was immediately deleted. We deeply apologize for any confusion or disruption this may have caused. As with any investigation, the information obtained is confidential and any erroneous disclosures will be rectified immediately.’
Florida law prohibits the publication of photographs or videos of the “murder of a minor” without the permission of the surviving family, and anyone who “intentionally and knowingly” shares photos could be charged with a third-degree felony.
Former Sheriff Russ Gibson wrote on Facebook: “This photograph was taken at an active crime scene where Madeline’s body was recovered and was in fact a picture of Madeline’s lifeless body.
‘This is 100% unacceptable and 100% embarrassing and disrespectful to Madeline, her family and friends.
‘I have a copy of the publication, but out of respect and reverence for Miss Madeline, the photograph will not be published. Marcos López and certain members of his administration’s time of disgracing themselves, our agency and our great County is coming to an end!’
The department came under fire again the same day the crime scene photo was shared after the agency’s executive director, Nirva Rodriguez, shared a selfie of herself with the main suspect, Sterns, on her personal Facebook page.
She captioned the photo: “If God’s love has been poured out into your life, don’t let evil keep you from what He has prepared for you.”
It has since been removed.
DailyMail.com has contacted the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office for comment.
The agency’s executive director, Nirva Rodríguez, came under fire the same day after she shared a selfie of herself with prime suspect Sterns on her personal Facebook page.
The department has not confirmed whether it was Osceola County Sheriff Marcos R. Lopez who shared the photo.
Madeline was reported missing Monday night in Orlando, Florida, after initial reports said she was last seen that morning near Town Loop Boulevard and Hunter’s Park Lane.
Police have since said she may have already been dead during her last sighting.
A video has emerged of an interview Sterns gave to WFTV 9 Orlando Last Tuesday.
“I dropped her off (at school) early, I could have waited longer,” she said through tears.
‘He looked good as he walked to school. I continued with my day. We don’t know where she could be and we are afraid. I just want her at home.
And he added: “It keeps coming in waves, reality keeps hitting.” We don’t know where she is, we don’t know if she’s safe. It’s a living nightmare. I just want to wake up.’
Deputies say they believe Madeline was never taken to Hunter’s Creek High School on Monday morning and was dead before then.
They said Sterns allegedly moved her body in the early morning hours of Monday after killing her in Kissimmee.
On Friday afternoon, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office held a press conference in which they stated they were “confident” the girl was dead.
Sheriff John Mina broke the “devastating news” to Madeline’s mother, Jenn, Thursday night.
“We believe he moved his body in those early morning hours, and that’s all still under investigation,” Sheriff Mina explained.
Jennifer Soto (left), Madeline’s mother, appears with her 13-year-old daughter.
Stephan Sterns, 37, the suspect in the murder of 13-year-old Madeline Soto, has not made his first court appearance as footage has emerged of him saying “it’s hard not to blame myself.”
Madeline Soto, 13, was reported missing last Monday night in Orlando, Florida, after she was last seen that morning near Town Loop Boulevard and Hunter’s Park Lane. She is pictured celebrating her milestone 13th birthday last Sunday.
Police found the teenager’s body a short distance from where she lived.
Video evidence shows Stephan Sterns discarding items including Madeline’s backpack and school laptop into a dumpster at the family’s Kissimmee apartment complex at 7:35 a.m. on Monday, February 26
Police say they believe the teen was never dropped off at Hunter’s Creek High School Monday morning, as he was killed hours earlier in Kissimmee.
After Sterns’ arrest last week, investigators said they discovered “disturbing images” when they searched his phone, along with evidence that he attempted to delete evidence of the related material.
Following his arrest, Sterns invoked his right to an attorney and refused to speak during his interview. Investigators said he was also the last person to see the girl. He did not appear in person during her initial court appearance.
Last Friday morning, Sterns was transferred from the Orange County Jail to Osceola County.