Madeleine Soto's Mom Allegedly Told Police Boyfriend Was 'Grooming and Abusing' Teen

Jennifer Soto allegedly told authorities she did not think her boyfriend Stephan Sterns was "evil" for his alleged sex abuse of her teen daughter, authorities say

Authorities allege the mother of 13-year-old Madeline Soto told police her boyfriend was "grooming and abusing" the teen before he allegedly killed her, say police.

In a newly released case supplemental report from the Orange County Sheriff's Office, police allege that after being shown photos found on the phone of her boyfriend, 37-year-old Stephan Sterns, mom Jennifer Soto told police, "He's been grooming and abusing my child," FOX 35, WFTV and Click Orlando report.

Madeline was reported missing from her Kissimmee, Fla., home on Feb. 26, prompting the arrest of Sterns on unrelated charges of possessing child sexual abuse material, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office said at the time. Her body was found in a wooded area on March 1.

During their investigation, authorities spoke with Jennifer, who after being shown the photos allegedly said she believed Sterns was “guilty” because he had “been grooming and abusing my child,” authorities have claimed in the supplemental report, per FOX 35, WFTV and Click Orlando.

In the supplemental report, authorities claim Jennifer said that Sterns’ alleged sexual abuse was not “evil,” though she acknowledged her daughter's killing was "evil," per the Orlando Sentinel, WESH and Click Orlando.

Authorities allege that Jennifer sent Madeline to sleep in the same room as Sterns the night before the child disappeared, per the supplemental case report, WESH reports. She allegedly told police that she did so because she'd had a long day at work and needed to rest.

The next morning, Sterns was captured on an unspecified video discarding items into a trashcan on the property where he lived with Jennifer and Madeline, Orange County Sheriff John Mina said, Click Orlando reports. Police later recovered Madeline's backpack and laptop from the trashcan.

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Madeline died from strangulation, a medical examiner later ruled, per FOX 35 Orlando, WESH and Click Orlando.

Sterns was charged with first-degree murder in April in connection with Madeline's death, according to Osceola County, Florida court records reviewed by PEOPLE.

It wasn't immediately clear if Sterns has entered a plea to the murder charge. He has pleaded not guilty to 60 counts of sexual abuse charges, per the Osceola News-Gazette. PEOPLE was not immediately able to reach his attorney.

If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual abuse, text "STRENGTH" to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor.

If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.

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