Sheriff Apologizes for Posting Possible Crime Scene Photo In Madeline Soto Case

The sheriff for the world the place 13-year-old Madeline Soto disappeared and died is beneath hearth for seemingly posting a photograph from the crime scene, and now the division is apologizing.

This debacle is enjoying out down in Osceola County, Florida — the place Madeline’s physique was found Friday by officers there in a wooded space after she went lacking from her house in neighboring Orange County final week.

On Saturday — a day after Madeline was discovered deceased — a photograph of human stays was reportedly posted to the official Instagram account for Osceola County Sheriff Marcos Lopez. The photograph, believed to be a confidential picture from the crime scene and since deleted, is alleged to indicate a physique matching Madeline’s description mendacity useless on the bottom.

Now, the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office is telling native information retailers the photograph was by chance included in a put up a couple of group occasion for seniors. They add … “We deeply apologize for any confusion or disturbance this may have caused.”

The Sheriff’s workplace is neither confirming nor denying the photograph depicted Madeline’s physique.

Somehow, this all will get worse for the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office … as a result of the identical morning the alleged Soto photograph was posted on IG, one other member of the sheriff’s workplace shared a selfie with Stephan Sterns, the boyfriend of Madeline’s mom … and the prime suspect in her disappearance and demise, who has since been taken into custody.

Nirva Rodriguez, the OCSD govt director, shared the picture on her private Facebook web page … exhibiting Sterns being led out of a constructing in handcuffs. She reportedly captured her put up … “If God’s love has been poured out over your life, don’t allow evil to keep you away from what He has prepared for you.” Unclear what her intent behind the put up/message was.

In any case … the selfie was reportedly snapped after Sterns was booked on fees of kid pornography and sexually battering a toddler.

Law enforcement has not particularly tied these fees to Madeline’s case simply but … nor have they formally charged him in her disappearance or demise. He has but to enter a plea.

Rodriguez’s FB put up with Sterns has additionally been deleted, FWIW … and it is price noting she oversees a number of divisions with OCSD, together with media, outreach and group providers.