CBS News
Florida girl still missing after mother’s boyfriend arrested for disturbing images
13-year-old Madeline Soto is still missing after her mother’s boyfriend, Stephan Sterns, was arrested for sexual battery and possession of child sexual abuse material, Florida officials said Thursday.
Soto was last seen February 26. Sterns, 37, was the last person to see her, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release.
During the investigation of Soto’s disappearance, detectives with the Orange County Sheriff’s Office found disturbing images on Sterns’s phone, officials said.
The images and videos were “criminal, and sexual in nature,” police said. Investigators also found through phone’s data there were attempts to delete evidence.
The criminal activity was committed at the family’s home in Kissimmee, police said. Kissimmee Police Department was notified, and detectives from the department will now work alongside Orange County’s criminal investigations division in a sexual battery case, police said.
Sterns was brought in for questioning on Thursday and invoked his right to an attorney. He and was placed under arrest and transported to jail, and it is expected he will be held on no bond, the sheriff’s department said.
Jail records do not provide any details into Sterns’ charges.
“Stephan Sterns had an opportunity tonight to come clean with detectives and help lead them to information about Maddie’s disappearance,” said Sheriff John Mina. “Her loved ones deserve answers and OCSO and the Kisssimmee Police will not stop until we find Maddie.”
Madeline was last seen wearing a green sweatshirt, black shorts and white Crocs shoes. Those with information are urged to call 911, 407-836-4357, or contact Central Florida Crimeline, the St. Cloud Police Department, which is nearby, said on Facebook.
Thanks for reading CBS NEWS.
Create your free account or log in
for more features.
CBS News
Tupperware files for bankruptcy amid slumping sales
Tupperware and some of its subsidiaries filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, the once-iconic food container maker said in a statement late Tuesday.
The company has suffered from dwindling sales following a surprise surge during the COVID-19 pandemic, when legions of people stuck at home tried their hands at cooking, which increased demand for Tupperware’s colorful plastic containers with flexible airtight seals.
A post-pandemic rise in costs of raw materials and shipping, along with higher wages, also hurt Tupperware’s bottom line.
Last year, it warned of “substantial doubt” about its ability to keep operating in light of its poor financial position.
“Over the last several years, the Company’s financial position has been severely impacted by the challenging macroeconomic environment,” president and CEO Laurie Ann Goldman said in a statement announcing the bankruptcy filing.
“As a result, we explored numerous strategic options and determined this is the best path forward,” Goldman said.
The company said it would seek court approval for a sale process for the business to protect its brand and “further advance Tupperware’s transformation into a digital-first, technology-led company.”
The Orlando, Florida-based firm said it would also seek approval to continue operating during the bankruptcy proceedings and would continue to pay its employees and suppliers.
“We plan to continue serving our valued customers with the high-quality products they love and trust throughout this process,” Goldman said.
The firm’s shares were trading at $0.5099 Monday, well down from $2.55 in December last year.
Tupperware said it had implemented a strategic plan to modernize its operations and drive efficiencies to ignite growth following the appointment of a new management team last year.
“The Company has made significant progress and intends to continue this important transformation work.”
In its filing with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware, Tupperware listed assets of between $500 million and $1 billion and liabilities of between $1 billion and $10 billion.
The filing also said it had between 50,000 and 100,000 creditors.
Tupperware lost popularity with consumers in recent years and an initiative to gain distribution through big-box chain Target failed to reverse its fortunes.
The company’s roots date to 1946, when chemist Earl Tupper “had a spark of inspiration while creating molds at a plastics factory shortly after the Great Depression,” according to Tupperware’s website.
“If he could design an airtight seal for plastic storage containers, like those on a paint can, he could help war-weary families save money on costly food waste.”
Over time, Tupper’s containers became popular that many people referred to any plastic food container as Tupperware. And people even threw “Tupperware parties” in their homes to sell the containers to friends and neighbors.
CBS News
9/17: CBS Evening News – CBS News
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.
CBS News
JD Vance echoes Trump, blames Democrats for apparent assassination attempt
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.