Locked behind bars, Stephan Sterns, charged with murder, frequently emails his brother to express his grievances about jail life. He finds fault with everything from the cramped quarters to the incessant noise, the lack of cleanliness, and even the quality of the eating utensils.

Sterns describes his mat as virtually devoid of cushioning, and he laments the dirtiness of his confined space, noting what he perceives as bloody fingerprints on the walls. This bleak environment is now his reality following his sentencing to multiple life terms.

Post-arrest revelations have emerged through emails from Sterns’ mother, who urges him to come clean. She is convinced that others were involved in Maddie’s murder and implores her son to cease shielding them.

Understanding that these emails are neither private nor secure, Sterns’ mother hints at another woman’s involvement, expressing her frustration that this woman remains free while her son bears the blame alone.

Some of the exchanges between Stephan and his mother seem strategically crafted, portraying Sterns as a loyal individual who refuses to betray friends, potentially as a bid to improve his image as he faces a lifetime in prison.

His mother reflects, “I keep thinking about how you would not ever rat out a friend,” later expressing her anger by saying, “It really upset me, feeling like you prioritized them over us by letting them off the hook. Don’t let that happen again.”

Stern’s mother says things like, “We all know [redacted] was heavily involved in this, and I am disgusted that she is free, and you are not when this is not all your fault!!”

“You need to think about yourself more and her less. She sure isn’t thinking of you and how she can help you right now. That whole family is willing to stay quiet and let you take the fall for everything.”

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Additional Guests

• Tim Jansen – Criminal defense lawyer and former Federal Prosecutor, Legal Analyst for Tallahassee Democrat’s Newspaper
• Shannon Butler – Investigative Reporter, WFTV-9

“Crime Stories with Nancy Grace” on Fox Nation is also a national radio show on SiriusXM channel 111, airing for two hours daily starting at 12 p.m. EST. You can also subscribe and download the daily podcasts at iHeart Podcasts.

[Feature Photo: Madeline Soto/Orange County Sheriff’s Office]