Sheriff Marcos Lopez Added to Brady List Over Controversial Statements in Madeline Soto Case

Sheriff Marcos Lopez Added to Brady List Over Controversial Statements in Madeline Soto Case

Osceola County Sheriff Marcos Lopez has been added to the Brady List by Andrew Bain, former Orange-Osceola state attorney, following conflicting statements Lopez made about a crime scene photo in the case of 13-year-old Madeline Soto. The Brady List is a tool used to notify legal parties when a witness’s credibility or truthfulness may be in doubt, potentially affecting court proceedings.

In a December 30 letter, Bain informed Lopez of his inclusion on the list due to inconsistent explanations about a photo of Soto's body that was mistakenly posted on social media. The move could have significant implications for the death penalty case against Stephen Sterns, accused of Soto’s murder, where Lopez is listed as a witness.

The controversy began in July 2024 when Bain warned Lopez that he might be added to the Brady List. Lopez initially told Kissimmee’s police chief and the public that the photo was posted by mistake, issuing an apology. However, during a radio interview with WDBO, Lopez stated, “As to the photo, there was an apology issued but it wasn’t actually the body, it was an area of interest where there was a body found. No one ever came out directly and said it was the victim.”

Days later, in a sworn interview with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Lopez acknowledged having the photo sent to his phone to compare the clothing on the body with what Soto was last seen wearing. Bain flagged these discrepancies as problematic for Lopez’s credibility.

In the December letter, Bain also criticized an internal memorandum from the Osceola Sheriff’s Office that exonerated Lopez, stating it lacked objectivity and bypassed formal investigative protocols. “Adopting the reading the Memo does in this case suggests the Osceola Sheriff’s Office does not care if an employee or member is truthful when answering questions outside the chain of command or, say, to the media. I cannot believe that is the case,” Bain wrote.

Bain further argued that Lopez’s statement to WDBO appeared to downplay the incident and shift blame. He wrote, “To be clear, the concerning statement in your interview is your assertion that ‘[n]o one ever came out directly and said it [the photograph] was the victim.’ When viewed in this proper context, it is hard to read your immediate answer as anything but an attempt to claim the photo you posted was not the victim in an attempt to lessen your public responsibility for a violation of Florida public records laws.”

In addition to being added to the Brady List, Lopez was fined $250 last month for violating Florida’s public records laws in connection with the photo’s disclosure. Bain emphasized that the conflicting statements could be used to impeach Lopez’s credibility as a witness in Sterns’ trial.

The Osceola County Sheriff’s Office responded to Bain’s decision with a statement: “The Sheriff’s Office completely disagrees with Andrew Bain’s decision. The perspectives mentioned in his letter have no merit, and the Sheriff will be appealing his decision. No other statement is available at this time.”

The Brady List designation places added scrutiny on Lopez and his role in the high-profile case. The decision also underscores ongoing concerns about accountability and transparency within law enforcement as Soto’s family seeks justice.

#BradyList #AndrewBain #MarcosLopez #MadelineSoto #OsceolaSheriff #PublicRecords #FloridaLaw

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