Posted at 7:12 AM, May 1, 2026
FORT MYERS, Fla. (Court TV) — A Florida teenager is standing trial on charges he gunned down a 15-year-old girl after a night at the movies.
Thomas Stein appears in court. (Court TV)
Thomas Roy Stein, 18, has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder with a firearm and three counts of attempted robbery in the death of 15-year-old Kayla Rincon-Miller.
Prosecutors say Rincon-Miller had been walking with two friends on the evening of March 17, 2024, after they all saw a movie. The trio was walking toward McDonald’s when police said a silver SUV drove toward them, blinding them with high beams. The two surviving victims said two men got out of the car with guns and demanded their bags; the girls said that then they heard gunshots and realized Rincon-Miller was lying on the ground.
Police said surveillance video showed the vehicle make a U-turn before the shooting and aim for the group. Police tracked the vehicle, which was a rental from Hertz, to Stein’s home, where it had been rented in his mother’s name.
When police interviewed Stein, he said that “he learned of the investigation through Instagram and explained that he believed the homicide was a ‘setup,’” officers said in a report reviewed by Court TV. Stein then asked for an attorney and the interview ended.
Stein’s co-defendant, Christopher Horne Jr., pleaded no contest to second-degree murder and three counts of attempted robbery as part of a negotiated plea agreement. Under the agreement, Horne will be sentenced to 25 years behind bars. His sentencing is scheduled for May 19, and the deal is contingent on his cooperation with the prosecution in Stein’s case.
DAILY TRIAL HIGHLIGHTS
DAY 3 – 5/1/26
DAY 2 – 4/30/26
- LIVESTREAM: FL v. Thomas Stein – Day 2 | Cape Coral Teen Murder Trial
- Emma Wright, eyewitness
- Went to the movies with two friends, one of whom was Kayla Rincon-Miller.
- Smoked marijuana behind the movie theater after the movie ended and then decided to walk to McDonald’s for food.
- Some kids slowly drove by in an SUV, staring at them. The SUV then did a U-turn and flashed its high beams at them.
- People got out of the car and began attacking them.
- WATCH: Accomplice Allegedly Scolded Thomas Stein After Gun Discharge: ‘Why’d You Shoot?’
- Louann Dejaie, eyewitness
- Attended movies with Wright and Rincon-Miller.
- The jury saw a video they recorded while walking together, pretending Rincon-Miller was walking on a runway.
- They thought they were being pranked when a car approached with its high beams on and people got out.
- A man in a red hoodie held her at gunpoint.
- She saw Rincon-Miller on the ground after hearing three gunshots. The victim told her, “I just got shot.”
- Tried to put pressure on the wound, helped call the victim’s sister and grandmother.
- Found out Rincon-Miller died the following morning.
- WATCH: ‘I Just Got Shot’: Survivor Recalls Teen’s Final Moments in Deadly Attack
- Sgt. Brian Gumm, Cape Coral Police Department
- Responded to the shooting scene and then the hospital.
- The victim’s family did not understand the gravity of the situation at first; he was there when the surgeons told the family that Kayla had died.
- Given a bag containing items belonging to Kayla.
- Elizabeth Lansky, Cape Coral Police Dept. forensic specialist (ret.)
- Called to the crime scene and took photographs.
- The jury saw photos she took of the crime scene.
- Prepared clothing to store as evidence; received the victim’s clothing from the emergency room.
- Sgt. John Prese, Cape Coral Police Department
- Canvassed areas around the crime scene and located surveillance video.
- The jury was shown a video of the SUV making a U-turn.
- Jessica Stein, defendant’s mother
- Confirmed renting the SUV allegedly used the night of the shooting.
- Rented the SUV to go to the beach earlier in the day.
- Saw Christopher Horne Jr. with her son that day; Horne was wearing a red hoodie earlier in the day and a different shirt after the incident.
- Returned the SUV to the rental place a day or two later.
- WATCH: Mom of Defendant Admits Renting Car Used in Teen’s Fatal Shooting
- Alejandro Martinez, Hertz rental company
- Police reached out to determine who rented the SUV used in the incident.
- Provided GPS data to authorities.
- Det. Frank Scarlato, Cape Coral Police Department
- Responded to the shooting and spoke with Emma and Louann at the scene.
- Kayla was responsive and answered questions.
- Collected data from the SUV.
- Collected Thomas Stein’s cellphone and extracted its data.
- Collected the victim’s cellphone from the crime scene.
- Seized another person’s phone, who was a suspect initially.
- Det. Michael Lasalandra, Cape Coral Police Department
- Emma and Louann were being interviewed when he arrived at the scene.
- Interviewed a potential suspect.
- Viewed Stein’s phone extraction data.
- Obtained video showing Horne getting into the SUV.
- Stein and Horne’s cellphones pinged at the same three cell towers.
- Horne was arrested a month after Stein; both faced the same charges.
- Jayden Fernandez, initial suspect
- Thomas Stein would handle guns.
- Friendly with Horne, but not friends. Only hung out twice and always with Stein.
- Went to the beach with Stein and his family on the day of the shooting; Stein and Horne picked him up from his house.
- Horne had a pistol.
- Sister knew the victim and told him about her murder.
DAY 1 – 4/29/26
- LIVESTREAM: FL v. Thomas Stein – Day 1 | Cape Coral Teen Murder Trial
- The prosecution delivered opening statements
- Thomas Stein was with his friend and wanted to rob three girls.
- Tried to rob Kayla Rincon-Miller and shot her while trying to take her purse.
- The vehicle used in the robbery was rented in Stein’s mother’s name.
- WATCH: ‘Trigger Pull’ by Thomas Stein Led to Teen’s Death: Prosecutors
- Stein’s defense delivered opening statements.
- Stein was set up as a “patsy,” and no forensic evidence ties him to the crime.
- Co-defendant Christopher Horne Jr. is a liar and was offered the “deal of a lifetime” to cooperate against Stein.
- WATCH: Defendant Thomas Stein is a ‘Patsy’: Accused Killer’s Defense
- The jury heard audio from the police response to the shooting.
