TEEN KILLER IS BACK IN COURT. THOMAS STEIN IS SET TO GO ON TRIAL. THIS MONTH. PROSECUTORS SAY HE’S PARTIALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MURDER OF KAY LORRAINE COLE MILLER IN CAPE CORAL. >> SHE WAS SHOT AND KILLED 2 YEARS AGO. GULF COAST NEWS REPORTER MADISON ZALESKI IS LIVE AFTER PROSECUTORS REVEALED TO THEY WON’T BE CALLING TO TESTIFY. >> TODAY’S COURT APPEARANCE ONLY LASTED ABOUT A FEW MINUTES. IT WAS A BRIEF CHECK IN JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT BOTH SIDES ARE ON TRACK FOR THIS MONTH’S MURDER TRIAL. BUT TODAY IN COURT, WE ALSO LEARNED THAT HIS CO DEFENDANTS, FATHER CHRISTOPHER, ONE SENIOR, WILL NOT BE CALLED TO TESTIFY. THIS IS NEW VIDEO OF THOMAS STEIN WALKING INTO A LEE COUNTY COURTROOM TODAY AHEAD OF HIS TRIAL SET TO TAKE PLACE THIS MONTH. CAPE CORAL POLICE SAY STEIN AND CHRISTOPHER WARREN JUNIOR KILLED A 15 YEAR-OLD KILLED RECORDED MILLER AND KEEP CORAL IN MARCH OF 2024. AFTER A NIGHT OUT AT THE MOVIES WITH HER FRIENDS IN COURT TODAY, THE PROSECUTOR TOLD THE JUDGE THAT THEY WILL NOT CALL CHRISTOPHER WARREN SENIOR AS A STATE WITNESS. HIS SON HORN JUNIOR TOOK A PLEA DEAL. >> AND HE’S SET TO TESTIFY IN THIS CASE IS EXPECTED TO BE SENTENCED IN MAY. LAST MONTH, ATTORNEY SAID HORNER SENIOR REFUSED TO ANSWER QUESTIONS POSED TO HIM. NOW, ATTORNEYS SAY THEY’RE ON TRACK TO START THE TRIAL ON APRIL 27TH STARTING WITH JURY SELECTION. JUST I MEAN THAT SURE ABOUT THIS BEFORE. METER POTENTIAL JURORS, PORTLAND. >> SO WITH HIS WORK IN THE PAST IS TO LIKE 60 JURORS AND HAVE 40 UP HERE IN THE PANEL AND DO OR DIE WITH THE 40 AND WE NEED TO BRING EXTRA WE CAN DO THAT. THE DEFENSE ALSO ASKED THE JUDGE HOW THEY HANDLE JURY SELECTION FOR HIGH PROFILE CASES LIKE THIS ONE. YOU CAN ALWAYS ADJUST. >> BUT I KNOW THAT WE’VE HAD SEVERAL CASES. NON DEATH PENALTY CASES WHERE WE IT DONE WITHOUT DOING THE INDIVIDUAL >> AGAIN, THE TRIAL WILL START ON APRIL 27TH AND IS EXPECTED TO TAKE ABOU
Jury selection set for April 27 in Cape Coral teen Kayla Rincon-Miller killing trial
Updated: 5:56 PM EDT Apr 9, 2026
Thomas Stein, one of the teens accused of killing a Cape Coral girl, returned to a Lee County courtroom Thursday afternoon. This was a quick hearing to make sure both sides are on track for this month’s murder trial. Investigators say in 2024, he and Christopher Horne Jr. shot and killed 15-year-old Kayla Rincon-Miller while she was walking with her friends.In court Thursday, the prosecutor told the judge that she will not call Christopher Horne Sr. as a state witness. Attorneys said Christopher Horne Sr. refused to answer questions posed to him. His son, Christopher Horne Jr., already took a plea deal and is set to testify in this case. Now, the attorneys say they are still on track for the trial that starts on April 27, where they will start with jury selection. Stein’s trial is expected to last five days.DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.
LEE COUNTY, Fla. —
Thomas Stein, one of the teens accused of killing a Cape Coral girl, returned to a Lee County courtroom Thursday afternoon.
This was a quick hearing to make sure both sides are on track for this month’s murder trial.
Investigators say in 2024, he and Christopher Horne Jr. shot and killed 15-year-old Kayla Rincon-Miller while she was walking with her friends.
In court Thursday, the prosecutor told the judge that she will not call Christopher Horne Sr. as a state witness. Attorneys said Christopher Horne Sr. refused to answer questions posed to him. His son, Christopher Horne Jr., already took a plea deal and is set to testify in this case.
Now, the attorneys say they are still on track for the trial that starts on April 27, where they will start with jury selection. Stein’s trial is expected to last five days.
DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.