Thomas Stein, the teen accused of killing 15-year-old Kayla Rincon-Miller, takes the stand in his defense at the end of the fifth day of his trial for the killing of 15-year-old Kayla Rincon-Miller in 2024.Before he took the stand, co-defendant Christopher Horne Jr. testified for the prosecution against Stein after reaching a plea deal for a reduced sentence.Watch live in the player above. (The camera will point at the wall when court is in recess)On Thursday, jurors heard witness testimony from two of the girls who were with Kayla on the night of her death.Kayla’s friends Emma Wright, 19, and Louann Dejaie, 18, took to the stand to recount the moments leading up to the deadly shooting.Both witnesses testified that they had just seen a movie with Kayla and were walking down the street to find somewhere to eat when an SUV began tailing them.A group then jumped from the van and attempted to rob the group of friends, and shots were fired.Dejaie said that she saw Kayla lower herself onto the ground and exclaim that she had been shot. Dejaie said she then tried to call 911, but her hands were “shaking so bad.”A detective who arrived at the scene testified about his interaction with Miller as he tried to assist the first officer on site. “He suggested that the situation wasn’t very good, and that if I needed anything, I need to ask as soon as I could,” said Det. Frank Scarlato, of the Cape Coral Police Department. “When I asked who did this to you, she said she didn’t know and then was giving noises from the gunshot,” Scarlato said. Thomas Stein’s mother, Jessica Stein, also took the stand, visibly upset as she identified her son to the jury. Both she and her son wiped their eyes during her testimony. When asked if she owned a Glock 27, Jessica Stein said, “I believe so,” and confirmed it was obtained legally. The state presented a photo of Thomas Stein with the Glock 27 as evidence, though the date the photo was taken remains unknown. Jessica Stein denied that her son ever confessed to killing Miller. “Did your son ever confess that he was the one that killed Kayla Rincon Miller?” she was asked. “No, sir,” she replied. Numerous witnesses have testified in the case. The defense questioned the lead detective about whether Horne Jr.’s phone or gun had been found, but neither has been located. Stein is accused of first-degree murder and attempted robbery. One of the defining moments of the trial is expected to be when Stein’s co-defendant, Christopher Horne Jr., testifies against Stein as a part of a plea deal.Trial’s chaotic startStein’s trial began on Monday, but was thrust into chaos as all potential jury members were dismissed after a verbal altercation between Stein and Horne’s families occurred in the hallway of the courthouse during the lunch break.When the potential jurors returned to the courtroom, the judge asked them if any of them had heard the commotion. The judge met with the prosecution and defense, and every potential juror was dismissed.The jury selection process restarted on Tuesday.On Wednesday, Jahmil Vega with the Cape Coral Police Department was called to the stand as a witness.The trial is expected to last for at least five days, as unanswered questions about who fired the shots that led to Kayla Rincon-Miller’s death remain.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.
FORT MYERS, Fla. —
Thomas Stein, the teen accused of killing 15-year-old Kayla Rincon-Miller, takes the stand in his defense at the end of the fifth day of his trial for the killing of 15-year-old Kayla Rincon-Miller in 2024.
Before he took the stand, co-defendant Christopher Horne Jr. testified for the prosecution against Stein after reaching a plea deal for a reduced sentence.
Watch live in the player above. (The camera will point at the wall when court is in recess)
On Thursday, jurors heard witness testimony from two of the girls who were with Kayla on the night of her death.
Special to Gulf Coast News
Kayla’s friends Emma Wright, 19, and Louann Dejaie, 18, took to the stand to recount the moments leading up to the deadly shooting.
Both witnesses testified that they had just seen a movie with Kayla and were walking down the street to find somewhere to eat when an SUV began tailing them.
A group then jumped from the van and attempted to rob the group of friends, and shots were fired.
Dejaie said that she saw Kayla lower herself onto the ground and exclaim that she had been shot. Dejaie said she then tried to call 911, but her hands were “shaking so bad.”
A detective who arrived at the scene testified about his interaction with Miller as he tried to assist the first officer on site.
“He suggested that the situation wasn’t very good, and that if I needed anything, I need to ask as soon as I could,” said Det. Frank Scarlato, of the Cape Coral Police Department.
“When I asked who did this to you, she said she didn’t know and then was giving noises from the gunshot,” Scarlato said.
Thomas Stein’s mother, Jessica Stein, also took the stand, visibly upset as she identified her son to the jury. Both she and her son wiped their eyes during her testimony.
When asked if she owned a Glock 27, Jessica Stein said, “I believe so,” and confirmed it was obtained legally.
The state presented a photo of Thomas Stein with the Glock 27 as evidence, though the date the photo was taken remains unknown.
Jessica Stein denied that her son ever confessed to killing Miller.
“Did your son ever confess that he was the one that killed Kayla Rincon Miller?” she was asked. “No, sir,” she replied.
Numerous witnesses have testified in the case. The defense questioned the lead detective about whether Horne Jr.’s phone or gun had been found, but neither has been located.
Stein is accused of first-degree murder and attempted robbery. One of the defining moments of the trial is expected to be when Stein’s co-defendant, Christopher Horne Jr., testifies against Stein as a part of a plea deal.
Trial’s chaotic start
Stein’s trial began on Monday, but was thrust into chaos as all potential jury members were dismissed after a verbal altercation between Stein and Horne’s families occurred in the hallway of the courthouse during the lunch break.
When the potential jurors returned to the courtroom, the judge asked them if any of them had heard the commotion. The judge met with the prosecution and defense, and every potential juror was dismissed.
The jury selection process restarted on Tuesday.
On Wednesday, Jahmil Vega with the Cape Coral Police Department was called to the stand as a witness.
The trial is expected to last for at least five days, as unanswered questions about who fired the shots that led to Kayla Rincon-Miller’s death remain.
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.