CHANCES WITH YOUR GOLF AS FUTURE CAST IN JUST A FEW MINUTES. >> ALL RIGHT. THANKS SO MUCH, JASON. THIS MORNING, ACCUSED TEEN KILLER 17 YEAR-OLD THOMAS STEIN IS BACK IN COURT AGAIN. >> A YEAR AND A HALF AFTER A 15 YEAR-OLD GIRL WAS SHOT AND KILLED IN CAPE CORAL. HIS ALLEGED COUNTERPARTS, 17 YEAR-OLD CHRISTOPHER HORNE JUNIOR, WHO WE’VE CIRCLED IN RED FOR YOU HEAR JUST AGREED LAST MONTH TO TESTIFY AGAINST TIME IN ORDER TO GET A REDUCED SENTENCE. 15 YEAR-OLD KAYLA RINCON MILLER WAS SHOT AND KILLED DURING AN ATTEMPTED ROBBERY IN MARCH OF 2024. >> SHE WAS WALKING TO A MCDONALD’S WITH HER FRIENDS NEAR TO PRADO BOULEVARD WHILE IN THE COURTROOM LAST MONTH, HORN JUNIOR ADDRESS, KAYLA’S FAMILY. LISTEN TO WHAT HE HAD TO SAY. >> I DON’T SAY ALL STARTED IT ALL LAST ON. KNOWING GET ON THAT ON OUR OF THAT PERSON. I JUST DID SOME TERRIBLE THINGS IN MY LIFE RELEASE OUR ON A ON A GAME IN A SUNNY. BUT I UNDERSTAND IF YOU DON’T, THE ARE JUST FOR NOT SENT. 25 SIT DOWN. SENT A MINDSET. >> WE’LL NOW WEEKS LATER. STEIN IS BACK IN COURT FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE WARREN JUNIORS DECISION GULF COAST NEWS REPORTER MADISON ZALESKI IS LIVE FROM THE LEE COUNTY COURTHOUSE THIS MORNING. MADISON INVESTIGATORS HAVE STILL NOT REVEALED WHO THEY BELIEVE PULLED THE TRIGGER. THE NIGHT CALEB DIED. >> WILLIE, SO WE SHOULD BE GAIN A LOT MORE ANSWERS. AND JUST A FEW HOURS, THAT’S BECAUSE THOMAS TIDE IS EXPECTED TO BE BACK IN THE LEA COUNTY COURT ROOM THIS MORNING. THIS COMES JUST 2 WEEKS AFTER HIS CO-DEFENDANT, CHRISTOPHER HORNE JUNIOR ACCEPTED A PLEA DEAL AGREEING TO TESTIFY AGAINST. I NOW CHRISTOPHER HORNE JUNIOR AND THOMAS SIGN ARE CHARGED WITH A FIRST-DEGREE MURDER FOR A 15 YEAR-OLD KAYLA. RICK ON SHE WAS SHOT AND KILLED DURING A ROBBERY WHILE WALKING WITH FRIENDS AND KEITH CURLE BACK IN MARCH OF 2024. IN EXCHANGE FOR A REDUCED SENTENCE. HORTON JUNIOR PLEADED NO CONTEST TO CHARGES OF SECOND-DEGREE MURDER AND ATTEMPTED ROBBERY WITH A FIREARM. IF HORTON JUNIOR COOPERATE, HE WILL BE SENTENCED TO 25 YEARS IN PRISON. HE ALSO WAIVED HIS RIGHT TO A JURY TRIAL. PORTER JUNIOR ACKNOWLEDGED SHE COULD FACE A LIFE SENTENCE IF HE FAILS TO COMPLY WITH THE TERMS OF THE PLEA AGREEMENT WHICH INCLUDES TESTIFYING AGAINST THOMAS TIME, HIS SENTENCE WILL NOT CHANGE, THOUGH. IF STEIN IS FOUND GUILTY. NOW IT’S STILL NOT KNOWN IF STEIN IS GOING TO BE CHANGING HIS PLEA AGREEMENT, BUT TO HIS. HE IS EXPECTED TO BE BACK IN COURT AT 8.30 THIS MORNING. I WILL BE IN THAT LET YOU KNOW WHAT WILL COME OUT OF IT NOW POINT LIVE HERE IN LEE COUN
Christopher Horne Jr., who took plea deal in Kayla Rincon-Miller murder case, set to be sentenced
Updated: 10:53 AM EDT May 19, 2026
Christopher Horne Jr., a teen who took a plea deal after being charged in the shooting death of Kayla Rincon-Miller in Cape Coral, is set to be sentenced on Tuesday.>>Video above: Archive footage from October 5, 2025Horne Jr., 18, one of two co-defendants in the case of Rincon-Miller’s killing, could be sentenced to 25 years in prison after accepting a plea deal in September 2025.Horne Jr. pleaded no contest to charges of second-degree murder and attempted robbery with a firearm. As part of the plea deal, Horne was required to testify against his co-defendant, Thomas Stein. Horne Jr. testified during Stein’s trial in May, which ended in a guilty verdict for Stein on charges of first-degree murder and attempted robbery with a firearm. Stein has requested a new trial.Horne Jr. is set to be sentenced at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday. Count on Gulf Coast News to keep you updated.Recent Coverage:Thomas Stein files request for new trial after being found guilty of killing Kayla Rincon-Miller Thomas Stein found guilty of murder in the shooting death of 15-year-old Kayla Rincon-MillerThomas Stein trial: Key witnesses and major twists in the Kayla Rincon-Miller murder caseJury hears Kayla’s friends relive chaotic moments before deadly shooting in Day 4 of Stein trialDefendants take stand, share conflicting statements on who shot Kayla Rincon-MillerDOWNLOAD 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. —
Christopher Horne Jr., a teen who took a plea deal after being charged in the shooting death of Kayla Rincon-Miller in Cape Coral, is set to be sentenced on Tuesday.
>>Video above: Archive footage from October 5, 2025
Horne Jr., 18, one of two co-defendants in the case of Rincon-Miller’s killing, could be sentenced to 25 years in prison after accepting a plea deal in September 2025.
Horne Jr. pleaded no contest to charges of second-degree murder and attempted robbery with a firearm. As part of the plea deal, Horne was required to testify against his co-defendant, Thomas Stein.
Horne Jr. testified during Stein’s trial in May, which ended in a guilty verdict for Stein on charges of first-degree murder and attempted robbery with a firearm. Stein has requested a new trial.
Horne Jr. is set to be sentenced at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday. Count on Gulf Coast News to keep you updated.
Recent Coverage:
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.