TUESDAY NEAR COLONIAL BOULEVARD IN CHALLENGER BOULEVARDS. >> MOTION FOR NEW TRIAL BE TONIGHT. >> YOU JUST HEARD THE MOMENTS A JUDGE TOLD THOMAS TIME HE IS NOT GOING TO GET A NEW TRIAL. STINE KILLED 15 YEAR-OLD CALEB AND CODY MILLER. WHILE SHE WAS WALKING WITH FRIENDS IN CAPE CORAL BACK IN 2024. COVERING THE GULF COAST TONIGHT IN LEE COUNTY. JAIL IN BARRON IS LIVE. TAKING US THROUGH WHAT HAPPENED IN COURT TODAY. >> THOMAS STEIN ENTERED THE COURTROOM THE SAME WAY. HE ALWAYS DOES. A LOOK BACK TO HIS MOTHER, JESSICA. AND A QUICK GLANCE TO THE FULL COURT ROOM TODAY. HE WAS LOOKING FOR A SECOND CHANCE, BUT THE MOTION FOR A NEW TRIAL WAS DENIED. >> MOTION FOR NEW TRIAL BE DENIED. THOMAS STEIN’S LAWYERS ARGUE TO ONE OF THE VICTIMS, FRIENDS, DEPOSITIONS DID NOT MATCH WHAT SHE SAID AT TRIAL ABOUT WHO SHOT 15 YEAR-OLD KALEN RECALL MILLER. >> CAPE CORAL POLICE SAY A GROUP IN A GRAY NISSAN PATHFINDER PULLED UP ON K LE AND HER FRIENDS AS THEY WERE WALKING FROM THE MOVIES TO A MCDONALD’S IN 2024, BOTH FRIENDS, THE WIND IS A AND EMMA WRIGHT TESTIFIED IN APRIL THOMAS TIDE’S DEFENSE ATTORNEYS TELL ME THEY FELT STRONGLY ABOUT ASKING FOR A NEW TRIAL, ARGUING THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO CALL THE PROSECUTOR TO TESTIFY. >> AMBUSHED THE TRIAL JUDGE INTERCHANGE TO SMILE. STAND. >> THOMAS STEIN’S MOTHER JESSICA, WHO TOOK THE STAND DURING THIS TRIAL ALONGSIDE STEIN’S OTHER FRIENDS AND FAMILY WAS PRESENT IN THE COURTROOM. SHE DECLINED TO COMMENT TO GULF COAST NEWS ASSISTANT STATE ATTORNEY SARAH MILLAR AND ALYSSA WOLF TOLD THE COURT TODAY THAT THEY BELIEVE THERE WAS A FAIR CASE PRESENTED ON HOW STEIN KILLED 15 YEAR-OLD KAYLA MARIE CONE, MILLER IN 2024. IN CAPE CORAL. AND SO WE BELIEVE THAT THERE’S NOTHING THAT HAPPENED THAT WOULD BE GROUNDS FOR A NEW TRIAL. AND WE WOULD ASK THAT YOU DENY DEFENSE IS. >> MOTION. >> STEIN’S CO-DEFENDANT CHRISTOPHER WARREN JUNIOR IS SERVING A 25 YEAR SENTENCE AFTER TESTIFYING THAT STEIN SHOT KAYLA. THOMAS TIGHE AWAITS SENTENCING NEX
Judge denies Thomas Stein’s motion for new trial in fatal shooting of Kayla Rincon-Miller
Updated: 5:32 PM EDT Jun 18, 2026
Thomas Stein entered the courtroom on Thursday in Cape Coral, glancing back at his mother, Jessica, and briefly at the packed room as he sought a second chance, but his motion for a new trial was denied. Stein’s lawyers argued that a deposition from one of the victim’s friends did not align with her trial testimony about who shot 15-year-old Kayla Rincon-Miller.Cape Coral police said the shooting occurred in 2024 when a group in a gray Nissan Pathfinder approached Kayla and her friends on SE 16th Place at SE 20th Street as they walked from the movies to a McDonald’s. Both friends, Louann Dejaie and Emma Wright, testified in April. Stein’s defense attorneys said they felt strongly about requesting a new trial, arguing that Stein should have been allowed to call the prosecutor to testify. Jessica Stein, Thomas Stein’s mother, who testified during the trial alongside other family and friends, was present in the courtroom but declined to comment. Assistant state attorneys Sara Miller and Alysa Wolfe told the court they believed the case fairly demonstrated how Stein killed Kayla Rincon-Miller in 2024 in Cape Coral. Stein’s co-defendant, Christopher Horne Jr., is serving a 25-year sentence after testifying that Stein shot Kayla. Stein awaits sentencing next month. 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.
CAPE CORAL, Fla. —
Thomas Stein entered the courtroom on Thursday in Cape Coral, glancing back at his mother, Jessica, and briefly at the packed room as he sought a second chance, but his motion for a new trial was denied.
Stein’s lawyers argued that a deposition from one of the victim’s friends did not align with her trial testimony about who shot 15-year-old Kayla Rincon-Miller.
Cape Coral police said the shooting occurred in 2024 when a group in a gray Nissan Pathfinder approached Kayla and her friends on SE 16th Place at SE 20th Street as they walked from the movies to a McDonald’s. Both friends, Louann Dejaie and Emma Wright, testified in April.
Stein’s defense attorneys said they felt strongly about requesting a new trial, arguing that Stein should have been allowed to call the prosecutor to testify.
Jessica Stein, Thomas Stein’s mother, who testified during the trial alongside other family and friends, was present in the courtroom but declined to comment.
Assistant state attorneys Sara Miller and Alysa Wolfe told the court they believed the case fairly demonstrated how Stein killed Kayla Rincon-Miller in 2024 in Cape Coral.
Stein’s co-defendant, Christopher Horne Jr., is serving a 25-year sentence after testifying that Stein shot Kayla.
Stein awaits sentencing next month.
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.