Fort Myers jury deliberates fate of teen accused of killing Kayla Rincon-Miller | Lee County

FORT MYERS, Fla. (WINK)—Jurors are deliberating the fate of Thomas Stein, who has been charged with the homicide of 15-year-old Kayla Rincon-Miller.

Stein testified final week that he did not shoot Rincon-Miller. He claimed a buddy of his co-defendant, Christopher Horne Jr., fired the shot.

Horne Jr. sat on the witness stand and informed the court docket what he claims occurred on March 17, 2024. He testified that he and Stein had been going to steal vehicles on Cape Coral Parkway when issues took a flip.

Horne Jr. stated they rolled up subsequent to Rincon-Miller and two different teenage women, rotated, obtained out of the automotive and tried to rob them. That’s when he claims Stein’s gun went off.

However, when Stein testified, he stated there have been two different boys within the automotive with them—Horne Jr.’s buddies. He says one of these boys, JD, went after Rincon-Miller.

Stein informed the court docket he tried to interrupt it up and that is when the gun went off. Stein testified the boy named JD was the one who shot Rincon-Miller.

Stein’s attorneys say he went out unaware that the theft was going to occur and he wasn’t even sporting a masks that evening, in contrast to the opposite boys.

“He’s not wearing a mask. These other boys are in the shadows. He’s got his cell phone on them, he goes live on Instagram that night,” stated David Wheeler, Stein’s lawyer.

On the opposite hand, the state says Stein was solely involved about getting rid of the proof that evening.

“Thomas Stein was not trying to provide assistance to Kayla. He fled the scene and only worked on getting rid of evidence only to make sure they don’t get caught,” stated Sara Miller, assistant state lawyer.

The jury is now deciding whether or not Stein is responsible of first-degree felony homicide. WINK News has been overlaying this case for 2 years and can proceed to offer updates because the deliberations progress.