The court in Cape Coral, Florida, sentenced Thomas Stein to life in prison on the morning of last Friday, July 10, 2026, with the possibility of a review of the sentence after 15 years. The decision came after a jury found him guilty of first-degree murder and attempted robbery that resulted in the death of 15-year-old Kayla Rincon-Miller.
Young Kayla Rincon-Miller was fatally shot two years ago, also in Cape Coral. The tragic incident occurred while she was walking from the cinema to a cafe, accompanied by friends.
In May, the same jury had already handed down a guilty verdict against Stein for aggravated murder and attempted robbery, crimes that now carry a maximum sentence of life in prison.
Trial details and witness testimony
In June, Thomas Stein’s defense filed a request for a new trial, but the request was promptly rejected by the court. Meanwhile, his accomplice, Christopher Horne Jr., had already been sentenced to 25 years in prison after accepting a plea bargain with the court.
Christopher Horne Jr.’s plea deal included an obligation to testify against Stein during the proceedings. Both Horne and another key witness confirmed that Stein was responsible for firing the shot that took Rincon-Miller’s life.
