CAPE CORAL, Fla. — One of the teenage murder suspects accused of killing a Cape Coral girl is set to take a plea deal next month.
FOX 4's Bella Line breaks down the timeline that has lead up to where the case is now:
Line was in the Lee County courtroom Thursday morning when a judge set a plea date for September 19th for Christopher Horne Jr.
Cape Coral teen murder case moves closer to trial
Horne and Thomas Stein are charged in the March 2024 shooting death of 15-year-old Kayla Rincon Miller.
It’s unclear currently what plea Horne plans to enter at his September hearing.
CHARGES DROPPED: Family of Cape Coral murder suspect no longer being prosecuted
During Stein’s court appearance on Wednesday, there were no indications a plea deal was imminent.
Instead, prosecutors said they were preparing for a three-day trial for the teenage murder suspect.
Here is a timeline of what has happened so far in the case:
March 17, 2024 — Police say Kayla Rincon-Miller and her friends were walking to McDonald's off of Del Prado Boulevard in Cape Coral after a movie. Then they say a car pulled up, attempted to rob the girls, and Kayla was shot.
March 19, 2024 — Thomas Stein was arrested for Miller's murder.
April 17, 2024 — Christopher Horne Jr was arrested for Miller's murder.
May 9-10, 2024 — Horne's mother, father, and aunt arrested for tampering with a witness.
September 2024 — The State Attorney's Office announced that both Stein and Horne were indicted on 1st degree murder charges.
May 2025 — Charges dropped against Horne's family
Line asked Cape Coral Police if they are still looking for suspects in the murder case and they said: "We are always looking for additional information in high profile cases like these."
Stein is scheduled to return to court on October 3rd and Horne's plea date is set for September 19th.
FOX 4 will keep you up to date on this case.
