Thomas Stein, the man convicted of killing teen Kayla Rincon-Miller, fights life sentence in appeal

FORT MYERS, Fla. (WINK)—Thomas Stein, the man sentenced to life in prison for the killing of Kayla Rincon-Miller in 2024, has filed an appeal with the district court.

Stein had a gun and tried to rob a group of girls with a friend. Rincon-Miller was among them. When the robbery happened, the gun went off. The bullet hit Rincon-Miller in the chest, killing her.

WINK News covered the entire sentencing trial.

Christopher Horne Jr., Stein's friend, testified against him. Rincon-Miller's friends also took the stand, saying they saw a guy who looked like Stein pull the trigger.

The appeal is now pending with the district court.