UPDATE 7:00PM WEDNESDAY MARCH 20
Fox 4 has been digging into the background of the suspect, 16-year-old Thomas Roy Stein. Because he's a juvenile, court records are confidential.
However, senior reporter Kaitlin Knapp obtained police reports from Cape Coral Police and the Lee County Sheriff's Office, detailing anything Stein has been connected to.
Cape Coral Police provided one report that says a Mariner Middle School student ingested a "THC brownie," given to them by a high school student at a North Fort Myers park in May 2022.
In October 2022, another police report said two juveniles were climbing on the roof of the plaza at 2301 Del Prado Blvd S. The juveniles were accused of having vape pens and by law, they cannot have any tobacco products. They were issued a citation and his guardian took custody of him.
In May 2023, police responded to Mariner High School for a fight that happened during class change. Two students were accused of beating up a third and they were arrested for battery.
In August 2023, Stein and another person were accused of breaking into two cars. According to the report from the Lee County Sheriff's Office, Stein was arrested for two counts of burglary.
UPDATE 11:00AM WEDNESDAY MARCH 20
The Cape Coral Police Department addressed the community and media with an update about an ongoing homicide investigation just before 11 a.m. Police confirm that that 16-year-old Thomas Roy Stein is a suspect linked to the death of 15-year-old Kayla Rincon-Miller. She was shot, according to police on Sunday night after leaving the Marquee 10 movie theater with two friends. Police say they believe that there are others involved in this homicide and they are still actively working the case.
CCPD confirms that based on the evidence they found, they believe this was not a random act of violence. Police say the vehicle that the suspects were in during the robbery attempt was a silver Nissan Pathfinder and they said the car was rented by Stein's mother. CCPD has been in close contact with Rincon-Miller's family regarding the update in the murder of Kalya.
Police did not take any questions at the news conference. They said it's not to hide anything but to protect the integrity of the ongoing investigation.
UPDATE 10:45AM WEDNESDAY MARCH 20
Thomas Roy Stein, 16, appeared in juvenile court with his mother Wednesday morning, following an overnight arrest on a homicide charge filed by Cape Coral police.
The judge ordered Stein remain in custody until his arraignment April 8, and to have no contact with the victim's family, but the judge did not yet specify who that victim might be.
Stein was picked up by police and Lee County Deputies at a home in North Fort Myers Tuesday night. He does have a history of juvenile crimes. The clerk's office lists 4 juvenile cases in 2023, and one in 2024, but the juvenile records are confidential.
Additionally, Cape Coral's Community Correspondent on Fox 4 Colton Chavez will be at the Cape Coral Police Department at 11:0am when police are expected to give an update on their investigation into the death of 15-year-old Kayla Rincon-Miller.
That news conference will also stream live right here on fox4now.com.
UPDATE 1:45AM WEDNESDAY MARCH 20
The mug shot of 16-year-old Thomas Roy Stein crossed the Lee County Jail website overnight, hours after a large group of law enforcement personnel descended upon a home in North Ft Myers late Tuesday night.
Booking information matched the address of the North Ft Myers scene and it indicated a charge of "Homicide (Murder while Engaged in Robbery)" had been filed by the Cape Coral Police Department.
PREVIOUS REPORTING
Tuesday night, Fox 4 received multiple calls from neighbors about the Lee County Deputies and Cape Coral police cruisers assembled on West Mariana Avenue, near Us-41 and Pine Island Road.
The Lee County Sheriff's Office said it was assisting Cape Coral police in an investigation. No other specifics were provided, but at one point people on scene reported seeing law enforcement with guns drawn.
The city of Cape Coral has been on edge since Sunday night, when Kayla Rincon-Miller, 15, was shot and killed during a bizarre and violent robbery attempt to grab her purse. The girl was walking with two friends from the local movie theater to a nearby McDonald's when they were confronted by a one or more individuals in a car, according to police.
TEAM COVERAGE: Family members talk about teen killed in bizarre Cape robbery
Late Tuesday night Fox 4 reached out to Cape Coral police to ask whether this scene was connected to the homicide investigation and had yet to receive a response.
