Cape Coral police: Three adults threatened to kill witnesses in Kayla Rincon-Miller death

Cape Coral Police have released details concerning three people they say threatened to kill witnesses to prevent them from talking to investigators during the Kayla Rincon-Miller murder probe.

Rincon-Miller, 15, died after she was shot when a group in an SUV demanded money from her and two others as they walked from the cinema March 17. Two teens have been arrested and charged as adults with second-degree murder.

Christopher "Buster" Horne Jr., 16, was arrested April 17, and Thomas Stein, 16, was arrested March 19. They are held without bond at Lee County Jail.

While in court concerning Christopher Horne Jr. on Thursday, Cape Coral police Detective Michael Lasalandra testified people were tampering, trying to get Stein's mother, Jessica Stein, not to cooperate, and threatening to kill one of her other children.

On Thursday and Friday, Christopher D. Horne Sr., Shanice Stewart and Varaka Stewart were arrested on charges of threatening, tampering with, and coercing a witness in a murder investigation linked to the Rincon-Miller probe, police said.

More: Christopher Horne held without bond in Kayla Rincon-Miller murder; parents, aunt face charges

In Friday's release on the department's Facebook page, they did not identify the victim. It said the three threatened the victim repeatedly that if they did not keep silent, they would be killed.

Cape Coral police said that the day after the slaying, a small white sedan arrived at the tampering victim’s home with Buster Horne.

Buster Horne was with a woman who identified herself as Buster’s mother and the male who identified himself as Buster’s father. The pair told the victim that Buster and Thomas Stein were involved in the murder and told the victim to follow them and bring Stein.

Detectives later identified the subjects as Shanice Stewart and Christopher D. Horne, both of Cape Coral.

The victim and Thomas Stein, fearing for their lives and feeling like they did not have a choice, followed them, detectives said.

When they arrived in the area of Gator Circle, the victim and Stein were threatened to keep quiet and not cooperate with law enforcement. Christopher D. Horne held a pistol while threatening them, police said.

A woman, later identified as Varaka Stewart, the sister of Shanice Steward, was already at the location and also threatened the victim.

The victim was threatened repeatedly that if they did not comply and keep silent, they would be killed.

On March 19, detectives arrested Stein, and the victim reported that the same two women arrived at her home. The women again told the victim to keep quiet and to keep Stein quiet.

They promised the victim money to remain silent, the release reported.

Between March 25 and April 17, the report indicates that the victim received calls, in which a woman believed to be Shanice Stewart implored the victim to keep quiet and not to cooperate with law enforcement and assure that Stein did the same.

The caller threatened and intimidated the victim, indicating she had people "on the inside and the outside that could get to them," the report said. During one call, the caller thanked the victim for protecting her “baby.”

On April 17, police arrested Buster Horne on charges relating to the murder of Kayla Rincon-Miller. That day, the victim received a phone call from the same previous caller who stated, “they got my son” and that she was not playing games.

Police said they believe Shanice Steward made those calls.

Christopher D. Horne Sr., Shanice Stewart and Varaka Stewart are now charged with one count each of tampering with a witness, a first-degree felony.

Shanice Stewart posted a $75,000 bond and was released from Lee County Jail on Friday morning.

Varaka Stewart and Christopher D. Horne did not yet appear on the arrest log as of Friday afternoon.

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Cape Coral police: 3 threatened family about Kayla Rincon-Miller death