Teen Sentenced to 25 Years in Death of 15-Year-Old Girl

Añadido: 2026-05-25

[00:00:00]Good afternoon. Please be seated.

[00:00:04]All right, we're here for the state of Florida versus Christopher Horn 24 CF 356.

[00:00:10]We have Mr. Horn who's present.

[00:00:13]We're here for sentencing. Is the state ready and defense ready?

[00:00:19]Are the state and defense ready for sentencing today? Yes, Judge. Okay.

[00:00:28]We're here for sentencing to impose sentencing pursuant to a plea agreement that the state made with Christopher Horn Jr. We do have victim impact, so I don't know if you want to go ahead and sentence to do the victim impact first.

[00:00:40]Victim impact will come before sentencing. Um, Miss Christine Wright?

[00:00:44]And Judge, for the record, Matthew Ryder on behalf of Christopher Horn Jr. Thank you very much. Yes, Judge.

[00:00:50]>> [snorts] [snorts] >> Yes.

[00:00:57]Thank you.

[00:00:59]Do you want her to stand in the middle or to sit in the witness box? Wherever you you feel more comfortable. Your honor, wherever you prefer to have me.

[00:01:05]>> [laughter] >> It's it's up to you, wherever you're more comfortable.

[00:01:07]>> I'm I'm fine. I'm comfortable. All right, raise your right hand. Do you swear and affirm the testimony you give will be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?

[00:01:12]>> Yes, sir. All right.

[00:01:14]If you could just introduce yourself to the court. I Yes, my name is Christine Wright. I am the mother of Emma Wright.

[00:01:20]And was Emma Wright one of the victims in this case?

[00:01:23]>> Yes, she was. Have you prepared a statement you'd like to read to the court?

[00:01:25]>> Yes, I have. You may go ahead. Thank you.

[00:01:28]Your honor, the lives of three families changed forever the night of March 17th, 2024.

[00:01:36]When our daughters went to the movies to watch Bob Marley's One Love, excuse me.

[00:01:44]>> [snorts] >> What should have been a fun night for these girls became a nightmare that none of us will ever forget.

[00:01:53]After leaving the theater, the girls [snorts] were walking to McDonald's when they were attacked at gunpoint.

[00:02:01]During the attack, Kayla was shot and later died.

[00:02:05]Since that night, our lives have never been the same.

[00:02:11]My daughter-in-law lost not only her sense of safety, but also a part of herself.

[00:02:16]In the aftermath, she was no longer allowed to go out unless I approved who she was going with, where they were going, and who was driving.

[00:02:25]She could not ride her bike or walk around our neighborhood, something that she enjoyed and did regularly.

[00:02:32]Simple freedoms that most young people take for granted disappeared overnight.

[00:02:38]It was months before I get before I let her have more freedom to go out with her friends.

[00:02:45]For more than 2 years, she could not even bring herself to return to the Markee movie theater because the memories were just too painful.

[00:02:53]She and I just recently went to see Billie Eilish's movie at that theater not over a week and a half ago.

[00:03:00]This crime has changed my daughter.

[00:03:02]She has struggled with the direction of her life and is dealing with the trauma of what happened to her.

[00:03:08]I watched also watched her friend LuAnn Okay, I'm going to pause you for 1 second.

[00:03:13]There I can see three ladies sitting here in the front row that are talking and pat looking at a piece of paper and also laughing.

[00:03:21]Um that's not going to be permitted in the courtroom. There are rules of decorum. If you want to express yourself or whatever, do in the hallway. But if you're going to express any emotions or anything, it's not allowed here in court, especially during victim impact during a sentencing. So, if you cannot control your emotions or your expressions, please go out in the hallway. It's the last time I'm going to warn you. Go ahead. Thank you, Your Honor.

[00:03:43]I watched also watched her friend LuAnn struggle with the aftermath of that night. She had known Kayla since elementary school and what happened hit her hard.

[00:03:52]She has lost She lost a long time friend that evening.

[00:03:56]Both girls have had to deal with all the speculation as to what happened that night and were bullied and harassed on social media.

[00:04:04]What happened that night was not temporary. The emotional and psychological damage continues to this day. And my daughter, all of us, will We will will live with this memory of that night forever.

[00:04:17]We ask the court to recognize the lasting impact that this crime has had on our lives and the lifelong pain it has caused. Thank you, Your Honor. All right. Thank you.

[00:04:33]Anybody else here?

[00:04:34]>> I believe that's all the victim impact we have at this one. Oh.

[00:04:37]All right.

[00:04:39]I did expect one more person, but um I don't see that person now, so >> Do you want to check or >> [clears throat] [snorts] >> It'll be just a moment. The witness is downstairs on her way. That's fine. Uh we can take a short Can we take a short recess or >> That's fine, Your Honor. All right, we'll take about a 10-minute recess.

[00:05:50]Um and again, just if you're going to be in the courtroom, just remember while especially while witnesses are testifying, uh to be courteous. Uh any expressions that you're if you're laughing, joking, and talking, that's distracting to the court and distracting from the proceedings. So, I'm warning you not to do that. If you feel like you can't control yourself, then please go out in the hallway. You can wait until the proceedings are finished. Thank you.

[00:06:13]We'll be in recess for about 10 minutes.

[00:06:16]The state will call Lou Ann DeShazer.

[00:06:18]All right.

[00:06:23]Judge, I'd like to ask if she'd be allowed to stand here and speak to you.

[00:06:26]That's fine.

[00:06:27]Go up there.

[00:06:34]Just raise your right hand.

[00:06:36]You swear affirm testimony you give be the truth, whole truth, nothing but the truth? Yes, your honor. Okay, go ahead.

[00:06:41]And Lou Ann, have you prepared something you'd like to read to the judge? Yes, I have. You may do so.

[00:06:50]Good afternoon, your honor. Good afternoon.

[00:06:53]There are moments in life that divide everything into a before and an after.

[00:07:01]March 17th, 2024, I lived in a world where my friends were my safety.

[00:07:10]I have suffered so much mentally and physically since this night occurred and even before.

[00:07:19]I blame myself for the senseless decisions that cost my friend's life.

[00:07:26]It was never my plan to watch the people that I care about the most get hurt.

[00:07:35]It is something that I will never or can erase from my mind.

[00:07:43]I just wanted a night out to get away from all the problems a teenage girl has.

[00:07:49]Family issues, relationships, self-esteem.

[00:07:56]As girls that night, we looked at each other up in ourselves.

[00:08:03]In a world of love and growth, we were met with danger and calamity.

[00:08:13]Our innocence led us to an unfathomable outcome.

[00:08:19]Till this day, my reality is disoriented and a part of me has been taken.

[00:08:26]I don't know how to recover.

[00:08:30]Your honor, I'm sitting here, but all I want is my friend here with me.

[00:08:37]My soul is confused.

[00:08:41]I don't know how to recover from hugging my friend >> [snorts] >> and giving makeup tips to each other to crying and begging and wishing that she was here to take the stand with me today.

[00:08:53]>> [snorts] >> I will never forget trying to comfort my friend and tell her it's going to be okay while I myself was feeling helpless.

[00:09:02]The last bit of childhood I realized had been robbed from me.

[00:09:07]They wanted our money, but the only thing they took was her life.

[00:09:13]I will never forget that night after rushing back from the hospital.

[00:09:18]I reached in my back pocket and I felt 45 cents.

[00:09:24]That is it.

[00:09:29]Thank you.

[00:09:34]Judge, that's all the victim impact we have. I know the defendant has prepared a statement he would like to read as well. Mr. Schrader.

[00:09:44]Mr. Schrader It's okay if you remain seated.

[00:09:47]>> Absolutely. Okay.

[00:09:48]I just want to say to the family and the victims I'm deeply sorry for the role I played in your loved one's death. I'm deeply sorry to the victims for bringing this pain and trauma upon you.

[00:09:57]I know sorry and changing times will never be enough. I hope for your forgiveness, but I'm not seeking it cuz the damage, the trauma, happy homes broken after this tragedy. I can't relate being in your footsteps, but I can view from sitting on the bleachers.

[00:10:09]I just wish things never had to end with Kay losing her life so young and innocent. I want to send my condolences to the mother, father, siblings, and other family members and victims, everyone this affected. I'm not a monster. I feel like the demons I fought as a child plays a part and affected my future and impacted [clears throat] lives.

[00:10:26]I'm not here to right my wrong. I have a heart and I take full responsibility and accountability for my actions. I made terrible decisions I regret and wish I can change. I know my sentence is I'm not I'm not here to I'm not I know this apology is never going to justify anything. I hope this and my sentence give you a little peace.

[00:10:48]I pray for you and I'm truly deeply sorry things had to end like this.

[00:10:54]Anything else from the defense?

[00:10:57]No. Okay.

[00:10:58]Your Honor, do you have a copy of the score sheet?

[00:11:01]Yes.

[00:11:03]I provided a copy to defense counsel which reflects the charges that Mr. Horn Jr. pled to.

[00:11:15]And at this time we are asking you to impose the agreed upon sentence of 25 years.

[00:11:20]Uh the uh reason for the plea would be his cooperation uh with the state in this case.

[00:11:37]>> Specifically, it would be the defendant cooperated with the state to resolve the current offense or any other offense, Judge.

[00:11:45]There also the other request would be that he have no contact with the victim's family.

[00:11:51]Um any of the victim's families in this case, that being Emma Wright, Luwanda Shaw, and Kayla Ringcorn Miller.

[00:11:59]There also would be no adjudication of guilt as well as all the court fines and court costs that are associated with um based on his age and being a juvenile, he will be entitled to a 15-year review.

[00:12:14]Um the uh the state is putting on the record he was not the shooter. The evidence uh is otherwise. We have multiple uh we have statements as well as the evidence that you're on a hard and trial that Christopher Horn Jr. was not the shooter, so I'd like to put that on the record uh for purpose of a sentencing.

[00:12:34]Um and additionally, Judge, there's no minimum mandatory associated with this 25 years.

[00:12:41]Okay, any The minimum uh prison sentence in on the criminal punishment good scoresheet indicates 329.25 months, which is about approximately 27 years.

[00:12:53]>> Correct. But >> Okay, so this is a mitigated departure.

[00:12:56]That's correct, Your Honor. And you're saying the stated reason is because the defendant cooperated with the state to resolve the current offense or any other offense.

[00:13:03]That's correct, Your Honor. All right.

[00:13:06]Was there anything from the defense?

[00:13:13]Judge, I believe the the state covered it. There's no need for me to to restate Okay.

[00:13:19]I know the state indicated no minimum mandatory that which is to say no the reference to 770.087 has now been removed.

[00:13:28]The state orally amended the charges when we did the plea originally in court. That's all I'll say, Judge. I think Yeah, they already did that when he pled, I believe.

[00:13:34]>> that's what I'm saying, Judge.

[00:13:48]I have it pulled up.

[00:13:58]Okay. So, that's correct.

[00:14:00]All right.

[00:14:01]And Mr. Ward, I know you already read a statement. Is there anything you wish to address to the court prior to the court pronouncing sentence?

[00:14:09]No, sir. Okay.

[00:14:12]All right.

[00:14:13]Having presided uh over the hearings and listened to the victim impact statements today, uh as well as accepted your plea, then it is the court's sentence in this case that as to count one, second-degree murder, the court will adjudicate you guilty, will sentence you to 25 years in the Florida Department of Corrections with all credit.

[00:14:40]My understanding is because you were a juvenile, you get a 15-year review as part of that sentence. So, I'll make that on the record.

[00:14:49]And then uh there's a statutorily mandated fines, fees, and costs you have to pay for in per $15 in court costs, uh $100 cost prosecution, I'll order in reserve on any restitution.

[00:15:02]There's any others?

[00:15:08]Any other fines, fees, or costs?

[00:15:10]All right.

[00:15:13]Uh there'll be no contact with the victims' uh family uh of any of the victims or their families.

[00:15:22]And there'll be How much credit does he have?

[00:15:30]763 days. 763 days credit that'll be applied to that sentence.

[00:15:44]You have 30 day 30 days to appeal the jurisdiction of the court or legality of that sentence. You have an appeal to be filed here in Lee County at the clerk's office. If you can't afford an attorney for an appeal, one will be appointed for you.

[00:15:56]>> [snorts] >> Any other terms or conditions from the state?

[00:16:03]The defendant also does ask he's also pled to uh the robbery [snorts] counts. Yes, so each of the robbery counts Um let me pull up the plea form. Is it just 25 years concurrent on each?

[00:16:17]Okay. And he still gets a 15-year review on each of those.

[00:16:21]So then on uh count two Let me make sure that's correct.

[00:16:26]Just because they're second-degree felonies, are they not?

[00:16:40]Judge, if we could do 15 years on each of those Second-degree felony, that's right.

[00:16:46]All right. So on each of those uh on count two, which is attempted robbery charge is a second-degree felony, the statutory maximum for that is 15 years.

[00:16:56]So the court will adjudicate you guilty and sentence you to 15 years in the Florida Department of Corrections concurrent, running at the same time as the sentence in count one. Also in count two, attempted robbery, you're adjudicated guilty, sentenced to 15 years in the Florida Department of Corrections concurrent with the sentences in the other counts.

[00:17:13]And in count See, that's count two, count three, that was count three, and count four attempted robbery you're adjudicated guilty and sentenced to 15 years to Florida Department of Corrections concurrent with all other counts.

[00:17:26]They're running at the same time. And you get credit for time served on all the counts.

[00:17:30]Was there anything else?

[00:17:32]Anything else Mr. Hyder? No judge.

[00:17:34]All right, like I said sir, that'll be your sentence. You've got 30 days filing appeal and if you can't afford an attorney for an appeal one will be appointed for you. You'll get fingerprinted and remanded.

[00:17:46]Quiet in the courtroom. Quiet in the courtroom.

[00:17:50]We're still under in court.

[00:17:54]Judge, do you mind if I approach with the state briefly? Okay.