A 16-year-old boy has been charged with sexual abuse and first-degree murder in connection to the death of his 18-year-old stepsister who died while the family vacationed on a cruise ship.
The teen, identified in court records as T.H., was indicted as an adult by a federal grand jury for the death of Anna Kepner on or about Nov. 6 or 7, according to a statement released April 13 by the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida. The stepsiblings were with other family members aboard the Carnival Horizon when T.H. “allegedly sexually assaulted and intentionally killed Kepner” in international waters, according to the statement.
Kepner’s body was found Nov. 7 under a bed in her cabin by a staff member cleaning the room. Once the ship docked in Miami, her body was transported to the Miami-Dade Medical Examiner’s Office, who determined she died by mechanical asphyxiation.
“Our hearts go out to the victim’s family during this unimaginable loss,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “A federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging serious offenses that allegedly occurred aboard a vessel in international waters. We will present the evidence in court and pursue this case with professionalism and care. As in every case, the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.”
Stepbrother originally charged as juvenile in death of stepsister Anna Kepner
T.H. was originally charged as a juvenile in February and the case remained sealed.
U.S. District Judge Beth Bloom ordered it transferred for adult prosecution, resulting it becoming public. If convicted, T.H. faces a maximum penalty of life in prison.
According to court documents, the stepbrother was hospitalized after the incident and then taken to live with maternal relatives near Hernando County. He had been mentioned as a suspect in Kepner’s death during court hearings regarding his parents’ custody case.
Who was Anna Kepner?
Kepner, an “A” student at Temple Christian School in Titusville, Florida, was described by family in her obituary as “pure energy: bubbly, funny, outgoing.”
She received her boater’s license before she could drive and had plans to join the U.S. Navy after her high school graduation next year, with long-term plans to become a K-9 officer. A lifelong gymnast, Kepner was active on her school’s cheerleading team.
Hundreds of people showed up for her celebration of life on Nov. 20. In the days after her death, loved ones turned her car into a makeshift memorial with flowers, balloons and messages.
Michelle Spitzer is a journalist for The USA TODAY Network-Florida. As the network’s Rapid Response reporter, she covers Florida’s breaking news. You can get all of Florida’s best content directly in your inbox each weekday day by signing up for the free newsletter, Florida Today, at https://floridatoday.com/newsletters.
