A 16-year-old boy has been charged with sexual abuse and first-degree murder in connection with the death of his 18-year-old stepsister, who died while the family was vacationing on a cruise ship.
The boy, identified in court records as TH, was indicted as an adult by a federal grand jury in 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 brothers-in-law were on board the Carnival Horizon with other family members when TH “allegedly sexually assaulted and intentionally killed Mr. Kepner” in international waters, according to the statement.
Kepner’s body was discovered under the bed in the guest room on November 7 by a staff member cleaning the room. Once the ship docked in Miami, her body was taken to the Miami-Dade Medical Examiner’s Office, where her death was determined to have been caused by mechanical asphyxiation.
“Our hearts go out to the victim’s family who have suffered this unimaginable loss,” said Jason A. Redding Quiñones, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida. “A federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging serious crimes that allegedly occurred on board a vessel on the high seas. We will present evidence in court and pursue this case with professionalism and care. As in all cases, defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.”
Brother-in-law was initially charged as a juvenile in the death of sister-in-law Anna Kepner
TH was originally charged as a juvenile in February, and the case remained sealed.
U.S. District Judge Beth Bloom ordered the case transferred for adult prosecution, which made it public. If convicted, TH faces up to life in prison.
According to court documents, the brother-in-law was hospitalized after the incident and was later taken in by maternal relatives in nearby Hernando County. He was mentioned as a suspect in Kepner’s death during a court hearing in his parents’ custody case.
Who is Anna Kepner?
Kepner, an “A” student at Temple Christian School in Titusville, Florida, was described by his family in his obituary as “pure energy, bubbly, funny and outgoing.”
She earned her boating license before she could drive and had plans to join the U.S. Navy after graduating from high school 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 turned out to celebrate her life on November 20th. 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 in Florida. She covers breaking news in Florida as the network’s Rapid Response reporter. Sign up for our free Florida Today newsletter to receive all of Florida’s best content straight to your inbox every weekday. https://floridatoday.com/newsletters.
