The 16-year-old stepbrother of the deceased teenager who was found dead on a Carnival cruise ship last year appeared before a federal judge in Miami, Florida, on Friday, February 6.
On Nov. 7, 2025, the body of Anna Kepner, 18, of Titusville, Florida, was found stuffed underneath her cabin's bed, wrapped in blankets and covered by life vests. She had been sailing aboard Carnival Horizon, a Vista Class cruise ship owned and operated by Carnival Cruise Line, with her family.
A few days later, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) announced that it had opened a homicide investigation into Kepner’s death.
Read more: Stepbrother under FBI investigation after teen's body found under bed on a Carnival cruise
While no suspects were immediately named, it was quickly hinted that her stepbrother was a person of interest because of an unrelated court filing that suggested potential charges against one of Kepner's stepsiblings.
Around three months later, her 16-year-old stepbrother appeared before a federal magistrate in a locked courtroom, accompanied by his public defenders, prosecutors, and U.S. Marshals, NBC 6 reported.
The criminal docket for the magistrate judge revealed that a sealed case was on his agenda. As such, any charges he may face haven't been publicly released. The case number remains sealed, too.
Photos shared online show the teen walking into the courthouse decked out in a camouflage hoodie, black pants, a baseball cap, and black sneakers.
After walking into another courthouse, he went into a probation office where defendants are processed for pretrial release.
According to an ABC News article, Kepner's father, Chris, confirmed that the stepbrother was arrested and charged in connection with the case, then released to the custody of a guardian.
"We would like to express our sincere gratitude to the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Justice for their dedication, professionalism, and thoroughness in the investigation into the murder of our daughter," read a statement issued by Chris and Kepner's stepmother, Shauntel.
"The loss of our daughter is a pain that will never fully heal. She was taken from us in a violent and senseless way, and our family has been permanently changed. Our grief is overwhelming, and her absence is felt in every part of our lives. No parent should ever have to bury their child, and no words can fully express the depth of our loss."
Continuing on, the family emphasized the importance of accountability and justice in the case, stating that their daughter’s life deserves to be honored through a full and fair legal process. They acknowledged the work of investigators and prosecutors while also expressing deep agony that the person responsible has not yet been fully held accountable.
"During this investigation, we were advised by the FBI to remain quiet. We respected that request out of trust in the process and in hopes that it would help the investigation. However, as grieving parents who continue to live with unanswered questions and ongoing pain, we can no longer remain silent. Our daughter's life matters, and we will continue to speak out to honor her, to seek accountability, and to ensure that her case is not forgotten."
"While this tragedy has deeply hurt our family, we will not let it tear us apart. Our focus remains on honoring our daughter's memory and seeking justice for her. We thank the FBI and the Department of Justice for their continued efforts, dedication, and commitment to this case."
Read more: Teen who died on Carnival cruise ship identified, family says
Kepner's death was ruled a homicide
Kepner had retired to her stateroom, which she was sharing with her stepbrother and 14-year-old half-brother, early the night before her body was found, claiming that she didn't feel well. It wasn't until she did not show up for breakfast that her family became concerned and began searching for her. According to CBS News, her body was found by a cabin attendant.
The death certificate said her death was caused by "mechanical asphyxia," with the time of death listed as 11:17 a.m. Law enforcement agents told ABC News that the asphyxiation was caused by a bar hold restraint, suggesting that an arm was tightly pressed across the teen's neck.
Kepner's family remembers her as a bubbly, straight-A student. She was supposed to graduate from high school in May and planned to join the military, hoping to devote her life to something that would help her community.
"When she walked into a room, she would light it up," her family told ABC News, "If you were sad, she’d make you laugh. She would joke around and be the funniest little person in school."
"She had that type of energy that just drew you in with her smile and the way she carried herself. She was such an easy person to talk to."
Elizabeth Wright
Elizabeth graduated from New York University's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute with her M.A. in Journalism in May 2023. Having sailed on over 30 cruises across different lines, including Royal Caribbean, Carnival, MSC, Margaritaville at Sea, and Princess, she loves sharing her insight and expertise on all things cruising!
In addition to writing for Cruise.Blog, Elizabeth has bylines in Business Insider, Royal Caribbean Blog, and Cruiseshipfood.com.
