A 16-year-old boy is facing charges for the alleged murder of his stepsister, who was found deceased on a Carnival cruise ship. The victim, 18-year-old high school student Anna Kepner, was discovered concealed under a bed inside her cabin on the Carnival Horizon during a family vacation. Her death was determined to be a result of “mechanical asphyxiation,” indicating that force was used to prevent her from breathing.
Following an FBI investigation into the incident, it was revealed that Anna’s 16-year-old stepbrother has been charged with homicide as a minor. Additionally, there has been a legal petition for sole custody of a nine-year-old daughter, filed by Thomas, who is seeking to transfer parental responsibility due to significant changes in circumstances.
The stepbrother appeared in a federal court in Miami on February 6, as confirmed by a law enforcement source. In response to the decision to grant bail to the teenager, Anna’s parents expressed deep pain and outrage, stating their disappointment that the responsible party was not being fully held accountable.
Anna’s ex-boyfriend mentioned that there were prior indications of discomfort around the stepbrother. Family members and law enforcement sources have expressed shock and anguish over the tragic event, with investigations indicating signs of physical harm on the victim’s body.
