Florida teen charged as adult in cruise ship killing of stepsister, DOJ says

Local News Florida teen charged as adult in killing of stepsister Anna Kepner on Carnival cruise ship, DOJ says By Steven Yablonski Steven Yablonski Steven Yablonski is a digital content producer for CBS Miami and the South region. Read Full Bio Steven Yablonski Updated on: April 13, 2026 / 1:23 PM EDT / CBS Miami Add CBS News on Google The 16-year-old stepbrother of Florida teenager Anna Kepner has been officially charged as an adult in her killing after she was found dead aboard a cruise ship in 2025, the U.S. Department of Justice announced Monday.According to court records, the Titusville teenager, identified by federal prosecutors with his initials "T.H.," was traveling on Carnival Cruise Line's Horizon with 18-year-old Kepner and other family members in November 2025 when the incident occurred during a Caribbean voyage, according to the DOJ.Investigators said that while the ship was in international waters en route to Miami, the teenage stepbrother allegedly sexually assaulted and intentionally killed Kepner, according to the DOJ. The Miami-Dade Medical Examiner's Office later determined the cause of death to be mechanical asphyxiation."Our hearts go out to the victim's family during this unimaginable loss," U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida said in a news release. "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."Quiñones went on to say that Kepner's stepbrother is presumed innocent unless or until he's proven guilty.The teenager was initially charged as a juvenile in February, and the case remained sealed until U.S. District Judge Beth Bloom ordered it transferred for adult prosecution. According to the DOJ, Kepner's stepbrother was charged with first degree murder and aggravated sexual abuse.If he's convicted in her killing,...