Florida Teenager Indicted as Adult in Death of Stepsister Aboard Cruise Ship

Federal authorities in Miami unsealed an indictment on Monday charging a 16-year-old boy as an adult in connection with the death of his stepsister, Anna Kepner. The grand jury indictment includes counts of first-degree murder and aggravated sexual assault.

The suspect, identified in court documents as T.H., was previously processed through the juvenile system in February. However, U.S. District Judge Beth Bloom ruled the case could proceed in adult court due to the severity of the allegations.

The incident occurred in November 2025 while the family was traveling aboard the Carnival Horizon. The vessel was navigating international waters en route to Miami when the tragedy took place.

Kepner, an 18-year-old high school senior and cheerleader from Titusville, Florida, was discovered by a stateroom housekeeper on November 8, 2025. Her body was found concealed beneath a bed in the cabin she shared with the suspect.

The Miami-Dade Medical Examiner’s Office determined the cause of death was mechanical asphyxiation. Investigators concluded the injury resulted from a bar hold applied across the neck.

The Department of Justice alleges that T.H. sexually assaulted Kepner before intentionally killing her. The crime fell under federal jurisdiction because it occurred within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States.

U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones announced the charges alongside the FBI’s Miami Field Office. He stated that the indictment followed a comprehensive multi-month investigation into the specific circumstances of the death.

At the time of the incident, the Kepner family, including Anna’s father and several stepsiblings, were present on the ship. Anna was a prominent student and cheerleader at Temple Christian School.

If convicted of the top charges, the 16-year-old faces a maximum sentence of life in federal prison. Prosecutors reminded the public that the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Alejandra L. López is slated to lead the prosecution as the case moves toward trial. The FBI remains the primary investigating agency for the case.