Anna Kepner's Stepbrother Charged Months After The Cheerleader Was Found Dead On A Cruise Ship

Anna Kepner’s stepbrother has been indicted connected national charges months after nan 18-year-old cheerleader was recovered dormant during a family picnic connected a Carnival cruise ship.

The 16-year-old stepbrother is facing national charges of execution and aggravated intersexual abuse, according to a connection Monday by nan U.S. Attorney’s Office for nan Southern District of Florida. Court documents show nan mobility successful nan lawsuit was initially revenge Feb. 2 nether seal, but nan lawsuit was transferred to big prosecution and unsealed Friday.

The property merchandise refers to him only arsenic T.H., and that is besides really he is referred to successful nan tribunal documents. He has been released into nan custody of a guardian, but not his parents, according to tribunal documents.

Lawyers for T.H. did not instantly respond to NBC News’ petition for comment.

Anna Kepner was recovered dormant Nov. 7 while vacationing pinch her family connected a Carnival Horizon cruise ship. The cruise vessel returned to nan Port of Miami nan adjacent day, arsenic planned, Carnival said successful a connection astatine nan time.

The property merchandise says that while successful world waters en way to Miami, “T.H. allegedly sexually assaulted and intentionally killed Kepner.” The Miami-Dade Medical Examiner’s Office wished Kepner’s origin of decease was “mechanical asphyxiation.”

“Our hearts spell retired to nan victim’s family during this unimaginable loss,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones, who represents nan Southern District of Florida. “A national expansive assemblage has returned an indictment charging superior offenses that allegedly occurred aboard a alloy successful world waters

Chris Kepner, Anna Kepner’s begetter and T.H.’s stepfather, told NBC News connected Monday that “justice needs to beryllium served.”

“That is wherever nan family stands,” he continued, noting that T.H. should beryllium successful custody.

He antecedently said successful a connection to NBC News that nan nonaccomplishment of his girl is “a symptom that will ne'er afloat heal” and that his family believes successful “accountability and successful nan value of justness being carried out.”

“Our daughter’s life matters, and we will proceed to speak retired to grant her, to activity accountability, and to guarantee that her lawsuit is not forgotten,” Chris Kepner said, adding that he is grateful to nan FBI, which is starring nan investigation, and that nan family was advised by nan agency “to stay quiet” astir nan case.

An lawyer for T.H.’s mother, Shauntel Hudson Kepner, declined to comment. An lawyer for T.H.’s begetter did not instantly respond to a petition for comment. Anna Kepner’s mother did not instantly respond to a petition for comment.

Court filings successful nan custody conflict of nan stepbrother’s parents revealed successful November that he was being investigated arsenic a fishy successful nan case. Shauntel Hudson Kepner said successful a tribunal quality related to nan lawsuit that their boy was hospitalized soon aft nan cruise ship’s Nov. 8 return to Miami.

Chris Kepner and Shauntel Hudson Kepner were joined successful December 2024.

In an obituary, Anna Kepner was remembered arsenic a bubbly precocious schoolhouse elder who dreamed of continuing cheerleading astatine nan University of Georgia. She was described arsenic an outgoing and reliable teen who “loved her siblings deeply.”