16-Year-Old from Florida Charged with Murder and Aggravated Sexual Abuse in Stepsister’s Death on Carnival Cruise A 16-year-old boy from Florida has been charged with murder and aggravated sexual abuse in the death of his 18-year-old stepsister, who died on a Carnival Cruise ship in November 2025. The U.S. Justice Department announced the charges on Monday, revealing that the teenager, identified as T.H., was initially charged as a juvenile in February but was later ordered by U.S. District Judge Beth Bloom to be prosecuted as an adult. The case is being handled in federal court, a rare occurrence for minors, due to the victim’s death occurring in international waters. Anna Kepner, the 18-year-old stepsister, was traveling with her family on the Carnival Horizon cruise ship when the incident occurred. Her body was discovered concealed under a bed in a room she shared with two other teenagers, including her younger stepbrother, on November 6. The cause of her death was determined to be mechanical asphyxia, a condition resulting from physical force or an object blocking the airway. Kepner, a high school cheerleader at Temple Christian School in Titusville, Florida, was remembered at her memorial service in November, where family members encouraged attendees to wear bright colors in honor of her “bright and beautiful soul.” The legal proceedings have drawn attention due to the unusual circumstances. T.H. was seen at a Miami courthouse on February 6, wearing a ball cap and a hoodie, but his status as a juvenile at the time prevented public disclosure of details by his lawyer, the court, or the government. Experts suggest the case is in federal court rather than a state court, where minors are typically prosecuted, because the incident occurred in international waters. The charges against T.H.#anna_kepner #th #carnival_horizon #temple_christian_school #beth_bloom
