Anna Kepner's Stepbrother Indicted as Adult in Cruise Ship Murder Case The 16-year-old stepbrother of Anna Kepner, a Florida teenager who died on a cruise ship last year, has been indicted as an adult in her murder and aggravated sexual abuse, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. The indictment was announced on Monday, marking a significant shift in the legal proceedings of the case. T.H., identified as the suspect, is 16 years old and resides in Titusville, Florida. He was charged with first-degree murder and aggravated sexual abuse following a federal grand jury’s decision to pursue adult prosecution. Anna Kepner’s death occurred in November 2025 aboard the Carnival Cruise Line’s Horizon, a ship that was en route to Miami. The incident took place in international waters, and the victim was traveling with family members, including T.H. According to court records released by the DOJ, T.H. allegedly sexually assaulted Kepner and then intentionally killed her. The Miami-Dade Medical Examiner’s Office determined that the cause of death was mechanical asphyxiation. The details of the attack and the subsequent investigation have been central to the case since its inception. The case initially proceeded under juvenile jurisdiction, but the legal proceedings took a dramatic turn when U.S. District Judge Beth Bloom ordered the transfer of the case to adult court. This decision came after the case remained sealed for some time, with the court records only becoming publicly available after the indictment. The transfer to adult prosecution was a critical development, as it allows for more severe penalties, including life imprisonment if T.H. is convicted. The indictment highlights the severity of the alleged crimes. T.H.#us_department_of_justice #anna_kepner #th #carnival_cruise_line #miami_dade_medical_examiner
