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The younger stepbrother of a teenage cheerleader who died while holidaying aboard a cruise is being charged as an adult for her murder and sexual abuse months after their family’s return to port.
The 16-year-old from Titusville, Florida, referred to in court documents as T.H, was indicted by a grandjury on federal charges of first-degree murder and aggravated sexual abuse on Monday (local time), the US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida said in a statement.
Anna Kepner’s family were sailing back to Miami on Carnival Cruise Line’s Horizon ship last year when T.H “allegedly sexually assaulted and intentionally killed” his stepsister, the statement said.
Anna’s body was found stowed under the bed in a cabin shared with her step-siblings by a room steward on November 7, having returned to the room the night before after telling her family she’d felt unwell.
With Anna’s death occurring in international waters, FBI agents met the ship as it docked in PortMiami the following day to speak with family members and begin a federal investigation into her death.
Anna’s body was transported to the Miami-Dade Medical Examiner’s Office, which determined her cause of death to be from “mechanical asphyxiation“ and ruled it a homicide.
Anna Kepner, 18, died in November during a Carnival-operated cruise across the Caribbean. Photo / @anna.kepner16
According to court documents, Anna’s stepbrother was hospitalised after disembarking in Miami and had since been staying with maternal relatives.
T.H originally appeared in court as a juvenile in February, but the case was unsealed after he was transferred to adult prosecution by the presiding judge.
Described in her obituary by relatives as “pure energy: bubbly, funny, outgoing”, Anna was a high-achieving student set to graduate from Temple Christian School in May.
A keen gymnast and sportswoman, she was active in her school’s cheerleading team and planned to join the US Navy after graduating, with long-term aspirations of becoming a K9 police officer.
“Anna was a believer, a Christian whose faith blossomed as beautifully as her smile,” her obituary said.
“Her family takes comfort in knowing she is now in heaven, laughing, being the centre of attention, and enjoying fries with ranch … just as she loved here on earth."
Anna Kepner was set to graduate from Temple Christian School in May and aspired to join the US Navy after graduating. Photo / @anna.kepner16
Christopher Kepner, Anna’s biological father, told NBC News their family supported T.H’s arrest, saying “justice needs to be served” for his daughter.
“[T.H] is now an adult and he needs to be arrested. That is where the family stands,” Kepner said.
US Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida also shared his sympathies for the family amid the statement.
“Our hearts go out to the victim’s family during this unimaginable loss,” he said.
“We will present the evidence in court and pursue this case with professionalism and care. As in every case, the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.”
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