The stepbrother of 18-year-old Anna Kepner has been arrested and charged in connection with her death, nearly three months after the Florida teen was found dead aboard a Carnival Cruise ship, according to reports.
Federal authorities had been investigating the mysterious circumstances surrounding how Anna ended up hidden under a bed inside her family’s cabin during a Caribbean voyage last November.
Arrest after months of investigation
The FBI, which has been leading the probe, reportedly arrested the 16-year-old stepbrother this week. Because he is a minor, the specific charges against him have not been made public and court records remain sealed.
He is understood to have appeared before a federal judge in closed proceedings. Officials have declined to comment further due to the juvenile status of the accused and the ongoing investigation.
What happened onboard
Anna, a cheerleader from Central Florida, was travelling with her grandparents, father, stepmother, siblings and stepsiblings on a Carnival Cruise ship sailing from Florida to Mexico when tragedy struck.
On the morning of November 7, she was found dead in the family’s cabin. According to investigative sources, her body was discovered under a bed, wrapped in a blanket and covered with life vests.
Her death was later ruled a homicide. The death certificate listed the cause as “mechanical asphyxia,” indicating she had been suffocated. Reports have stated there were bruises on her body, but no signs of sexual assault and no alcohol or drugs in her system.
Named a suspect earlier
In the weeks following Anna’s death, her stepbrother had been identified as a “suspect” in a court filing related to an unrelated custody case. He was previously taken into custody and released to the supervision of a guardian.
The recent arrest and charging mark the first major breakthrough in the high-profile case.
Family seeks justice
Anna’s grieving parents have previously described her death as “violent and senseless” and expressed anguish that the person responsible had not yet been fully held accountable.
With the arrest now confirmed, the legal process is set to move forward — though much of it may remain shielded from public view due to the accused’s age.
The investigation remains active, and further details are expected to emerge as proceedings continue.
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