A 16-year-old boy from Titusville, Florida, pleads not guilty to the murder of his 18-year-old stepsister, Anna Kepner, aboard a cruise ship five months ago. Authorities arrested him in February and charged him as an adult with first-degree murder and aggravated sexual abuse.
Details of the Incident
The incident occurred in early November on Carnival Cruise Line’s Horizon as the vessel returned to Miami. Family members, including Kepner and her stepbrother, traveled together. Prosecutors state the teen sexually assaulted and intentionally killed his stepsister during the voyage.
Rescuers discovered Kepner’s body wrapped in a blanket and concealed with life vests under a bed. Officials determined the cause of death as mechanical asphyxiation, resulting from an object or force blocking her airway.
Legal Proceedings and Charges
The teenager entered his not guilty plea through a court filing on Tuesday. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of life in prison. His arraignment occurs Wednesday at a Miami courthouse, where he waives personal appearance, though the hearing proceeds as scheduled. Federal prosecutors and his defense attorney confirm the event continues. He remains in his uncle’s custody.
Family’s Grief and Anna’s Memory
Anna Kepner’s obituary describes her as bubbly, funny, outgoing, and authentic. She aspired to cheer for the University of Georgia, serve in the Navy, and work as a K9 police officer.
Her father, Chris Kepner, and stepmother, Shauntel Kepner, share a statement: “Our family is devastated by the loss of Anna and continues to grieve this unimaginable tragedy. This situation is deeply painful and complex for our entire family. Anna was deeply loved, and we remain committed to honoring her life and memory every day.”
