TITUSVILLE, Florida – A 16-year-old Florida teen has been indicted as an adult on federal rape and murder charges in connection with the death of his stepsister during a Caribbean cruise en route from Mexico to Miami last November.
Anna Kepner of Titusville, a city on Florida’s Space Coast, was the 18-year-old young woman who died from mechanical asphyxiation and was found stuffed underneath a bed in her cabin she was sharing with her stepbrother.
“Our hearts go out to the victim’s family during this unimaginable loss,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida.
“A federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging serious offenses that allegedly occurred aboard a vessel in international waters. 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.”
A Titusville teen is facing federal charges as an adult after allegedly killing his stepsister aboard a cruise ship. The victim, 18, was found dead in their shared cabin during a family trip, and the case—now in federal court—highlights that crimes committed in international… pic.twitter.com/lHwJrAXjf9
— US Attorney Reding Quiñones (@USAO_SDFL) April 13, 2026
The Daily Mail reports: “The 16-year-old, who reportedly had a twisted obsession with the high school senior, ‘sexually assaulted and intentionally killed’ Kepner, the DOJ said.”
“He forced Kepner to ‘engage in a sexual act’ and penetrated her, the superseding indictment alleges.”
🚨JUST IN: Anna Kepner’s 16-year-old stepbrother has been charged as an adult after the feds alleged he s*xually assaulted her before he murdered her during a family cruise
The boy, identified only as T.H., has been charged as an adult with first-degree murder and aggravated… pic.twitter.com/uQhG2yvBnN
— Unlimited L’s (@unlimited_ls) April 13, 2026
The suspect, identified as T.H. in charging documents, was initially charged Feb. 2 as a juvenile for killing his cheerleader stepsister. The case remained sealed until U.S. District Judge Beth Bloom ordered it transferred for adult prosecution.
He is now charged with murder in the first degree and aggravated sexual abuse, and faces a maximum penalty of life in prison if convicted.
Kepner reportedly planned on joining the U.S. Navy or becoming a K-9 handler with the Titusville Police Department.
The Daily Mail reports the parents, Christopher and Shauntel, “are still together despite the extraordinary strain on their marriage.”
They released a joint statement to the paper in February, indicating: “The loss of our daughter is a pain that will never fully heal. She was taken from us in a violent and senseless way, and our family has been permanently changed.”
“Our grief is overwhelming, and her absence is felt in every part of our lives. No parent should ever have to bury their child, and no words can fully express the depth of our loss.
“We believe in accountability and in the importance of justice being carried out. Our daughter deserves justice, and her life deserves to be honored through a full and fair legal process.”
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