Anna Kepner’s 18-year-old body was found wrapped in a blanket under a bed on a cruise ship in November 2025, with few clues as to what happened to her. Now, her teenage stepbrother has reportedly been arrested and charged, according to a close family member.
On Friday, February 6, the teenage boy, 16, appeared in court in Miami alongside public defenders and prosecutors. Anna’s father, Chris Kepner, told ABC News that he’s since been released to the custody of a guardian. The nature of his charges remain unclear, including whether his arrest is in connection with Anna’s untimely death, as all court records pertaining to the case have been sealed because he is a minor. However, Anna’s mother, Heather Wright, claimed in a TikTok video that he was going to be charged with “first-degree murder” and “some other charges.” She did not clarify where she received this information or how she verified it.
The investigation began three months ago, when Anna was found dead on a Carnival Cruise ship while on a family vacation with her father, stepmother, her biological siblings, stepsiblings and grandparents. She was allegedly sharing a room with her stepbrother at the time of her death. In the weeks that followed, Anna’s cause of death was reported to be “mechanical asphyxia, “which occurs when an object, a physical force, or a bodily position causes suffocation. Her death was subsequently ruled a homicide.
On Friday, Chris and his wife, Shauntel, released a statement thanking the FBI and the DOJ for “their dedication, professionalism, and thoroughness in the investigation” into Anna’s murder as they continued to hope for “accountability” and a “full and fair legal process.”
“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,” their statement read. “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.”
The statement continued, “At this time, it is deeply painful and disturbing to our family that the person responsible is able to walk freely. This reality adds to our grief and outrage. It is devastating to know that while we live every day with the loss of our child, the individual responsible has not yet been fully held accountable. This only strengthens our resolve to continue seeking justice for our daughter.”
While the couple noted that they’d been advised by the FBI to “remain quiet” for the last few months of the investigation, they no longer had any desire not to “speak out to honor” Anna’s life as they seek justice for her death.
“While this tragedy has deeply hurt our family, we will not let it tear us apart. Our focus remains on honoring our daughter’s memory and seeking justice for her. We thank the FBI and the Department of Justice for their continued efforts, dedication, and commitment to this case,” the statement concluded.
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