Florida teenager charged as adult in death of stepsister aboard Carnival cruise ship in international waters

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 06:37:00 +0200

A 16-year-old Florida boy has been indicted on federal charges of murder and aggravated sexual abuse in connection with the death of his 18-year-old stepsister, Anna Kepner, aboard the Carnival Horizon cruise ship. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the alleged crimes occurred while the ship was sailing in international waters during a family trip in November. Kepner’s body was discovered concealed under a bed in a cabin she shared with other teens, including her younger stepbrother, before the ship returned to Florida. Authorities determined the cause of death to be mechanical asphyxia, meaning that physical force or an object prevented her from breathing.

The suspect, identified in court records as T.H., was initially charged as a juvenile in February. However, a federal judge later approved prosecutors’ request to transfer the case to adult court, where he now faces more serious charges. His defense team did not object to the transfer. Because the incident is alleged to h