MIAMI, FL \u2014 The 16-year-old brother of Anna Kepner. who is being accused of sexually assaulting and killing her aboard a Carnival Cruise ship last year, has been federally indicted on a murder charge.<\/p>\n
The Titusville boy, only identified by federal authorities as T.H., was federally indicted on first-degree murder and aggravated sexual abuse charges in connection with Kepner’s death on or about Nov. 6-7, 2025, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office Southern District of Florida on Monday. <\/p>\n
A federal grand jury indicted Kepner’s stepbrother as an adult, prosecutors said. If convicted, the teenagerfaces a maximum sentence of life in prison.<\/p>\n
RELATED: FL Student Dies Aboard Carnival Cruise Ship: Reports<\/a><\/p>\n Kepner was aboard Carnival’s Horizon with her stepbrother and other family members on international waters en route to Miami when prosecutors said T.H. “allegedly sexually assaulted and intentionally killed Kepner.”<\/p>\n The Miami-Dade Medical Examiner\u2019s Office determined Kepner’s cause of death to be mechanical asphyxiation, prosecutors said. A manner of death was not revealed.<\/p>\n In February, T.H. was initially charged as a juvenile; but, prosecutors said U.S. District Judge Beth Bloom ordered the case be transferred for adult prosecution.<\/p>\n RELATED: Stepbrother ID’ed As Suspect In Death Of FL Teen Who Died On Cruise<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cOur hearts go out to the victim\u2019s family during this unimaginable loss,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Qui\u00f1ones for the Southern District of Florida, in a news release. “… 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.\u201d<\/p>\n Both teens are from Titusville.<\/p>\n Kepner, affectionally known as “Anna Banana” to her grandmother, was reportedly set to graduate in May from Temple Christian School and had just taken the exam to join the military.<\/p>\n