TITUSVILLE, Fla. (WSVN) \u2014 A grieving father shared his pain after taking part in a posthumous tribute for his daughter who was killed at sea.<\/p>\n
Anna Kepner\u2019s father, Christopher Kepner, spoke out for the first time since, authorities said, his 18-year-old daughter was murdered by her 16-year-old stepbrother on board a Carnival Cruise.<\/p>\n
Over the weekend, Christopher stepped in to collect his daughter\u2019s high school diploma at what should have been her high school graduation.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat kind of shook us for a loop. It was hard, being in her place to do that is very hard,\u201d said Christopher. \u201cWe waited for her name to be called, and I walked up and grabbed the diploma. My wife set up the senior table, and it was great.\u201d<\/p>\n
Anna\u2019s father shed a tear walking off stage, as his daughter\u2019s classmates and their families gave a standing ovation.<\/p>\n
The family told ABC News that they are frustrated and upset that Anna\u2019s stepbrother, Timothy Hudson, the son of Christopher\u2019s wife, remains free pending a May 27 court hearing to determine whether or not he should be jailed while he awaits trial.<\/p>\n
Court documents showed that Hudson is accused of sexually assaulting her, then intentionally killing her during a family cruise.<\/p>\n
Anna\u2019s cause of death was determined to be mechanical asphyxiation, meaning something or someone forced her to stop breathing.<\/p>\n
Christopher said this day embodied how his daughter should be remembered.<\/p>\n
\u201cWonderful, beautiful, outgoing, class clown, but serious sometimes. Just thank you to the school,\u201d said Christopher.<\/p>\n
Her stepbrother\u2019s trial is set to begin in September.<\/p>\n
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