The stepbrother of an 18-year-old who tragically lost her life on a cruise ship has been apprehended and charged, according to her father.
An inquiry was initiated last year after Anna Kepner, a teenage cheerleader, passed away during a family vacation through the Caribbean on a cruise with her father, stepmother, and two step-siblings.
Kepner, a Titusville, Florida high school student, was discovered concealed beneath a bed on the cruise ship, wrapped in a blanket.
An autopsy revealed that her cause of death was ‘mechanical asphyxiation,’ with the date of her death recorded as November 6, 2025. Her death was ruled a homicide.
This week, Kepner’s stepbrother was arrested and charged (as a juvenile) in relation to the case, as confirmed by her father, Chris Kepner, who is also the stepfather of the accused.
The stepbrother has been released into the care of a guardian, and the specific charges he faces have yet to be disclosed.
Chris and his wife Shauntel, who is the suspect’s biological mother and Anna’s stepmother, issued a statement regarding these recent events on Friday.
The statement expressed: “We would like to express our sincere gratitude to the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Justice for their dedication, professionalism, and thoroughness in the investigation into the murder of our daughter.
“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.
“We are grateful to the investigators and prosecutors who have worked to uncover the truth and to ensure that this crime is treated with the seriousness it warrants.”
The statement concluded with: “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.”