Florida Teen Charged in Anna Kepner Case — What We Know and the Family's Heartbreak

An 18-year-old Florida teen's death aboard a Carnival cruise has turned from mystery to tragedy as her 16-year-old stepbrother is now facing charges for homicide. Court documents and family statements confirmed that Anna Kepner's stepbrother has been charged with homicide in her death in November 2025.​

18-year-old Anna Kepner, a senior high school student from Titusville, Florida, was on the Carnival Horizon cruise ship on 7 November for a week-long Caribbean vacation with her family. She was found dead in her stateroom, which she had shared with the suspect.

​According to a CBS report, a housekeeper found Anna Kepner under her bed on 8 November, covered in life jackets. Her time of death was listed by the Miami-Dade County Medical Examiner's Office as 11:17 a.m.

The investigation concluded that Kepner died from asphyxiation caused by an arm pressed around her neck, where two bruises were found. She had reportedly told her family members the night prior that she was unwell.

Not long after Kepner's death, her stepbrother was named as the suspect. Jim Thew, the victim's ex-boyfriend, said the identification of Kepner's stepbrother as a suspect did not come as a shock as he had seen 'signs' before the incident. Kepner had reportedly complained about feeling uncomfortable in his presence, according to a report by The Guardian.​

Stepbrother Charged Following Custody Court Filing

Months of speculation ended when a court filing in a custody dispute disclosed that Kepner's stepbrother had been charged with her murder. The filing noted that the US Attorney's Office in Southern Florida cited social media posts from the family in announcing the homicide charge earlier this February.​

Her grandmother, Barbara Kepner, said in an interview with ABC News in November that she couldn't stop screaming when she heard the news of Anna's passing, which left her and her family in total disbelief. She said the suspect was 'an emotional mess,' and that he could barely speak.

She said, 'He couldn't believe what had happened. He also said he did not remember what happened.' Barbara said she thinks that to him, it's the truth. She also added that knowing how she died wasn't 'going to bring Anna back.'

On 20 February, Thomas Hudson filed an emergency divorce court petition seeking full custody of his 9-year-old daughter with his ex-wife, Shauntel Hudson. Anna's father, Christopher Kepner, and his wife, Shauntel, have full custody of the child. The petition revealed that Anna Kepner's stepbrother was charged with homicide by the US Attorney in the Southern District of Florida on 3 February.

Court Appearances Draw Public Attention

On 6 February, Anna Kepner's stepbrother, who was not named in the petition, was sighted entering a Miami federal court. He was reportedly leaving juvenile court earlier that day. He was pictured wearing a hoodie and a baseball cap, with his face concealed.

Following the alleged homicide, Christopher Kepner said in an interview that he would fight for accountability, while refraining from explicitly holding his stepson responsible for the death of his daughter.

He said during the interview with People, 'I want him to face the consequences... I will be fighting to make sure that does happen. I do not stand behind what my stepson has done. I cannot say that he is responsible, but I can't decline.'