Featured Image Credit: Family handout
Topics: News, US News, Cruise ship
Gerrard Kaonga
The stepbrother of an 18-year-old who was killed on board a cruise ship has been arrested and charged, her father has said
Last year, an investigation was launched after teen cheerleader Anna Kepner died while on a family trip through the Caribbean on a cruise ship with her father, stepmother and two step-siblings.
The high school student from Titusville, Florida, was found stuffed under the bed in one of the cruise ship cabins, and her body was wrapped up in a blanket.
Following an autopsy, it was discovered that she had died from a ‘mechanical asphyxiation’ and the date of her death was listed as November 6, 2025. As well as this, her death was officially ruled a homicide.
Advert
Kepner’s stepbrother has now been arrested and charged (as a juvenile) this week in connection with the case, according to Anna Kepner’s father, Chris Kepner, who is also the stepfather of the suspect.
The stepbrother has been released to the custody of a guardian, and it is not yet known what specific charges he is facing.
On Friday, Chris and his wife, Shauntel, the suspect’s biological mother and the stepmother of the victim, issued a statement about these developments.
The statement said: “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 closed by saying: “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.”