A FLORIDA teen who is accused of murdering his stepsister while on a cruise ship has been taken into custody ahead of his trial.
The 16-year-old, only identified as T.H. in court documents, will remain behind bars under the supervision of the U.S. Marshals
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Anna Kepner, 18, was found dead on a Carnival Cruise ship last year Credit: Facebook/ChrisKepner
Kepner’s brother – known as T.H. – was taken into custody on Monday Credit: Getty
He has so far pleaded not guilty to all the charges relating to Kepner’s death Credit: AJ Skuy – Commissioned by the U.S. Jattvibe Digital Edition
The two teens had been holidaying with their parents at the time of the tragic ordeal Credit: Instagram
He was indicted as an adult by a federal grand jury on charges of murder and aggravated sexual abuse in November last year.
The teenager allegedly killed his stepsister, 18-year-old Anna Kepner, while their family was holidaying on a Carnival cruise ship last year.
He was ordered to report to the federal courthouse in Tampa on Monday morning, where his family delivered him to the U.S. Marshals’ custody.
The teen has entered not guilty pleas to both first- degree murder and aggravated sexual abuse.
Prosecutors say he “sexually assaulted and intentionally killed” Kepner on the Carnival Cruise ship Horizon, as the boat was on route to Miami.
The Florida high school senior died from mechanical asphyxiation, officials said.
Prosecutors argued T.H. should be behind bars ahead of his trial, claiming he was too dangerous for any lighter agreement.
His legal team hit back, saying he was just a child who had so far been cooperative with the ongoing investigation.
And they said he had shown no signs of hurting anyone in the months since his sister’s alleged murder.
The judge ordered there to be an examination of potential options for his detainment in Tampa, ultimately ordering for the boy to be taken into custody.
The family had been on holiday when Anna was found dead Credit: Instagram
The Florida high school senior died from mechanical asphyxiation, officials said Credit: Instagram
The federal trial is slated to start on September 8.
Anna Kepner’s father, Chris Kepner, is married to the suspect‘s mother, Shauntel Kepner.
The family released a statement on Monday.
“We would like to thank the FBI, the United States Attorney’s Office, and the U.S. Marshals Service for their assistance in helping place the accused murderer of Anna Marie Kepner behind bars until trial,” they told ABC.
“It was painful for our family to know that he had been free for as long as he was.
“We are now at peace knowing that he will not be able to harm anyone else while awaiting trial.”
The family said Kepner’s birthday had fallen over the past weekend.
“While birthdays are never the same without her, we continue to honor her memory and cherish the love and joy she brought to our lives,” the family said.
“As we move closer to the start of the trial in the coming months, we remain hopeful for a swift conclusion to this process and for justice to be served.”
Kepner was found dead in November 2025 and hidden beneath a bed, buried in life vests, in one of the cruise ship’s cabins, according to court documents.
The Miami-Dade Medical Examiner said she died by asphyxiation, Fox35 reported.
Before the order was made, Anna’s father, Christopher Kepner – who has said he wants to see T.H. “in an orange jumpsuit and handcuffs” – called it “crazy” that the teen was released.
“He got to go home with the Ziske family, hisunclel, so still no justice for Anna,” he wrote on Facebook.
In May, a court heard that T.H. had “squeezed her for three to five minutes”.
“At any point, he could have stopped and let her live,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Alejandra L. Lopez said.
“He squeezed so hard her eardrum burst. While he held her, her life went out of her body. He could have let her go, and he didn’t.”
Prosecutors have also alleged they linked T.H. to the case with DNA evidence that was found on Anna’s body after discovering evidence of sexual assault.
