THE stepbrother of an 18-year-old high school cheerleader who was killed on board a Carnival Cruise ship last year has officially been charged with her murder as an adult.

The Department of Justice said Anna Kepner‘s 16-year-old stepbrother, who is identified only by his initials T.H., allegedly sexually abused and killed his step-relative while the ship was in international waters en route to Miami.

Anna Kepner, the 18-year-old passenger who died on a Carnival cruise ship.
Anna Kepner, 18, was found dead on board a Carnival Cruise ship last NovemberCredit: facebook/@amber.donohue.842620
 

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A family picture featuring Anna Kepner, her father Christopher, her stepmom, Shauntel, and her stepbrother T.H., who is now charged as an adult for her murderCredit: Facebook/Shauntel Kepner
 

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Anna Kepner was sharing a cabin with her stepbrother T.H. (pictured) and her biological brother, 14Credit: Instagram/shauntel.kepner
Kepner, whose body was found concealed under a bed in her cabin on board Carnival Cruise’s Horizon vessel last November, died of mechanical asphyxiation, the DOJ said in its statement.

Federal prosecutors in Florida said that on or about November 6-7, 2025, T.H. intentionally killed and sexually assaulted Kepner.

“Our hearts go out to the victim’s family during this unimaginable loss,” US Attorney Jason Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida said.

Kepner’s stepbrother was initially charged as a juvenile in February and was released to the custody of a guardian.

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At the time, T.H.’s case remained under seal after US District Judge Beth Bloom ordered it transferred for adult prosecution.

On Monday, federal prosecutors officially charged T.H. with first-degree murder and aggravated sexual abuse.

He faces a maximum of life in prison, if convicted.

T.H. is not eligible for the death penalty as he was a juvenile when the crime occurred.

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In its 14-page indictment, federal prosecutors argued that the judge should reevaluate T.H.’s pretrial detention conditions.

Prosecutors said T.H. currently lives in a home where minor children reside, arguing that there are “no assurances” any court could make that would be “sufficient to prevent the defendant from being a danger to others.”

Who was Anna Kepner?

Anna Kepner, 18, was a senior at Temple Christian School. A cheerleader, Kepner was part of the graduating Class of 2026.

She has two full-siblings, a brother, 14, and a sister, 9.

Her father Christopher married her stepmother, Shauntel, mother of two, in 2024.

The blended family relocated to Titusville, Florida, about 40 miles east of Orlando.

Kepner loved kids, dolphins, butterflies, arts and crafts, and doing puzzles with her Memaw.

She earned her boater’s license before she could drive, and she was PADI certified to dive alongside her family.

Kepner loved all kinds of music (except heavy metal) and had a soft spot for Shawn Mendes.

She planned to join the U.S. Navy after graduation and later become a K9 police officer.

A Georgia Bulldogs fan through and through, just like her family. Anna dreamed of one day becoming a cheerleader for the Bulldogs.

Source: North Brevard Funeral Home

Federal prosecutors said that the evidence presented to a grand jury demonstrated that T.H. committed “the most serious, egregious, and violative crimes one person can inflict upon another.”

“He committed these crimes against a victim with whom he had no apparent relational strife, and whom he was being raised to view as a sibling,” the indictment read.

Moments after the charges were announced, Kepner’s father, Christopher Kepner, shared the DOJ’s press release on a private Facebook group managed by the family.

The bombshell announcement by federal prosecutors comes five months after a cabin steward discovered the body of Kepner, a high school senior in central Florida, under a bed, wrapped in a blanket, and covered in life jackets.

Kepner and her family were on the final leg of the cruise’s six-day voyage through the Caribbean.

The teen’s grandparents, Barbara and Jeffrey, previously told news outlets that Kepner was with them on the evening of November 6, but returned to her room early after telling them she was not feeling well.

“Memaw, I love you guys, I’ll see you later,” Barbara said her granddaughter told her before heading back to her cabin, according to ABC News.

A young woman in a sequined dress poses on a cruise ship balcony with the ocean in the background.
Kepner was a high school senior in central Florida and was set to graduate in the summer of 2026Credit: Instagram
 

The Carnival Horizon cruise ship sailing in the water with a blue sky.
Kepner and her family were on the final leg of Carnival Cruise’s six-day voyage through the CaribbeanCredit: Getty
Kepner had been sharing a cabin with her 16-year-old stepbrother and her other biological brother, 14, her family said.

But the following morning, Kepner’s family grew concerned after she failed to show up when they gathered for breakfast.

Her body was discovered at around 11:17 am. It remains unclear what led to the fatal incident.

T.H. – whose mother is Kepner’s stepmother, Shauntel Hudson – was briefly taken into custody after the ship docked at Miami, but was eventually released to live with a relative while the FBI continued their investigation.

In the weeks following Kepner’s death, disturbing accusations surfaced that T.H. was allegedly “obsessed” with his stepsister.

Kepner’s ex-boyfriend claimed that months before she was killed he was on a video call with his then-girlfriend when he caught T.H. allegedly climb on top of her as she laid on her bed.

“He’s like infatuated, attracted to her like crazy,” Joshua Tew told Inside Edition at the time.