A 16-year-old Titusville boy has been indicted as an adult in the killing of his stepsister aboard a Carnival cruise ship, federal prosecutors announced Monday.
According to the indictment, the teen — identified in court records as T.H. due to his age — is charged with first-degree murder and aggravated sexual abuse in the death of Anna Kepner. The alleged crimes occurred while the family was traveling aboard the Carnival Horizon in international waters between November 6 and 7, 2025, as the ship was en route to Miami.
Federal court documents state that T.H. is accused of sexually assaulting and intentionally killing Kepner during the voyage. The Miami-Dade Medical Examiner’s Office later ruled her cause of death as mechanical asphyxiation.
The case was initially filed under juvenile jurisdiction on February 2, 2026, but remained sealed while prosecutors sought to have the teenager tried as an adult. U.S. District Judge Beth Bloom ultimately approved the transfer, allowing the case to proceed in adult federal court.
“Our hearts go out to the victim’s family during this unimaginable loss,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “A federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging serious offenses that allegedly occurred aboard a vessel in international waters.” He added that the government intends to present its evidence in court while affording the defendant all constitutional protections.
If convicted on all counts, T.H. faces a maximum penalty of life in federal prison. Officials emphasized that an indictment is an allegation and that the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
The investigation is being led by the FBI’s Miami Field Office.