Teen Appears in Court After Carnival Cruise Death

The brother-in-law of a Florida teen who passed away on a Carnival cruise made an appearance in federal court in Miami on Friday. This comes as authorities continue to look into the circumstances surrounding her death.

Anna Kepner, an 18-year-old from Titusville, was found dead aboard the Carnival Horizon during a family vacation back in November. On Friday, her 16-year-old stepbrother was seen exiting juvenile court before entering the adult federal court.

The teenager walked in wearing a camouflage hoodie, trying to keep a low profile with a baseball cap pulled down tightly over his face.

While the FBI hasn’t publicly named or charged anyone as a suspect, documents from an existing family court case suggest that this 16-year-old is under investigation in relation to Anna Kepner’s death.

Kepner’s mother, Heather Wright, expressed her relief that the case seems to be making progress, hoping for clarity soon. “I check for updates on the Anna Kepner case every morning. All I want is justice for my daughter,” she shared with local media.

Anna was discovered dead in her cabin around 11:15 a.m. on November 7. Authorities later classified her death as a homicide, caused by “mechanical asphyxiation.”

Investigators noted that Anna was found wrapped in a blanket and wearing a life jacket under the bed in the room she shared with her brother-in-law. The FBI has taken charge of the investigation, which involves events that occurred in international waters while the cruise ship was heading back to Miami from the Caribbean.

At this point, the FBI hasn’t responded to requests for comment regarding the case.