Charges Filed Against Teenager in Carnival Cruise Death

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida has announced that the individual responsible for the death of a 16-year-old girl on a Carnival cruise ship will be charged as an adult.

The stepbrother, referred to in court documents as TH, is accused of sexually assaulting and intentionally killing Anna Kepner on the Carnival Horizon cruise ship. Initially charged as a juvenile on February 2, he now faces serious charges, including first-degree murder and aggravated sexual abuse. If convicted, he could be sentenced to life in prison.

These charges come months after Anna, who was affectionately called “Anna Banana,” was found dead during a family vacation. The tragedy occurred on November 7, while she was on the cruise with her father, stepmother, grandparents, and siblings.

On the day of the court appearance, TH was seen arriving at a federal courthouse in Miami, dressed in a camouflage hoodie and baseball cap that obscured his face.

Authorities discovered Anna’s body around 11:15 a.m. in their shared cabin. Her death was later ruled a homicide, attributed to “mechanical asphyxiation.” She was found wrapped in a blanket and wearing a life jacket underneath the bed, which adds another layer of distress to the situation.

Christopher Kepner, Anna’s father, has expressed his desire for TH to face the consequences of his actions, stating, “I want him to face the consequences…I’m going to fight to make sure that happens.” His determination resonates, reflecting the emotional toll this tragedy has taken on the family.

United States Attorney Jason A. Redding Quiñones commented on the case, expressing condolences to the victim’s family and emphasizing the seriousness of the charges. He noted that a federal grand jury has returned an indictment concerning serious crimes that allegedly happened on a vessel at sea, and the case will be pursued with due diligence in court.