Stepbrother arrested, charged after teen girl's death on Carnival Cruise: Stepfather

The stepbrother of 18-year-old Anna Kepner, who was found dead aboard a
Carnival Cruise ship in November, was arrested and charged this week in
connection with the case, according to Anna Kepner's father, who is the
stepfather of the suspect. 

The stepbrother was released to the custody of a guardian, Chris Kepner
said. 

It's not known what specific charges he is facing.

The family's lawyers did not reply to requests for comment. All court
records are sealed because the suspect was charged as a juvenile. The
FBI, U.S. Attorney's Office and the local prosecutor's office would not
discuss the case. 

Weeks after Anna Kepner's death on the cruise ship during a Caribbean
vacation, the stepbrother had been named a "suspect" by his parents in a
court filing in an unrelated custody case. 

The teen girl's death was ruled a homicide, according to her death
certificate, which said her death was caused by "mechanical asphyxia." 

The Florida teenager was on vacation with her grandparents, father,
stepmother, siblings and stepsiblings. She was found dead under a bed,
wrapped in a blanket and covered by life vests, according to a security
source briefed on the investigation. 

Chris Kepner and his wife, Shauntel, who is the suspect's biological
mother and the stepmother of the victim, issued a lengthy statement on
Friday: 

"We would like to express our sincere gratitude to the Federal Bureau of
Investigation and the Department of Justice for their dedication,
professionalism, and thoroughness in the investigation into the murder
of our daughter," the statement said. We appreciate the seriousness,
care, and integrity with which this case has been handled. 

"The loss of our daughter is a pain that will never fully heal. She was
taken from us in a violent and senseless way, and our family has been
permanently changed. Our grief is overwhelming, and her absence is felt
in every part of our lives. No parent should ever have to bury their
child, and no words can fully express the depth of our loss. 

"We believe in accountability and in the importance of justice being
carried out. Our daughter deserves justice, and her life deserves to be
honored through a full and fair legal process. We are grateful to the
investigators and prosecutors who have worked to uncover the truth and
to ensure that this crime is treated with the seriousness it warrants. 

"At this time, it is deeply painful and disturbing to our family that
the person responsible is able to walk freely. This reality adds to our
grief and outrage. It is devastating to know that while we live every
day with the loss of our child, the individual responsible has not yet
been fully held accountable. This only strengthens our resolve to
continue seeking justice for our daughter. 

"During this investigation, we were advised by the FBI to remain quiet.
We respected that request out of trust in the process and in hopes that
it would help the investigation. However, as grieving parents who
continue to live with unanswered questions and ongoing pain, we can no
longer remain silent. Our daughter's life matters, and we will continue
to speak out to honor her, to seek accountability, and to ensure that
her case is not forgotten. 

"While this tragedy has deeply hurt our family, we will not let it tear
us apart. Our focus remains on honoring our daughter's memory and
seeking justice for her. We thank the FBI and the Department of Justice
for their continued efforts, dedication, and commitment to this case." 

https://abcnews.go.com/US/stepbrother-arrested-charged-after-teen-girls-d
eath-carnival/story?id=129935644