New court filings reveal that Anna Kepner’s 16-year-old stepbrother has been charged in connection with her death, months after the 18-year-old Florida cheerleader was found lifeless aboard a Carnival cruise ship.
Kepner was discovered in November under a bed in the cabin she was sharing with her stepbrother on the Carnival Horizon. Her body, wrapped in a blanket and covered with life vests, was located by a cleaning crew. Authorities previously said she died after being strangled in what was described as a bar hold.
The latest development emerged not from a formal press conference, but through documents filed in a custody dispute. Court papers submitted by Thomas Hudson — the biological father of the accused teen — were first reported by WESH. The filings are part of an ongoing custody case involving Hudson and his ex-wife, Shauntel Kepner.
In the documents, Hudson states that on Feb. 3, 2026, his son was charged by the U.S. Attorney in the Southern District of Florida in connection with the homicide of Anna Kepner. The case against the minor remains under seal, and federal authorities have not publicly named him as a suspect, according to CBS News.
The court filing also details tensions within the family following the cruise. According to the document, the teen was expelled from the Kepner household immediately after the incident and has not seen his mother or stepfather since. The filing references social media posts from family members expressing anger and calling for justice.
Earlier this month, the accused teen appeared before a federal judge in Miami and was later processed for pre-trial release. Photographs captured him walking between court proceedings wearing a camouflage zip-up jacket.
Family members have described the final hours of Kepner’s life as chaotic and frightening. Her aunt, Krystal Wright, said the teen “fought for her life.” Kepner’s younger brother reportedly heard shouting and furniture being thrown inside the cabin the siblings shared.
Joshua Tew, Kepner’s former boyfriend, told Inside Edition that the younger brother heard the stepbrother yelling aggressively before the noise stopped. The boy ultimately slept just feet away from his sister’s body before it was discovered.
Kepner, a high school senior with plans to graduate this year and aspirations of joining the U.S. Navy, was last seen alive at a family dinner on Nov. 6. She returned to the cabin early, reportedly feeling unwell. The following day, she was found dead while the ship was sailing in international waters.
Carnival Cruise Line has previously stated that it is cooperating fully with law enforcement. As the federal case proceeds under seal, additional details may emerge through court proceedings in the months ahead.
