Teen indicted in death aboard Carnival Horizon
Federal prosecutors allege a 16-year-old sexually assaulted and killed his 18-year-old stepsister while the cruise ship was sailing toward Miami.
A federal grand jury has indicted a 16-year-old boy as an adult on charges of first-degree murder and aggravated sexual abuse in the death of his stepsister, Anna Kepner, the Department of Justice announced.
Prosecutors said Kepner, an 18-year-old Florida high school senior, died aboard Carnival Horizon in November while the ship was traveling through international waters toward Miami. Officials attributed her death to mechanical asphyxiation.
The Justice Department alleges that the teenager sexually assaulted and intentionally killed Kepner during the family cruise vacation. According to prosecutors, he was initially charged through the juvenile system before the federal grand jury returned the adult indictment.
Chris and Shauntel Kepner said the 16-year-old suspect had not yet been taken into custody. They described the situation as deeply concerning and troubling.