Teen Charged with Murder in Carnival Cruise Tragedy

MIAMI (AP) — A 16-year-old boy has been charged with murder and aggravated sexual abuse in Florida in the death of his 18-year-old stepsister, the U.S. Justice Department said Monday. The teen, identified by the government as T.H., was initially charged as a juvenile on Feb. 2, but the case was sealed until U.S. District Judge Beth Bloom agreed to prosecute him as an adult at the request of prosecutors. Court records show T.H.'s defense lawyers did not object to this change. Anna Kepner had been traveling on the Carnival Horizon ship in November with her family. Before the ship was scheduled to return to Florida, her body was discovered concealed under a bed in a room she shared with two other teens, including her younger stepbrother. Authorities determined that Kepner’s death on November 6 was caused by mechanical asphyxia, which refers to a situation where an object physically prevents someone from breathing. Kepner was a high school cheerleader at Temple Christian School in Titusville, located about 40 miles east of Orlando. In her memorial service held in November, family members encouraged attendees to wear bright colors instead of traditional black to honor Anna's vibrant spirit. Prosecutions of teens in federal court are exceedingly rare. T.H. was seen at the Miami courthouse in February, wearing a cap and a hoodie that obscured his face. His age had initially restricted public disclosures regarding his legal status. On Feb. 6, a judge mandated that T.H. wear an electronic tether while living with an uncle, with later amendments allowing him to temporarily work with his father at a landscaping business. Legal experts suggest the case was taken to federal court due to the location of Kepner's death in international waters.