Anna Kepner‘s family reportedly alleged that her underage brother is facing homicide charges in relation to her death.
The 18-year-old was aboard a Carnival Horizon cruise ship with her father, stepmother and three stepsiblings when she was found deceased by a housekeeper on November 8, 2025.
An investigation into her death is still ongoing. However, CBS News reported that her 16-year-old stepbrother was being considered as a possible suspect the same month that her body was discovered.
Newly filed court documents relating to a custody dispute include the allegation that the stepbrother, who has not been named due to being underage, was charged.
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According to reporting by CBS, the new court documents stem from a custody battle between Thomas Hudson and Shauntel Kepner, Anna‘s stepmother. Thomas is the biological father of the stepbrother and a 9-year-old daughter, both of whom he shares with Shauntel, per PEOPLE.
Hudson is currently suing for full custody of his daughter.
Legal documents filed Friday (February 20) cite February 3 social media posts, which allege “the Petitioner/Father’s son, TH, was charged by the United States Attorney in the Southern District of Florida for the [redacted] and homicide of Anna Kepner,” per CBS.
“There has been a significant and unanticipated change in circumstances that requires the immediate transfer of sole time sharing and parental responsibility,” the petition reads, according to PEOPLE.
Both PEOPLE and CBS reported that Anna‘s stepbrother appeared in a federal court on February 6. However, due to his status as a minor, any official charges against him have not been confirmed by authorities.
In a statement obtained by PEOPLE at the time, Shauntel and Christopher Kepner, Anna‘s biological father, confirmed that he was not detained after the hearing.
“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,” they said. “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.”
The investigation and any charges against suspects would come from the FBI, since Anna‘s death occurred on international waters.
While specific details about any investigation into Anna‘s stepbrother remain a mystery, CBS noted that “an ongoing case against the teen” exists and “is currently under seal and being overseen by Miami federal judge Beth Bloom.”