{"id":2271737,"date":"2026-02-07T20:29:40","date_gmt":"2026-02-07T20:29:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/?p=2271737"},"modified":"2026-02-07T20:29:40","modified_gmt":"2026-02-07T20:29:40","slug":"anna-kepners-stepbrother-arrested-amid-investigation-of-cruise-ship-death","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/anna-kepners-stepbrother-arrested-amid-investigation-of-cruise-ship-death\/","title":{"rendered":"Anna Kepner’s Stepbrother Arrested Amid Investigation of Cruise Ship Death"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Anna Kepner<\/strong>\u2019s 18-year-old body was found wrapped in a blanket under a bed on a cruise ship in November 2025, with few clues as to what happened to her. Now, her teenage stepbrother has reportedly been arrested and charged, according to a close family member.<\/p>\n

On Friday, February 6, the teenage boy, 16, appeared in court in Miami alongside public defenders and prosecutors. Anna\u2019s father, Chris Kepner<\/strong>, told ABC News<\/a> that he\u2019s since been released to the custody of a guardian. The nature of his charges remain unclear, including whether his arrest is in connection with Anna\u2019s untimely death, as all court records pertaining to the case have been sealed because he is a minor. However, Anna\u2019s mother, Heather Wright<\/strong>, claimed in a TikTok<\/a> video that he was going to be charged with \u201cfirst-degree murder\u201d and \u201csome other charges.\u201d She did not clarify where she received this information or how she verified it.<\/p>\n

The investigation began three months ago, when Anna was found dead on a Carnival Cruise ship while on a family vacation with her father, stepmother, her biological siblings, stepsiblings and grandparents. She was allegedly sharing a room with her stepbrother at the time of her death. In the weeks that followed, Anna\u2019s cause of death was reported to be \u201cmechanical asphyxia, \u201cwhich occurs when an object, a physical force, or a bodily position causes suffocation. Her death was subsequently ruled a homicide.<\/p>\n

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\n Related: <\/span>Man Wearing ‘I Will Put You in a Trunk’ Hoodie Arrested After Woman’s Death<\/span><\/a>
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\n\t\t\tA Texas man accused of killing a 37-year-old woman was arrested by authorities while wearing a disturbing hooded sweatshirt that read \u201cI Will Put You in a Trunk.\u201d Kruz Dean Wanser was detained on Thursday, January 15, following \u201cthe suspicious death\u201d of Margaret Pennington that took place inside of a home in Azle, Texas, on [\u2026]\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

On Friday, Chris and his wife, Shauntel, released a statement thanking the FBI and the DOJ for \u201ctheir dedication, professionalism, and thoroughness in the investigation\u201d into Anna\u2019s murder as they continued to hope for \u201caccountability\u201d and a \u201cfull and fair legal process.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe 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,\u201d their statement read. \u201cOur 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

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