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The stepbrother of a Florida teenager who tragically passed away on a Carnival cruise ship made a federal court appearance in Miami on Friday, as investigators delve deeper into the details of her untimely death.
This court appearance occurred three months after 18-year-old Anna Kepner from Titusville was discovered deceased on the Carnival Horizon during a family vacation in November.
Kepner’s 16-year-old stepbrother was observed leaving juvenile court before proceeding to adult federal court on Friday, as reported by FOX 35.
A teenager being investigated in connection with Anna Kepner’s death attended the adult federal court session in Miami on February 6, 2026, alongside his legal counsel. (FOX 25)
The young man entered the courthouse dressed in a camouflage hoodie, his identity further obscured by a cap pulled low and a hood tightly secured around his head.
Anna Kepner, 18, was found dead aboard a Carnival cruise ship on Nov. 7, during a vacation with her family. (Anna Kepner/Instagram | Eva Marie Uzcategui/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Although the FBI has not publicly identified a suspect or filed charges, filings from a separate family court dispute indicated the 16-year-old was being investigated in Anna Kepner’s death.
Anna Kepner was seen dancing with fellow holidaymakers on a Carnival Cruise Line ship, eerie footage posted online before her death shows. (TikTok/@nickcapo609)
Kepner’s mother, Heather Wright, told FOX 35 she feels a sense of relief that the case appears to be moving forward and hopes it will finally bring answers.
“Everyday I get on my phone, and first thing in the morning I will look at updates on Anna Kepner’s case,” Wright told FOX 35. “All I want is justice for my daughter.”
Kepner was discovered dead around 11:15 a.m. on Nov. 7 inside her cabin aboard the cruise ship. Authorities later ruled her death a homicide caused by “mechanical asphyxiation,” according to a report.
Anna Kepner, 18, was found dead aboard a Carnival cruise ship on Nov. 7, during a vacation with her family. (Anna Kepner/Instagram)
According to investigators, Kepner was found under the bed in her cabin, wrapped in a blanket and covered with life jackets. The cabin was shared with her stepbrother.
The FBI is leading the investigation because Kepner’s death occurred in international waters as the cruise ship was returning to Miami after the weeklong Caribbean trip, according to People Magazine.
The FBI did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.