The stepbrother of Anna Kepner, who was found dead aboard a Carnival Cruise ship late last year, was arrested and charged this week, according to a report citing Anna’s father, who is the stepfather of the suspect.
Per ABC News, the specific charges remain unknown at this time, and the stepbrother was released into the custody of a guardian.
Crucially, all court records related to the case are sealed, as the suspect was charged as a juvenile. This limits public access to details surrounding the investigation and any potential legal proceedings.
Anna Kepner, nicknamed “Anna Banana,” was reportedly found by a maid wrapped in a blanket and hidden under a bed on November 8th during a Caribbean cruise with her father, Christopher Kepner, her stepmother, Shauntel Hudson, and Hudson’s children.
The 18-year-old was found in a room she shared with her stepbrother, and her death was ruled as asphyxiation due to a choke hold.
Prior to the arrest, a report alleged the stepbrother had a possible infatuation with Anna, with claims he had previously climbed on top of her in bed, as stated by Steven Westin, the father of Anna’s ex-boyfriend.
The FBI, U.S. Attorney’s Office and the local prosecutor’s office have not publicly discussed the case, maintaining a strict level of confidentiality as the legal process unfolds. The 16-year-old stepbrother appeared in federal court in Miami on February 6, 2026, with his public defenders, prosecutors, and U.S. Marshals present, according to NBC Miami.
