A 16-year-old boy faces charges of first-degree murder and sexual assault following the death of his 18-year-old stepsister during a Carnival cruise last November.
The U.S. Department of Justice announced the charges after the victim, Anna Kepner, was found dead in her cabin while the ship was navigating international waters.
Authorities will prosecute the teenager as an adult due to the severity of the homicide and sexual abuse allegations, according to reports from the BBC.
Investigators discovered Kepner’s body hidden under a bunk, wrapped in a sheet and covered by several life jackets. Medical examiners determined she died from mechanical asphyxia.
A family in mourning
The crime occurred while the group was on a family vacation that included Kepner's parents, stepmother, and grandparents.
Kepner, a high school cheerleader, had planned to graduate this coming May and pursue a professional career, according to her family.
Her grandparents, who described the siblings as having a bond almost identical to biological siblings, expressed profound shock at the violence.
“We always had a great time together,” her grandmother, Barbara Kepner, told ABC News. “I could not understand why anyone would want to hurt my baby.”
Jeffrey Kepner, the victim's grandfather, emphasized the close-knit nature of their blended family, stating that the tragedy contradicts their family dynamic.
If convicted, the 16-year-old faces a potential sentence of life in prison, the Department of Justice stated.
