ORLANDO, FLORIDA– A 16-year-old youth is under investigation His 18-year-old sister dies Aboard a Carnival cruise ship, he was appearing in federal court last weekend, but his reasons for appearing in a South Florida court were ambiguous because of his age.
Unlike other adult cases, there was no explanation as to why the teen appeared in Miami federal court, or whether he had been charged with a crime, because juvenile cases are closed to the public. Juvenile cases are not common in federal courts and are often sent to state courts or the juvenile is tried as an adult.
The teen’s sister, Anna Kepner, was ruled dead murder. Her death attracted international attention and sparked intense speculation on social media.
Here’s a look at what we know about the case.
Anna Kepner was a high school cheerleader at Temple Christian School in Titusville, Florida, about 40 miles (65 kilometers) east of Orlando on Florida’s Space Coast. Her friends described her as someone who loved spending time on the water. At her memorial service in November, family members encouraged people to wear bright colors rather than the traditional black for mourners, “in honor of Anna’s bright and beautiful spirit.”
Kepner was part of a blended family after her father, Chris, married Shontelle Hudson, and they had three children, including a 16-year-old boy, with her ex-husband, Thomas Hudson. Much of what we know about the investigation into Kepner’s death, including that a half-brother was a suspect, came from court documents from a custody dispute between the former spouses.
Kepner was traveling on the Carnival Horizon ship in November with her father, stepmother, stepmother’s two children and grandparents. Shontel Hudson’s eldest son is an adult who lives with her ex-husband. Before the ship was scheduled to return to Florida, Kepner’s body was found hidden under a bed in a room she shared with other teens, including a younger brother.
The 16-year-old was seen last Friday in federal court in Miami, wearing a ball cap and a camouflage jacket pulled tightly around his face. It is unknown whether and what charges have been filed due to the closed nature of juvenile cases.
Juvenile cases before federal courts are extremely rare, and the only reason Kepner’s case reached this court is because her death occurred in international waters, said Fritz Schiller, an Orlando defense attorney.
Schiller said Wednesday that such cases are so rare that he has never seen a juvenile case in the 27 years he has practiced in the federal court system.
“The bottom line is the feds don’t really have facilities for juveniles. Where are you going to put them?” Schiller said. “The whole theory of juvenile law is that they are young and can be rehabilitated. “The federal criminal justice system is not focused on rehabilitation.”
After the teen appeared in federal court in Miami, Anna Kepner’s father, Chris, and stepmother, Shontel, the suspect’s biological mother, issued a statement to ABC News saying they were disturbed “that the person responsible is able to walk freely.”
They said: “This reality increases our sadness and anger.” “It is devastating to know that while we live every day with the loss of our baby girl, the person responsible has not yet been fully held accountable. This only strengthens our resolve to continue seeking justice for our daughter.”
The couple also said Anna Kepner deserves justice “and that her life deserves to be honored through a full and fair legal process.”
Anna Kepner’s biological mother, Heather Wright, said on social media that she hopes for a full resolution of the case.
“Pray for justice for my daughter,” she said.
The Associated Press reached out to several family members, the FBI and federal prosecutors, but no one responded.