In a tragic and chilling case, the stepbrother of 18-year-old Florida cheerleader, Anna Kepner, has been formally charged with her murder. This development sheds new light on the harrowing events that unfolded on the Carnival Horizon cruise ship in November of last year.

Anna Kepner’s life was cut short when her body was discovered by a cleaning crew, hidden beneath the bed in the cabin she shared with her stepbrother. The cause of death was determined to be strangulation, reportedly in a bar hold. Her stepbrother, who was 16 at the time, has been under scrutiny due to what has been described as a disturbing obsession with Anna.

The case has taken a significant turn with court documents emerging amidst a custody battle involving the stepbrother’s biological father, Thomas Hudson, and his ex-wife, Shauntel Kepner. These documents, initially reported by WESH, reveal that the stepbrother has been charged by the United States Attorney in the Southern District of Florida for Anna’s murder.

As the legal proceedings unfold, Thomas Hudson is seeking sole custody of his son. Until now, the teenager has been living with Shauntel and her current husband, Chris, following the incident on the cruise ship. The court filings underscore the complexity of family dynamics intertwined with this deeply unsettling criminal case.

The tragic loss of Anna Kepner has undoubtedly left a profound impact on her family and community, as they navigate the legal and emotional aftermath of this devastating event.

“According to social media from the Kepner family, on Feb. 3, 2026, the petitioner/father’s son was charged by the United States Attorney in the Southern District for Florida for… and homicide of Anna Kepner,” the doc filed last Friday says.

“Immediately after the cruise, the respondent/mother and Chris Kepner expelled [the minor ] from their household and neither has seen [the minor] since then.

“Social media from the Kepner family has indicated that they want the ‘nails in the coffin’ of [the minor] and that both the Kepner family and the Respondent ‘want him buried,” according to the document. 

The FBI hasn’t formally named Kepner’s stepbrother a suspect and there is a case against the boy under seal, according to CBS News.

Earlier this month, he appeared before a federal judge in Miami and was seen donning a camouflage zip-up as he walked to another courthouse. He was then processed for pre-trial release.

Kepner’s body was found wrapped in a blanket and covered with life vests after she was killed. 

Krystal Wright, her aunt, said she “fought for her life” in her final moments, as reported by the Fox affiliate WOFL.  

Kepner’s younger biological brother reportedly heard yelling and chairs being thrown in the room she was sharing with her stepbrother.

“He heard [the stepbrother] yelling at her in a harmful way of like ‘shut the hell up’ and stuff like that and that’s when [the brother] knew there was something going on,” Kepner’s ex-boyfriend Joshua Tew told Inside Edition last year, recalling the harrowing moments.

Kepner’s younger brother ended up sleeping just feet away from his sister’s lifeless body before she was found.

Kepner, who was set to graduate high school this year and had aspirations of joining the Navy, was last seen alive at a family dinner on Nov. 6 – the day before she died in international waters – and went back to her room because she was feeling unwell. 

Carnival Cruise Line previously said it is cooperating in the law enforcement investigation.