Stepbrother arrested, charged after teen girl's death on Carnival Cruise: Stepfather

The stepbrother of 18-year-old Anna Kepner, who was found dead aboard a Carnival Cruise ship in November, was arrested and charged this week in connection with the case, according to Anna Kepner's father, who is the stepfather of the suspect.

The stepbrother was released to the custody of a guardian, Chris Kepner said.

It's not known what specific charges he is facing.

The family's lawyers did not reply to requests for comment. All court records are sealed because the suspect was charged as a juvenile. The FBI, U.S. Attorney's Office and the local prosecutor's office would not discuss the case.

Weeks after Anna Kepner's death on the cruise ship during a Caribbean vacation, the stepbrother had been named a "suspect" by his parents in a court filing in an unrelated custody case.

The teen girl's death was ruled a homicide, according to her death certificate, which said her death was caused by "mechanical asphyxia."

The Florida teenager was on vacation with her grandparents, father, stepmother, siblings and stepsiblings. She was found dead under a bed, wrapped in a blanket and covered by life vests, according to a security source briefed on the investigation.

Chris Kepner and his wife, Shauntel, who is the suspect's biological mother and the stepmother of the victim, issued a lengthy statement on Friday.

"The loss of our daughter is a pain that will never fully heal," the statement said. "She was taken from us in a violent and senseless way, and our family has been permanently changed. Our grief is overwhelming, and her absence is felt in every part of our lives. No parent should ever have to bury their child, and no words can fully express the depth of our loss."

The statement went on to say: "During this investigation, we were advised by the FBI to remain quiet. We respected that request out of trust in the process and in hopes that it would help the investigation. However, as grieving parents who continue to live with unanswered questions and ongoing pain, we can no longer remain silent. Our daughter's life matters, and we will continue to speak out to honor her, to seek accountability, and to ensure that her case is not forgotten."