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- Cruise ship killing: Stepbrother can stay out of jail (abcnews.com)
A federal judge in Florida has ruled that a 16-year-old boy accused of killing his stepsister during a cruise may remain out of jail, provided he complies with strict conditions. Initially charged as a juvenile in February, the teen was allowed to live with his uncle instead of being held in custody. However, after the case was transferred to adult court in April, prosecutors pushed for his detention.
Prosecutors expressed concern in court Wednesday, stating, “We do not know what triggered him. Who will be the next object he will become fixated on?”
Meanwhile, the defense emphasized that the teenager has cooperated fully with authorities and has shown no signs of harmful behavior since the incident. They also noted his compliance with court orders and attendance at all hearings.
At Wednesday’s hearing, the suspect appeared alongside his father and uncle, wearing an ankle monitor. The judge permitted him to leave his home only under his uncle’s supervision, with electronic monitoring in place.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Edwin Torres also directed U.S.
Marshals to explore possible detention options within the Tampa area.
The teen faces allegations of sexually assaulting and intentionally killing his 18-year-old stepsister, Anna Kepner, during a family vacation aboard a Carnival cruise last November. Officials confirmed that Anna died from mechanical asphyxiation. The accused has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder and aggravated sexual abuse and is scheduled for trial in September.
Prosecutors revealed new details at Wednesday’s hearing and through a recently unsealed transcript from a February detention hearing. Closed-circuit footage from the cruise ship reportedly captured movements of Anna, her stepbrother, and their 13-year-old sibling who shared the cabin.
According to the transcript, the suspect entered their cabin around 7:35 p.m., with Anna arriving shortly after at 7:38 p.m.-the last time she was seen alive on camera. At approximately 7:51 p.m., the 13-year-old sibling briefly entered and exited the room. The suspect did not leave the cabin again until 10:13 p.m., appearing to check the hallway before multiple entries and exits between 10:23 p.m. and 10:49 p.m., including placing a privacy sign on the door at 10:53 p.m.
The footage also showed the suspect and the younger sibling coming and going several more times. At 12:09 a.m., the suspect blocked the 13-year-old from entering the room, making him wait outside for several minutes.
Defense attorney Evan Kuhl described the evidence as circumstantial and asserted that the case contains significant gaps. The trial is expected to address these conflicting perspectives when it commences in the fall.
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- Cruise ship killing: Stepbrother can stay out of jail (abcnews.com)