Overview
- An emergency custody petition filed Feb. 20 quotes Kepner family social media claiming the U.S. Attorney charged the 16-year-old on Feb. 3 with homicide, with a second charge redacted in the filing.
- The teen appeared in a closed federal court proceeding in Miami on Feb. 6 before Judge Beth Bloom, as the criminal matter is under seal.
- Federal officials have not named a suspect or detailed any charges, while the FBI leads the investigation because the death occurred in international waters and Carnival says it is cooperating.
- News outlets report the teen was processed for pretrial release to a guardian and may be under monitoring, though those details have not been confirmed by authorities.
- Anna Kepner, 18, was found Nov. 7 under a bed in her stateroom, and filings and a death certificate cited in coverage describe her death as mechanical asphyxia.