STEP-BRO CHARGED? CRUISE TEEN ANNA KEPNER DEAD AFTER SUSPECT SKIPS DAILY DRUG COCKTAIL
Crime Stories with Nancy Grace
iHeartPodcasts and CrimeOnline
4.2 • 8.1K Ratings
🗓️ 2 April 2026
⏱️ 45 minutes
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Summary
An arrest comes three months after Anna Kepner dies on a cruise with her family. The cheerleader's 16-year-old stepbrother arrested and charged in her death, ruled a homicide by mechanical asphyxiation.
Anna Kepner, 18, had begun her senior year at Temple Christian School, and was reportedly excited about her future, painting her school parking spot to match her favorite movie, "Clueless. " Anna plans included joining the military after high school.
Anna was found dead aboard the Carnival Horizon cruise ship during a recent western Caribbean voyage that ended in Miami. Her body stuffed under a bunk in the room she shared with her stepbrother. He has now been charged with homicide.
Joining Nancy Grace today:
- Greg Morse - Criminal Defense Attorney of Morse Legal, author of “The Untested” found on Amazon; website: morselegal.com
- Dr. Geri-Lynn Utter - Clinical Psychologist specializing in psychological evaluations and risk assessments for individuals involved in the criminal justice system, Author of “Mainlining Philly: Survival, Hope and Resisting Drug Addition,” and “Aftershock: How Past Event Shake Up Your Life Today”, and Producer of “Utter Nonsense,” a documentary of exploration of addition and severe mental illness, available to stream on Apple TV and Prime Video, website: drgerilynnutter.com, Instagram & Facebook: DrGeriLynnUtter
- Joseph Scott Morgan - Professor of Forensics: Jacksonville State University, Author, "Blood Beneath My Feet", Host: "Body Bags with Joseph Scott Morgan", Instagram @JoScottForensic
- Sydney Sumner - Investigative Reporter, ‘Crime Stories’
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | This is an I-Heart podcast. |
| 0:02.3 | Guaranteed Human. |
| 0:04.7 | Crime Stories with Nancy Grace. |
| 0:10.8 | The stepbrother charged, according to reports, after Cruz Girl, a beautiful teen cheerleader, |
| 0:19.7 | Anna Kepner found dead. her body stuffed under a twin bed, |
| 0:26.5 | covered in life vests on a cruise with her grandparents. |
| 0:31.1 | She's found dead in her own room after the suspect, the stepbrother skips his daily drug cocktail. |
| 0:41.3 | I'm Nancy Grace. This is Crime Stories. I want to thank you for being with us. |
| 0:45.3 | A beautiful young teen cheerleader found dead on a cruise ship. Her body there for hours and hours before anyone even notices she's missing? |
| 0:55.7 | Where were the parents for Pete's sake? |
| 1:01.4 | Still so many questions, but tonight we are learning that the stepbrother has been taken to |
| 1:09.1 | federal court and according to the dad, Anna Kepner's |
| 1:13.5 | bio dad, he was charged under federal law. Now this is what Anna Kepner's biological |
| 1:21.7 | mom says. I got some news today on my daughter's case. |
| 1:27.8 | They are going to charge her 16-year-old stepbrother for first-degree murder. |
| 1:35.8 | And there's going to be some other charges brought, but I'm not sure what they are yet until they tell me I don't know. |
| 1:44.2 | So that is one of the charges. |
| 1:45.8 | And as soon as I know more, I will let you guys know. |
| 1:48.1 | Thanks for support. |
| 1:50.9 | Now, according to her, that is Anna Kutner's biological mother. |
| 1:56.6 | And according to Anna Kepner's biological father, who is the stepbrother's stepdad. |
| 2:03.6 | It's very confusing. |
... |
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