a half-brother florida boy The woman who died on a Carnival cruise ship appeared in Miami federal court Friday as investigators continued to look into the circumstances of her death.

His court appearance comes three months after Anna Kepner, an 18-year-old girl from Titusville, was found died on board Carnival Horizon in November during a family vacation.

Kepner’s 16-year-old stepbrother reportedly left juvenile court on Friday before entering adult federal court to Fox 35.

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On February 6, 2026, a teenager under investigation in the death of Anna Kepner appeared in Miami adult federal court accompanied by an attorney. (Fox 25)

The teen walked into the courthouse wearing a camouflage hoodie, his face hidden beneath a pulled-down baseball cap that hugged the hat.

Anna Kepner, 18, was found dead on a Carnival cruise ship on Nov. 7 while vacationing with her family. (Anna Kepner/Instagram | Eva Marie Uzcategui/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Although FBI Although no suspect has been publicly identified or charges filed, documents from a separate family court dispute show the 16-year-old is being investigated in the death of Anna Kepner.

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Anna Kepner was seen dancing with other holidaymakers on a Carnival cruise ship in a chilling video posted online before her death. (TikTok/@nickcapo609)

Kepner’s mother, Heather Wright, told FOX 35 she felt relieved case It appears to be moving forward and hopefully will eventually lead to answers.

“Every day I turn on my phone and first thing in the morning I check the latest updates on the Anna Kepner case. All I want is justice for my daughter,” Wright told Fox 35.

Kepner was found dead in the cabin of the cruise ship at about 11:15 a.m. on November 7. authorities later Her death was ruled a homicide According to the report, this was caused by “mechanical asphyxia.”

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Anna Kepner, 18, was found dead on a Carnival cruise ship on Nov. 7 while vacationing with her family. (Anna Kepner/Instagram)

Kepner was found under a bed in her cabin, wrapped in a blanket and wearing a life vest, according to investigators. The cabin was shared with her stepbrother.

The FBI is reportedly leading the investigation because Kepner’s death occurred in international waters as the cruise ship was returning to Miami from a weeklong trip to the Caribbean. people magazine.

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The FBI did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital.

Fox News Digital’s Sarah Rumpf-Whitten and Michael Ruiz contributed to this report.