The father of slain teenager Anna Kepner has revealed he will not attend the upcoming murder trial of his stepson, the alleged killer, explaining that the emotional toll would be unbearable.
Christopher Kepner told the Daily Mail, "Unless they ask for me to be there, neither my wife or I will be attending." He added that prosecutors already have "everything they need" in terms of evidence and that reliving the tragedy would be "too painful."
Anna, 18, was found dead under a bed in the cabin she shared with her 16-year-old stepbrother, identified as T.H., during a family Carnival cruise in November. Her death was ruled mechanical asphyxiation. T.H. is charged with sexual assault and murder.
Christopher's wife, Shauntel Kepner—who is the mother of the accused—will also skip the proceedings. The couple's decision underscores the deep fracture the case has caused within the family.
The trial is expected to draw significant media attention as the case shocked the nation with its grim details of a crime aboard a luxury cruise ship.