The 16-year-old stepbrother of Anna Kepner has entered a not guilty plea in the high-profile murder case stemming from her death aboard a Carnival Cruise Line ship last November. The accused, identified in court documents only as T.H., waived his personal appearance at Tuesday's arraignment, avoiding the Miami courtroom where he was originally expected to appear Wednesday morning.
Prosecutors allege T.H. sexually assaulted and intentionally killed his 18-year-old stepsister while both were passengers on the cruise ship. Authorities reportedly found Kepner's body wrapped and hidden under a bed in the cabin they shared.
The case has taken a significant legal turn recently, with a judge ruling that T.H. will be tried as an adult despite being initially charged as a minor in February. This decision dramatically raises the stakes—if convicted on the first-degree murder and aggravated sexual abuse charges, he could face life imprisonment.
Prosecutors are now seeking to have his bond revoked, labeling him a "danger" to society. The case continues to develop as legal proceedings move forward in what has become one of the most closely watched criminal cases involving cruise ship incidents in recent years.