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Now we have horrifying new particulars to report concerning the demise of Anna Kepner.
As chances are you’ll recall, Kepner was murdered aboard a Carnival Cruise in November of final 12 months.
Her stepbrother, 16, was arrested in reference to the 18-year-old’s demise, and prosecutors allege that he was sexually obsessed along with her.
Now, federal investigators allege that the stepbrother — whose identify is being withheld because of his age — raped her earlier than her demise.
They declare that the suspect, who’s referred to in courtroom paperwork by the initials TH, vaginally penetrated her together with his penis “by way of power.”
The suspect has been indicted as an grownup by a federal grand jury and charged with first-degree homicide and aggravated sexual abuse.
He was initially charged as a juvenile, however now, a superseding indictment signifies that TH can be charged as an grownup.
He faces life in jail if convicted.
A lot of what we all know concerning the suspect comes courtesy of Steven Westin, the daddy of Kepner’s ex-boyfriend.
Westin spoke with Inside Version and instructed the outlet that Anna’s stepbrother — whose identify has not been made public — had an extended historical past of obsessing over her.
Westin tells the outlet that Kepner was scared of her stepbrother and claimed that he at all times carried a knife.
The stepbrother was allegedly relentless in his romantic pursuit of Anna.
Westin says that his son was as soon as on a FaceTime name with Anna when he witnessed the stepbrother climbing on high of her whereas she was sleeping.
Clearly, there’s nonetheless an incredible quantity that we don’t find out about this example.
Way more about Anna’s allegedly risky home scenario will certainly come to gentle as soon as this case goes to trial.
Anna’s physique was discovered wrapped in a blanket and stuffed below a mattress by workers aboard the cruise.
Her reason for demise has been listed as “mechanical asphyxiation.”
We may have additional updates on this creating story as new data turns into out there.