The murder of Florida teen Anna Kepner aboard a Carnival Cruise ship off Miami's coast took a key turn after the DOJ announced charges against Kepner's 16-year-old stepbrother for her death.
The DOJ alleged the 16-year-old 'sexually assaulted and intentionally killed' Anna Kepner, with her official cause of death ruled mechanical asphyxiation.
According to retired FBI agent Jennifer Coffindaffer, the case was upgraded and retained by the FBI due to the sexual assault charges, which is a rare occurrence.
Coffindaffer noted that in federal cases, juveniles are typically transferred to local jurisdiction or elevated to adult cases, but in this instance, the FBI chose to retain the case.
This decision is 'so rare,' Coffindaffer said, citing only a few instances of similar cases on reservation lands.
