A federal judge determined that the teenager accused of killing young Anna Kepner on a Carnival cruise will remain detained while the judicial process continues.

The defendant, identified in court documents only as T.H. Because he was a minor at the time of the events, he had remained out of prison under family custody and subject to strict supervision conditions, Fox News reported.

However, on June 10, U.S. Magistrate Judge Edwin G. Torres revoked that measure after the case was transferred from juvenile jurisdiction to adult prosecution.

The court argued that the decision responds to the risk to the community

According to the judicial resolution, the change of jurisdiction modified the legal analysis regarding the permanence of the accused out of custody.

The court indicated that the decision was not related to the risk of flight.

According to the judge, the preconditions were sufficient to guarantee the defendant's appearance in court, but not to adequately protect the community.

The teen faces charges of first-degree murder and aggravated sexual abuse in the death of 18-year-old Anna Kepner.

The young woman was found dead on November 7, 2025 inside the cabin she shared with the accused during a Carnival cruise sailing on the high seas bound for Miami.

According to the court record cited in the decision, the medical examination concluded that the victim was sexually assaulted and subsequently died from asphyxiation.

The accused had complied with the conditions imposed for months

In the order, the judge noted that the accused had no criminal record, he voluntarily surrendered and had complied with the conditions established to remain free for months.

However, he maintained that these elements did not outweigh the seriousness of the accusations.

The court also considered that the alleged events allegedly occurred within a domestic and private environment, a situation that, according to the resolution, is difficult to mitigate solely with measures such as house arrest, electronic monitoring or supervision by third parties.

The decision also mentioned the proximity of the scheduled trial date, set for September.

Additionally, the judge ordered that the defendant receive mental health evaluation and treatment while in custody.

A complementary order established that he be handed over to the United States Marshals Service and that he remain housed only with minors, maintain access to legal representation and be able to maintain communication with family members.

The judicial process continues and the accused maintains the right to defend himself against the charges in court.