A Florida teen is being prosecuted as an adult in connection with the murder and sexual assault of his stepsister, Anna Kepner, aboard a Carnival cruise ship last year, authorities announced. In a statement, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida said a federal grand jury leveled the indictment against the 16-year-old suspect identified as "T.H., 16, of Titusville."'I couldn't fathom why anyone would hurt my baby.'T.H. has been charged with first-degree murder and aggravated sexual abuse, the U.S. Attorney's Office stated. The suspect faces a maximum penalty of life in prison if convicted, according to the statement. The press release revealed that the defendant was charged as a juvenile on February 2.U.S. District Judge Beth Bloom ordered the suspect to face adult prosecution, according to the news release.As Blaze News previously reported, 18-year-old Anna Kepner took a family vacation aboard a Carnival Horizon cruise ship that departed from Miami for a six-day Caribbean trip last November. Kepner was traveling on the ship with her father, grandparents, stepmother, and her stepmother’s two children, including Anna's 16-year-old stepbrother accused of killing her. A cruise ship crew member on November 7 discovered Kepner's body under a bed in the cabin the siblings shared on the cruise ship. At the time of her death, the cruise ship was in international waters and on its way back to port in Miami.Kepner's death was ruled a homicide. The U.S. Attorney's Office stated, "T.H. allegedly sexually assaulted and intentionally killed Kepner."The Miami-Dade Medical Examiner’s Office determined Kepner's cause of death was mechanical asphyxiation.In November, a source informed ABC News that Kepner's death may have been caused by asphyxiation from a bar hold — a chokehold maneuver in which the arm is pressed across the neck. The source also noted that there were two bruises on the side of Kepner's neck.The FBI is investigating the case because the alleged crimes occurred on the "high seas," or international waters, and involve the purported victim as a U.S. national.RELATED: Cheerleading trip to Las Vegas ends in 'unimaginable loss' as court docs reveal Utah mom's dark past before murder-suicide U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida said in a statement:Our hearts go out to the victim’s family during this unimaginable loss. A federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging serious offenses that allegedly occurred aboard a vessel in international waters. We will present the evidence in court and pursue this case with professionalism and care.Assistant U.S. Attorney Alejandra L. López is prosecuting the case against the teen defendant. On February 6, the suspect made his first appearance in federal court in Miami and was then released into the custody of a family member, a law enforcement official informed People magazine.Christopher Kepner, Anna's biological father, on Monday told WTVJ-TV, "He needs to be arrested at this time. He is now an adult, and he needs to be arrested. That is where the family stands. Justice needs to be served."The grieving father previously told NBC News, "Our daughter's life matters, and we will continue to speak out to honor her, to seek accountability, and to ensure that her case is not forgotten."As Blaze News reported in February, court documents show that "social media from the Kepner family has indicated that they want the 'nails in the coffin' of [the minor], and that both the Kepner family and the respondent 'want him buried.'"Anna's grandmother, Barbara Kepner, told ABC News in November, "I couldn't fathom why anyone would hurt my baby.""We were looking forward to see her grow," said Anna's grandfather Jeffrey Kepner. "The cruise itself wasn't what made me excited. It was the fact that I was gonna get to spend another week with my youngest son and his family and all the grandkids."Kepner was described as a "bubbly, funny, outgoing" high school cheerleader who "loved her siblings deeply," according to her obituary.Kepner's obituary describes her as a Christian whose "faith blossomed as beautifully as her smile."Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Recently, a simple note from Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins wishing staff a meaningful Easter and reminding them that it was a day to celebrate the “foundations of our faith” has caused those in the secular-state industrial complex to rhetorically crucify the secretary.The right of a U.S. secretary of agriculture — or any public official — to send a pro-Easter message to staff is not only constitutionally permissible, it is deeply consistent with the text, history, and tradition of the First Amendment.There’s a difference between hearing something and being made to say it yourself.The First Amendment safeguards the free exercise of religious practice in public while ensuring that there will be no state-mandated religion. Critics often interpret the Establishment Clause as requiring a strict secular silence from public officials, but that interpretation is historically incomplete.The Constitution does not demand a religion-free public square; rather, it prevents coercion or official establishment of a national church.This kind of message is not new. It echoes in older scenes: a president bowing his head at the end of a proclamation, members of Congress listening to a morning prayer before debate begins, a phrase stamped quietly onto a coin that passes through countless hands.Indeed, the U.S. Supreme Court has repeatedly recognized that government may acknowledge religion as part of the nation’s heritage. From legislative prayers upheld in Marsh v. Chambers to holiday displays permitted in Lynch v. Donnelly, the court affirmed that ceremonial and traditional expressions of faith are compatible with constitutional principles.A secretary of agriculture sending a goodwill Easter message fits squarely within this tradition.Religious references have been woven into American governance since the founding. Presidents from George Washington onward have issued proclamations referring to God and religious observances.Congress employs chaplains. The national motto, “In God We Trust,” appears on currency. These practices demonstrate that the framers did not intend to purge religious expression from public office, but to prevent its abuse.Easter, specifically, has long been recognized both culturally and institutionally in the United States. Federal employees often receive time off for Easter-related observances, and presidents frequently release Easter messages reflecting on themes of renewal and hope.A pro-Easter message that is inclusive in tone — perhaps acknowledging the holiday’s themes or extending goodwill to those who celebrate — does not coerce belief or participation. Employees remain free to disregard the message, just as they are free to observe or not observe the holiday.RELATED: The trial lawyers come for online free speech Skodonnell/Getty ImagesThere’s a difference between hearing something and being made to say it yourself. The First Amendment lives in that space. It protects the employee who quietly appreciates the message and the one who deletes it without a second thought.Suppressing such expressions, on the other hand, risks creating a different constitutional problem: hostility toward religion. The Supreme Court has cautioned against interpretations of the Establishment Clause that demonstrate animus toward faith. Neutrality does not mean erasure; it means equal treatment. Allowing a pro-Easter message does not privilege Christianity so long as the government does not exclude or penalize other beliefs.In a religiously pluralistic society, the goal should not be to eliminate religious references from public life, but to ensure that they are expressed in a way that respects freedom for all.The secretary of agriculture sending an Easter message — grounded in tradition, delivered without coercion, and consistent with historical practice — falls well within those constitutional boundaries.

Whatever hopes Kevin Cichowski had of launching a political career are now likely over after he was arrested in connection with an attack on two elderly individuals in Florida last week.On Friday morning, the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office was alerted to a 911 call from a residence in Palm Coast about what the office described as "a domestic disturbance with a weapon." According to the 911 caller, the allegedly armed suspect "had battered two elderly victims in the home — hitting one with a cane and throwing a cellphone at the other."'This is insane.'The 911 caller, who was one of the two victims, claimed the suspect "had threatened to kill them multiple times and stated he would kill law enforcement if they were called," the sheriff's office said. What's worse, the two victims were holed up in a bedroom of the residence, unable to escape because one of the victims was "bedridden," the sheriff's office added. Deputies at the scene managed to help the victims evacuate the residence safely.The suspect was identified as 46-year-old Kevin Cichowski.Bodycam footage, obtained and shared by the New York Post, reveals Cichowski rambling about his mother and father during his arrest. The outlet noted that though the sheriff's office did not verify any relation between the parties involved, the two victims are believed to be Cichowski's parents."I can't believe this is happening," Cichowski says as a deputy escorts him out of the residence in handcuffs, video shows."I haven't done anything wrong," he adds. "This is insane."RELATED: 'Die from masturbation': Days before murdering his parents, Utah 'trans' man made eerie complaints about 'lunatic' housemate - YouTube Cichowski has been charged with two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, two counts of battery on a person over 65, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, tampering with a witness, and two counts of robbery by sudden snatching. During his trip to jail, Cichowski expressed suicidal ideation, the sheriff's office said, prompting detention under the Florida Baker Act, which involves detaining those experiencing a mental health episode and who may pose a threat to personal or public safety.Jail records indicate he remains in custody as of Monday evening. Cichowski was also arrested in 2024 for domestic battery, domestic battery by strangulation, and false imprisonment.The Facebook post from the sheriff's office noted Cichowski's attempted forays into Floridian politics: "Cichowski is running for election for Governor of Florida. Cichowski previously ran for Palm Coast mayor in 2021."Cichowski did indeed file for the Florida gubernatorial race as a Democrat on March 24, according to Florida State Department records.Even before his arrest, however, his prospects were rather dim. The Democratic field is already crowded with former Rep. David Jolly and Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings dominating the race. One poll released following Cichowski's entry has him registering nominal support.Cichowski's campaign and the Florida Democratic Party did not respond to requests for comment from Blaze News.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

An Atlanta neighborhood is shocked by the brutal killing of a woman simply walking her dog Monday morning, and a witness said she saw the suspect do something even more horrible.The DeKalb County Police Department said officers responded to a residence on Battle Forrest Drive at about 6:50 a.m. and found the victim with gunshot and stab wounds.'I heard 6 to 7 shots, so I ran out the door, and when I ran out the door, I saw the lady across the street with a man standing over her.' A witness named Tiffany Williams told WXIA-TV that she made eye contact with the suspect after hearing the gunshots outside her home."I was getting up, getting my grandbaby ready for school, and I heard six to seven shots, so I ran out the door, and when I ran out the door, I saw the lady across the street with a man standing over her," Williams said."I heard the shooting, but I'm not thinking because as a mother and I'm seeing her lying there, I'm like, 'Oh my God, I've got to help her,'" she added.Williams said the suspect was pulling the victim's pants down when they made eye contact."I saw he was wearing all black, and then he ran up the street," she added.Neighbors said the area is very quiet and that most of the residents are elderly people.Later at a media briefing that evening, the Brookhaven and DeKalb County police departments said a 26-year-old suspect named Olaolukitan Adon Abel was arrested after a traffic stop in Troup County.Police said he was a suspect in a deadly shooting at a Checkers restaurant on Wesley Chapel Road and was tied to the lethal shooting of a homeless person at a Kroger grocery store in Brookhaven.RELATED: Convicted murderer and rapist killed by cop during parole warrant arrest allegedly refused to drop gun The victim near Kroger was sleeping at about 2 a.m. when someone shot him multiple times.The woman shot near Checkers had been shot at about 12:50 a.m. and died at a hospital.Police said the DeKalb County Medical Examiner will determine the official cause of death of the woman shot while walking her dog.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!