Orlando criminal defense lawyer and television legal analyst Jose Rivas was interviewed by FOX 35 Orlando to discuss the breaking development of new court documents filed in the Anna Kepner cruise ship death investigation. These documents revealed for the first time that a 16‑year‑old stepbrother of the deceased teen is considered a suspect in an FBI homicide probe and that the cause of death was mechanical asphyxiation. In his analysis, Rivas explained why families with children facing federal criminal charges urgently need a juvenile federal defense attorney in Orlando to navigate the intersection of family court proceedings and serious federal investigations.
The Kepner case illustrates a nightmare scenario that any parent dreads: learning your child is a suspect in a federal homicide investigation. If your child is facing federal charges or has been named a suspect by federal agents, consulting a juvenile federal defense attorney in Orlando is not optional—it is essential.
How Family Court Exposed a Federal Suspect
Eighteen-year-old Anna Kepner was found dead under a bed in her cabin on the Carnival Horizon cruise ship on November 7, 2025. While the FBI has remained largely silent regarding their active homicide investigation, new filings in a Brevard County family court case between Anna’s stepmother and her ex‑husband have made critical details public.
The new court documents confirm that Anna’s death has been ruled a homicide caused by “mechanical asphyxia,” meaning she was physically deprived of oxygen. More critically, the filings explicitly identify her 16‑year‑old stepbrother—who shared the cabin with her on the cruise—as a “suspect” in the FBI investigation.
For a juvenile federal defense attorney in Orlando, this case demonstrates how family law proceedings can expose a minor to devastating federal criminal liability.
“It’s interesting in this case that it’s the parties in the family law case who actually put out the statements in the motion,” Rivas said during the FOX 35 interview.
An experienced juvenile federal defense attorney knows that family courts are generally open to the public. Rivas noted that while the stepmother filed a motion for a gag order to seal these records, using a civil court to suppress information from a federal criminal investigation rarely succeeds. For any parent whose child might be a suspect, this is a critical lesson: federal defense for minors requires aggressive action at every stage.
Why Your Child Needs a Juvenile Federal Defense Attorney in Orlando
Federal cases involving minors present unique and terrifying challenges. Unlike state criminal charges, federal charges carry mandatory sentencing guidelines, longer prison sentences, and federal facilities that are often far from home. When a child is involved, the stakes multiply.
In the FOX 35 interview, Rivas warned that testimony given in a family law hearing does not carry the same automatic protections as statements in federal court.
“It’s really not the court’s job to tell a person, ‘Hey, you know, anything you say can and will be used against you,'” Rivas said. “That’s why they should retain a private attorney.”
If your child is involved in a family dispute that touches on federal criminal allegations, a juvenile federal defense attorney in Orlando is critical because:
- Civil testimony is admissible in federal court: Statements made to a family court judge can be subpoenaed and used by federal prosecutors to build a case against your child.
- Rights are not automatic: A family court judge is focused on custody and “best interest of the child,” not on protecting your child’s Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination.
- Federal investigators are monitoring: Rivas emphasized that the FBI often monitors open family court proceedings to gather evidence that they could not easily obtain through other means.
- Juveniles can be prosecuted as adults: Federal homicide charges against a minor can result in the case being transferred to federal adult court, exposing your child to decades of federal prison time.
Protecting Juveniles Facing Federal Charges
Being named as a suspect in a federal homicide case is the most serious legal danger a 16‑year‑old can face. Federal homicide charges can lead to a life sentence, even for a juvenile.
A skilled juvenile federal defense attorney in Orlando knows that once a child is called a “suspect” in any court papers or by federal agents, it is time to get a lawyer involved right away. One powerful step, as attorney Rivas explains, is to put the family court case on hold.
“The remedy is you can halt the family law procedure until this is resolved,” Rivas said.
A juvenile federal defense attorney would ask the court to “stay” the custody case so the teen and the parents are not forced to testify about what happened on the cruise ship while the FBI is still investigating. Without this protection, the family could end up saying something that creates serious federal criminal risk. In the worst‑case scenario, not hiring a federal defense attorney could cost a child both freedom and future.
How a Juvenile Federal Defense Attorney in Orlando Protects Your Child
The Kepner case shows that you shouldn’t wait for an arrest to start talking to a defense lawyer. The moment your child is named a suspect, or when federal agents express interest in speaking with your child, you need immediate representation from the best juvenile federal defense attorney in Orlando you can find.
Rivas Law Firm provides aggressive federal defense representation in Orlando for young clients facing federal investigations and charges. The firm’s in-depth experience in the central Florida federal criminal justice system allows them to:
- Shield your child from self-incrimination: Advising exactly what questions your child should answer and when to assert constitutional rights.
- Manage family court exposure: Coordinating between family court proceedings, state authorities, and federal investigators.
- Fight for a favorable outcome: Using every legal tool to prevent civil disclosures from becoming federal convictions.
- Navigate juvenile to adult transfer issues: Aggressively opposing any effort to try your child as an adult in federal court.
Whether you are dealing with a subpoena, testimony requirements in family court, or FBI agents seeking to interview your child, the guidance of a seasoned juvenile federal defense attorney in Orlando is your first and most important line of defense.
Trust a Firm With Experience in Complex Federal Cases
When your child’s freedom and future are on the line, you cannot rely on a general practitioner or an attorney who rarely handles federal cases. You need a specialist practicing federal defense who understands the complexities of both juvenile law and federal prosecution.
Orlando Criminal Defense Attorney Jose Rivas is a veteran bilingual TV Legal Analyst who has appeared on Univision, Fox News, Telemundo, and many other news outlets. His analysis of the Anna Kepner case for FOX 35 highlights his ability to identify the legal threats that other attorneys might miss. If your child is facing federal charges or has been named a federal suspect, you need a juvenile federal defense attorney. Contact Rivas Law Firm immediately for a confidential consultation.