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- [00:03]
Katie Ring
Hi Crime House community. It's Katie looking for another Crime House original podcast to add to your rotation. You will love Clues with Morgan Abshur and Kaylin Moore. Every Wednesday, Morgan and Kaylin dig into the world's most notorious crimes, clue by clue, from serial killers to shocking murders. They follow the trail of clues, break down the evidence and debate the theories. It's like hanging out with your smart and true crime obsessed friends. Listen to clues on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music or wherever you listen to podcasts. This is crime house. R2 cases today have gone viral on social media and have caused widespread outrage. First, a teenage girl was murdered on a cruise ship and now those closest to her are under a microscope. Then a vicious train attack has left an entire city wondering what those in charge are actually doing to keep people safe. 18 year old Anna Kaeperner was on a family vacation with her father, stepmother Chantal Kaepner, seen here in court, and her three step siblings when she was discovered dead on the Carnival Horizon as it was headed back to Miami.
- [01:22]
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The testimony peeled back the curtain on the chaotic environment and questionable decisions that surrounded Anna Kepner in her final days.
- [01:30]
Katie Ring
The ship is covered with cameras and because of the cameras, it should help.
- [01:35]
Ad/Promo Voice
Define a pool of suspects.
- [01:43]
Katie Ring
Hi, welcome to Crime House Daily. I'm your host Katie Ring. Here we follow the cases making headlines now where justice is still unfolding. Follow us wherever you're listening and if you want ad free episodes, subscribe to Crime House plus on Apple Podcasts. This episode discusses active criminal cases and breaking news. The information we share is based on what's publicly available at the time of recording and may change as new evidence comes to light. We aim to inform, not to decide guilt or innocence. So everyone mentioned is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
- [02:23]
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- [02:44]
Katie Ring
Of $45 for three month plan equivalent to 15 per month required new customer offer for first three months only. Speed slow after 35 gigabytes if network's busy. Taxes and fees extra. C mintmobile.com Today's first case starts on November 2, 2025 when Anna Kepner boarded the Carnival Horizon cruise ship in Miami. She was ready to have a good time and spend some quality time with her family on international waters. But unfortunately, Anna never walked off that ship. Let's get into it. 18 year old Anna Kepner was from Titusville, Florida, a beach town about 40 miles from Orlando. Even though she lived in Paradise, Anna was known to be a hard worker. She was a dedicated straight A student and talented athlete. She'd been a gymnast ever since she was 2 years old, which helped her stand out as a star athlete on the varsity cheerleading team at her school. She was a natural on the cheer squad, especially since she was so bubbly and could light up any room. Despite how busy she was, Anna still made plenty of time for adventure. She had both her boater's license and scuba certification. She was ready to tackle the sea and so much more. She had her whole bright future ahead of her. After graduation, she planned on joining the Navy, then becoming a K9 police officer. She'd always been big on volunteering and was eager to keep serving her community. Anna also loved spending time with her family and on November 2, 2025, she was looking forward to some quality time with her family as they boarded the Carnival Horizon cruise ship in Miami headed for the Caribbean. Anna was with her father, stepmother, brother, three step siblings and paternal grandparents. The teenagers got their own room, which meant Anna shared a cabin with her 14 year old brother and 16 year old stepbrother, her both of whom have not been named. She got her own bed and the boys slept on bunk beds. Over the next five days, the ship docked in several popular spots in the Caribbean. Everyone in Anna's family was having a blast. Finally, on the Evening of Thursday, November 6, the ship departed from Cozumel, Mexico for the two day trip back to Miami. That night, Anna's family ate dinner together on board the ship. But Anna's braces started to bother her so she asked to excuse herself from the table early so she could go back to her room for a bit. Later that evening, when she was feeling better, she went to hang out with her grandma in the casino. After a while, Anna decided to call it a night and headed back to her stateroom. But when she got there, she wasn't able to relax because she and her stepbrother got into a huge fight. Anna's younger brother was outside the room when he heard them shouting and throwing chairs, and even though they were both clearly angry, their stepbrother sounded especially mad. Her younger brother tried to get into the room, but it was locked and he couldn't get in. The fight eventually died down, and no one in the family saw or spoke to Anna again that night. The next morning, they all joined for breakfast, but Anna's seat at the table was empty. Her family tried to find her, but there was no sign of her. And as their search throughout the ship was becoming more frantic, someone else made a gruesome discovery. One of the ship's housekeepers was in her room tidying up when they noticed something odd underneath the bed. When they bent down to inspect further, they saw a bunch of life jackets stuffed underneath. The housekeeper pulled them out and found a rolled up blanket that the life jackets had been covering. They grabbed the blanket and to their horror, realized Anna was wrapped inside. At 11:17am on Friday, November 7, 2025, Anna Kepner was pronounced dead. Her family was immediately distraught. How could this have happened to their beloved Anna? While everyone was in shock and pain, Anna's stepbrother seemed the most broken up. He was so overcome with emotion, he couldn't even speak. By now, the family had figured out that he was likely the last person to have interacted with her. But when they asked him what had happened, he said he couldn't remember anything from that night. When the family finally learned more, it was the last thing they wanted to hear. According to the medical examiner, Anna had been murdered. Although I think most of us probably deduced that from the fact that her body was rolled up in a sheet, stuffed under the bed and covered with life jackets. Her cause of death was something called mechanical asphyxiation. And based on the bruises on the side of her neck, the ME Believed someone had strangled her by pressing an arm across her neck. While Anna had been found naked, the ME Found no signs of SA and no alcohol or drugs were in her system. It's definitely a relief to hear that she wasn't SA'd. But this information also meant the family had to keep wondering what happened and why. However, there was one person with an idea of who might be to blame. Anna's ex boyfriend, Joshua. He'd heard the entire story from Anna's 14 year old brother, and pretty soon he shared some shocking revelations. From clothes to bedding to jewelry, Quince has the highest quality fabrics, materials, and pieces that are timeless and will actually last. And the best part is that they work with ethical, trusted factories that allow them to offer prices far below what other luxury brands charge. Last time I promised you an update on the linen duvet I bought, and I can now confirm that after a few washes, the linen fabric is super comfy and looks amazing. I will definitely be gifting some items from Quince for Christmas and I might have to sneak in another item for myself. They have 50 cashmere sweaters that look beautiful and will be on my list for my friends but unfortunately I'm allergic to cashmere so I am eyeing the 100% mulberry silk skirts and tops. The craftsmanship really shows in every detail. The stitching, the fit, the drape. Elevated, timeless and made to wear on repeat. Find gifts so good you'll want to keep them with Quince. Go to Quince.comchd for free shipping on your order and 365 day returns. Now available in Canada too. That's Q-U-I-N C-E.comchd to get free shipping and 365 day returns. Quince.comchd I usually get stuck on what to buy for my family and friends because there are so many ways to go. But my sister bought our whole family Aura Frames last year and I've been loving mine so it was definitely on my list for others who I won't mention now so I don't ruin the surprise. It's a great gift for parents and grandparents to stay up to date on all of the new family photos and for families to share memories. You can preload photos before it ships and upload unlimited photos and videos from the app. For those who are more technically challenged, keep adding from anywhere, anytime. All you have to do is download the Aura app and connect it to Wi Fi. Seriously, don't wait. Win the holidays now with Aura Frames for a limited time. Save on the perfect gift by visiting auraframes.com to get $35 off Aura's best selling Carver mat frames, named number one by Wirecutter by using promo code Crimehouse at checkout. That's a U R A frames.com promo code crimehouse. This deal is exclusive to listeners and frames sell out fast, so order yours now to get it in time for the holidays. Support the show by mentioning us at checkout. Terms and conditions apply.
- [10:20]
Ad/Promo Voice
Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan are back in Disney's Freakier Friday, now streaming on Disney.
- [10:27]
Katie Ring
We still switched bodies. I am freaking out right now.
- [10:31]
Ad/Promo Voice
I think I just peed a little. It's an absolute riot and the only movie that can be described as so much weirder than the last time.
- [10:39]
Katie Ring
What last time?
- [10:40]
Ad/Promo Voice
It's the Frequel.
- [10:41]
Katie Ring
You ready?
- [10:42]
Ad/Promo Voice
We've been waiting for that Absolutely slays Disney's Freakier Friday. Now streaming on Disney. Rated pg.
- [10:52]
Katie Ring
Anna Kepner's community was stunned to learn the news of her death. To honor her memory, Anna's car remained in her school parking lot for a week. After the news broke. Mourners, including friends and classmates, came to decorate it with flowers and balloons. When Anna's ex boyfriend Joshua talked to Inside Edition following her funeral, he called her his first love and said she was the greatest thing ever. Even though he was completely heartbroken over her death, Joshua still made a point to tell the reporters that there was more to the story. Apparently, Anna had never gotten along with her 16 year old stepbrother and in fact, she hated being around him because he sexually harassed her on a regular basis. Joshua said he even caught Anna's stepbrother trying to climb on top of her when she was lying down in bed after she had fallen asleep during a late night FaceTime call with him. According to Joshua, Anna never told anyone in her family about what was going on because she was afraid her stepbrother would hurt her if she did. These allegations sent shock waves across their beach town. Especially because once the cruise ship had arrived back in Miami, Anna's stepbrother was still an emotional wreck. So much so he was taken to the hospital for psychiatric observation. He still hadn't told anyone his side of the story. However, he's since been released from the hospital and has been staying with relatives. At the same time, Anna's grandmother had a different take on their relationship. She said Anna and her stepbrother were, quote, two peas in a pod. Meanwhile, as people focused their attention on the media frenzy, the FBI was investigating Anna's murder. Since the crime had occurred on international waters, they poured through hours of security footage from the cruise ship and all of the key card swipes from Anna's room. They'd been keeping all of the details of their investigation under wraps. But in early December 2025, some major updates were inadvertently released. It all started when the stepbrother's parents, Thomas Hudson and Chantel Hudson, started fighting over custody of their shared children in the aftermath of the crime. In court documents related to their custody, the stepbrother was referred to as a suspect in Anna's murder. Apparently, the whole reason for the custody dispute is that Thomas blamed Chantel for letting their son become a murder suspect under her watch. God forbid a boy be held responsible for his own actions if he is found guilty. That's not the end of the web of legal drama either. Anna's father, Christopher Kepner, was supposed to appear at one of those custody hearings, but the court could never track him down to issue the subpoena. That hearing took place on December 5th and Christopher did in fact show up, but did not speak. However, there was another big announcement that same day. A Florida judge confirmed that Anna's stepbrother is a suspect in her case. There's still a lot more ahead for this case and we'll have all of the major updates for you as they come in. In our next case, a young woman is fighting for her life after a horrific train attack in Chicago. 26 year old Bethany McGee was minding her own business when a man snuck up on her, doused her in gasoline and set her on fire. Let's get into it. Bethany McGee is from Upland, Indiana, a small town about 80 miles from Indianapolis with less than 4,000 residents. Upland is known as the home of an evangelical Christian college called Taylor University and it's a tight knit religious community. Like many others there, Bethany grew up in a loving churchgoing family. People people who know Bethany described her as soft spoken and gentle, but also whip smart. When she wasn't hanging out with friends or playing tabletop or video games, her nose was buried in a book. According to her family, she also loves living in Chicago, which is where her life was altered forever. At 9pm on Monday, November 17, 2025, Bethany was riding the Blue Line on Chicago's public train known as the L train which travels through Chicago skyscrapers in the downtown area. Bethany was quietly sitting down and minding her own business when another passenger on the train, 50 year old Lawrence Reed, spotted her unprompted. Lawrence got up from his seat and started walking towards Bethany. He was carrying a plastic bottle in his hand and once he got close enough to Bethany, he removed the cap and poured the contents of the bottle all over her. The smell was instantly recognizable. Just 30 minutes prior to the attack, Lawrence had filled the bottle with gasoline and he had just doused her in it. Bethany immediately got up and ran to the back of the train trying to escape, but the train was moving at a high speed so the door wouldn't open. She was trapped. Lawrence chased her and when he caught up, he set the bottle on fire then used it to ignite Bethany. Once the train finally stopped, Lawrence and Bethany both deboarded. Lawrence casually walked straight out of the station while Bethany stumbled out of the train car and fell onto the ground. People rushed to her aid and she was taken to the hospital where doctors assessed her life threatening burns. She had burns on her head and body and was deemed in critical condition. As of this recording, Bethany is still in the hospital and is expected to stay there for at least three months. In the immediate aftermath, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, or atf, launched a criminal investigation alongside the Chicago Police Department and Chicago Transit Authority. CTA immediately pulled surveillance which had captured the entire attack, and video showed Lawrence's face in clear view. Authorities recognized Lawrence right away and they realized they had a much bigger problem on their hands.
- [16:59]
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- [17:30]
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- [17:58]
Katie Ring
This episode is brought to you by Greenlight. You can't solve every case for your kids, but with greenlight, they'll have the instincts and money skills to stay out of trouble. With a Greenlight debit card and money app, parents can monitor spending and teach financial responsibility. Educate your kids as they grow from earning allowance and tracking chores to learning how to save and invest. Start your risk free Greenlight trial today@greenlight.com Spotify As Bethany McGee began her long road to recovery in the hospital, her family asked for her privacy. In the aftermath of the brief, brutal fire attack. On the GoFundMe page, they set up to help Bethany move forward. They said, quote, this will be her story to tell or not to tell in the future. At the same time, Lawrence Reed's story was about to cause an absolute uproar because when authorities realized he was behind the attack, they knew they'd have a scandal on their hands. Because Lawrence has had at least 72 arrests resulting in 15 convictions, he's faced charges related to arson, criminal damage to government property and drug trafficking, as well as numerous battery cases. He should have never been out of jail. In April of 2020, he'd been charged with a felony count of aggravated arson for setting the Thompson center on fire, which is a giant, iconic building in downtown Chicago. As if burning a historical building wasn't bad enough, he did it when people were inside. Lawrence had coated the building's glass exterior in an unidentified red substance and lit it ablaze. But luckily, this time, nobody was hurt. And finally, as recently as August 2025, Lawrence attacked a social worker at a hospital, knocking them unconscious. He was charged with aggravated battery, and that case is still pending. Authorities knew he was dangerous, and they needed to get him in their custody as soon as possible. They also knew that the public would demand answers about why he was free to commit his latest crime in the first place. On the morning of November 18th, just a day after the attack, Lawrence was located near Washington street, wearing the same clothes he was wearing when he carried out the attack the night before. There were visible burn marks on his hands, and he was carrying the transit card that he'd used to board the train. Lawrence was arrested, and as detectives drove him to the station, he yelled hateful phrases like burn alive, bitch from the back of the squad car. The next day, Lawrence was turned over to federal authorities and made his first appearance in court. He was charged with committing a terrorist attack against a mass transportation system, which is an incredibly rare and serious offense. If he's convicted on this count, the federal charge carries a maximum penalty of life in prison. However, the severity of Lawrence's charges weren't even the leading headline because his behavior continued to alarm people while in court. Lawrence sang, muttered incoherently, told the courtroom not to speak to him, and even refused to meet with his court appointed attorney. When the judge spoke, Lawrence yelled over her, saying he wanted to represent himself and that he was pleading guilty. Considering his behavior and his long record, Prosecutors filed a motion requesting that he be kept in custody, which the judge planned to address the following day. However, in the time since his arrest, the story of Lawrence's record had been made public. And just as authorities had feared, the public was outraged, rightfully so. People blamed the judicial system for letting Lawrence slip through the cracks, especially when they learned that after the August 2025 aggravated battery incident, the judge released Lawrence with electronic monitoring, even though The Cook County DA's office recommended he serve time. Not only that, but he repeatedly violated his curfew without repercussions. Members of the public couldn't help but think that if someone had stepped in, what happened to Bethany could have been prevented. Lawrence himself seemed to realize what people thought of him, because in court the next day. He said he didn't feel safe out in society. He thought people would target him, so he asked to remain behind bars. Since both sides requested it, the judge ordered Lawrence remain held without bail until his trial. In the aftermath of the crime, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson called Lawrence's situation a, quote, absolute failure of the American criminal justice system and mental health institutions. It should be noted that Lawrence has never been legally declared mentally incompetent. Now there are efforts being made to push for stricter enforcement of electronic monitoring. Personally, I think bail reform, where criminals risk and propensity for violence needs to be considered because people that violent should not even be granted bail, in my opinion, especially with his prior charges and the attack being caught on camera. Fortunately, Bethany is recovering and her family got to spend Thanksgiving at her bedside. I hope she continues to heal and that justice is served. As for Lawrence, he appeared in court as recently as December 4, but no major updates came from that hearing. His next court date hasn't been announced, but we'll be keeping a close eye on how this case progresses, so be sure to tune back in. What did you think of today's cases? Drop your thoughts and theories in the comments. See you next time. If you haven't already, subscribe to our YouTube channel Rimehouse Daily and follow us on social media Rimehouse247 for real time updates. Because the pursuit of justice never stops.
- [23:55]
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Foreign.
- [24:00]
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- [24:31]
Katie Ring
Looking for your next crime house? Listen don't miss Clues with Morgan Abshur and Kaylin Moore Every Wednesday, Morgan and Kaylin take you deep into the world of the most notorious crimes ever. Clue by clue, it's like hanging out with your smart, true crime obsessed friends. Listen to clues on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, or wherever you listen to podcasts.