Crime Stories with Nancy Grace

Episode: Step-Brother Charged in Anna Kepner Murder | Crime Alert Recap Saturday 02.28.2026

Date: February 28, 2026
Host: iHeartPodcasts & CrimeOnline

Episode Overview

This episode delivers urgent updates on several shocking recent crimes, focusing first on developments in the tragic murder of 18-year-old Anna Kepner aboard the Carnival Horizon. Other segments recap a dramatic turn in the Corey Richards trial and a controversial elderly parole case in California. The show combines breaking news with firsthand accounts, emotional responses from families, and legal complexities as Nancy Grace and reporters press for answers and accountability.

1. Anna Kepner Cruise Ship Murder: High Seas Horror

[00:00–02:59]

• Main Story:
  • Victim: Anna Kepner, 18-year-old Florida cheerleader and high school senior
  • Crime: Murdered on Carnival Horizon cruise ship (Nov. 7, 2025)
  • Suspect: 16-year-old step-brother (charged with homicide, released pretrial due to minor status)
  • Key Details:
    • Anna was strangled "in a bar hold," hidden under life vests under the bed.
    • Her younger brother slept nearby, unaware of the crime.
    • Housekeeper found Anna after she missed breakfast, discovering her body wrapped in a blanket.
    • Autopsy confirmed "mechanical asphyxia" with evidence of "deep visible bruising" on the neck.
    • Younger brother in adjacent room heard "struggle, yelling, and chairs being thrown."
  • Court Proceedings:
    • Suspect released from Miami federal court on pretrial release, sparking outrage from family.
    • Federal jurisdiction applies due to international waters—case sealed for juvenile privacy.
    • Family described decision as "disturbing" and "devastating," with calls for accountability.
    • Community kept in the dark due to legal protections for minors.
• Notable Quotes:
  • Reporter: “The high seas horror reached a fever pitch Tuesday as homicide charges were finally confirmed against the minor for the brutal November 7, 2025 slaying of 18-year-old Anna Kepner aboard the Carnival Horizon.” [00:18]
  • Anna's parents Chris and Chantel Kepner: Court’s decision is “disturbing” and its impact is “devastating ... the individual responsible has not yet been held fully accountable.” [01:33]
• Memorable Moment:
  • Reporters confront the teen and attorney outside court, questioning if federal prosecutors can detain a juvenile [01:09].

2. Corey Richards Trial: Drug Requests and Overdose Death

[04:02–07:29]

• Case Update:
  • Subject: Corey Richards on trial for involvement in Eric's overdose death.
• Housekeeper Testimony (Carmen Lober):
  • Revealed Corey solicited her for fentanyl four times, then for “something even stronger—the Michael Jackson stuff,” referencing powerful drugs.
  • Confirmed she purchased drugs for Corey from her regular dealer.
  • Confronted Corey after Eric’s death: Corey insisted pills “were not for [Eric] … he passed away from a brain aneurysm.”
• Forensic Evidence:
  • Crime scene investigators returned to site to retrieve a letter not found during original search.
  • Toxicology reported Eric had lethal fentanyl level (15 nanograms/ml; lethal dose = 3); also alcohol detected (uncertainty if consumed or post-mortem).
  • No fentanyl found in crime scene samples; empty hydrocodone bottle not submitted for analysis.
• Notable Quotes:
  • Housekeeper (Carmen Lober): “If that’s what happened, I needed to step up and take accountability of my part in this … and what I was asked for.” [07:01]
• Memorable Moment:
  • Powerful emotional testimony from Carmen Lober, admitting her "sense of guilt" as she helped obtain the drugs [04:03, 07:01].

3. California Child Rapist Released and Re-Arrested on Elderly Parole

[07:29–10:04]

• Overview:
  • Subject: David Allen Funston, sentenced in 1999 for multiple child sex assaults, was released under CA’s elderly parole—then immediately rearrested for a separate 1996 case.
  • Release: After serving over 20 years, eligible for parole due to age (64).
  • Immediate Arrest: Placer County had a no-bail warrant ready for unresolved 1996 lewd act case as soon as he left prison.
  • Public Reaction:
    • Sheriff Jim Cooper: “What the hell is going on in California? In California it’s battle after battle when it comes to our children.” [08:08]
    • DA Morgan Guyer: “No one ever would imagine that at 64 years old he would be released after being granted parole for the crimes he committed.” [08:36]
    • Survivor, Amelia: “I don’t think that he should be out free because he’s a pedophile for one, and that’s a dangerous man.” [09:16]
  • Details of Original Crimes:
    • Victimized at least 8 children under age 7.
    • Used candy/toys to lure, abducted, and in one case left a child 50 miles from home.
• Memorable Moment:
  • Community outrage as Funston faces new arraignment, keeping him off the streets.

4. Temple Cook's Killing: Mistaken Identity Leaves Family Broken

[10:04–12:01]

• Case Overview:
  • Victim: Avtar Singh, 57, devoted temple cook and new father to six-month-old triplets.
  • Crime: Ambushed and abducted by three masked men outside his temple in Tracy, CA, at 2:30pm.
  • Tragic Outcome:
    • Singh’s body later discovered ~100 miles away in Napa County.
    • Police believe the killers were targeting someone else—Singh “entirely innocent victim.”
    • Singh leaves behind a wife and triplets born after a difficult hospital stay.
• Community Response:
  • Friend Roseline Kaur: “His family is in shock.” [10:27]
  • Another: “Everyone is concerned. They are looking for justice.” [10:28]
• Official Statement:
  • Sheriff Patrick Withrow: “It appears that the person that was taken is unrelated to the person that they were actually trying to find there and take.” [11:52]
• Memorable Moment:
  • Singh’s wife, returning home to silence, discovers their triplets abandoned, triggering frantic search and eventual tragic discovery.
• Support Effort:
  • GoFundMe established for Singh’s widow and children; authorities request public tips.

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• “The high seas horror reached a fever pitch Tuesday as homicide charges were finally confirmed…” (A, 00:18)
• “It is quote unquote devastating that the individual responsible has not yet been held fully accountable.” (A, 01:33)
• “If that’s what happened, I needed to step up and take accountability of my part in this…” (Housekeeper, 07:01)
• “What the hell is going on in California? In California it’s battle after battle when it comes to our children.” (Sheriff Jim Cooper, 08:08)
• “No one ever would imagine that at 64 years old he would be released after being granted parole for the crimes he committed.” (DA Morgan Guyer, 08:36)
• “I don’t think that he should be out free because he’s a pedophile for one, and that’s a dangerous man.” (Survivor Amelia, 09:16)
• “Everyone is concerned. They are looking for justice.” (Roseline Kaur, 10:28)
• “It appears that the person that was taken is unrelated to the person that they were actually trying to find there and take.” (Sheriff Patrick Withrow, 11:52)

Key Segments and Timestamps

• Anna Kepner Murder Update: [00:00–02:59]
• Corey Richards Drug Request Trial Details: [04:02–07:29]
• CA Child Rapist Released & Re-Arrested: [07:29–10:04]
• Temple Cook Mistaken Identity Killing: [10:04–12:01]

Summary Takeaways

• The episode underlines deep family trauma, public outrage, and loopholes in the justice system—especially regarding minors and the elderly parole process.
• It highlights survivors’ voices and community impact, while pressing for transparency and accountability as each case progresses.
• Nancy Grace’s team delivers not just facts but the emotional resonance and unresolved tensions at the heart of these crimes.