Anna Kepner's grieving father has wiped away his tears and accepted his slain daughter's high school diploma, months after she was allegedly assaulted and murdered by her stepbrother on a family cruise.
Christopher Kepner wiped tears from his face and received a standing ovation as he was handed Anna's diploma at the commencement ceremony at the Temple Christian School in Florida.
The father shared how it was a very hard and heavy moment for him. 'Being in her place to do that was so very hard!'- he added.
Members of Anna's family, including her stepmother, Shauntel Kepner, attended the ceremony where Kepner was honored by her school and classmates. Both parents wore shirts with blue butterflies, her favorite color, in tribute.
Shauntel had hosted Anna's senior table, which was filled with pictures of the teen and her friends over the years.