Iran War latest; stepbrother of teen killed arrested; Tax Day tomorrow — Searched - April 14, 2026

[0:05] Hey, I'm Gio Benitez. It's Tuesday, April 14th. You've got questions, we've got answers. [0:10] This is Search, where we're breaking down what you're asking right now in real time. [0:14] So let's get right to it. We've got our Maya Ephraim right here. [0:16] She oversees our online search trends. So Maya, what are people searching for right now? [0:21] Hi, Gio. The world is glued to the Strait of Hormuz right now, and the search data proves it. [0:25] People are searching for the very latest on the blockade, the status of the ceasefire. [0:30] They also want to know how many ships are stuck in the strait right now, [0:32] the cost of gas in the U.S. today, and what's happening inside Iran right now. [0:37] In another story we've been following for months, people are looking for answers regarding the death of Anna Kepner. [0:42] She's a teen whose body was found on a cruise ship last year. [0:45] Interest now has spiked again after her stepfather was arrested and charged with murder and sexual abuse. [0:50] And now people want to know how she died and what the family had to say about it. [0:54] And finally, it wouldn't be April 14th without a little bit of panic about tax day tomorrow. [0:58] There are hundreds of thousands of searches for how to file an extension online, how much time that extension will buy you, [1:04] and what the late fee is if you file your taxes late. [1:07] And yes, can I pay my taxes with a credit card is trending once again, as it does every single year. [1:13] But hey, it's a good question. [1:14] All right, Maya, thank you so much. [1:15] We'll dive a little deeper very soon with you. [1:17] Let's go into the story now that you guys can't stop asking about, the latest on the war with Iran and its implications. [1:23] We've got our Marcus Moore now, reporting from the Middle East. [1:26] He's in Beirut, Lebanon right now. [1:28] Marcus, you've been in the region now for four days. [1:30] You just heard Maya. [1:31] Everyone's asking about the Strait of Hormuz. [1:33] How many ships went through? [1:34] How many ships are stuck? [1:36] What do we know? [1:39] All right, well, here's what we know about the number of personnel and also ships that are involved. [1:44] We know that there are 10,000 U.S. sailors and Marines and also airmen, [1:49] along with a dozen warships and a dozen aircraft, are all a part of this mission, [1:53] this blockade that the U.S. has implemented in the Strait of Hormuz. [1:57] And the CENTCOM is saying that in the last 24 hours that no ships have made it past the U.S. blockade [2:03] and that six merchant ships, Joe, complied with the direction from U.S. forces to turn around [2:08] to reenter an Iranian port on the Gulf of Oman. [2:12] So the word we're getting from U.S. officials is that this blockade is holding [2:16] and that it is that it's working in terms of what they're trying to achieve. [2:21] Well, Marcus, we just said you're in Lebanon. [2:23] What's going on with the peace talks? [2:27] So a lot of people have been watching very closely, the peace talks that were underway in Washington today. [2:35] And the State Department has released a statement really celebrating the meeting between Israeli and Lebanese ambassadors to the U.S., [2:45] saying, quote, that the participants held productive discussions on steps towards launching direct negotiations between Israel and Lebanon. [2:53] Joe, that would be a huge development for that to happen. [2:57] And the State Department also says that it's trying to ensure that the U.S. will maintain a role as a mediator between all of these parties [3:06] and the U.S. adding that any agreement to cease hostilities must be reached between the two governments, Lebanon and also Israel. [3:16] But it's worth noting, Gio, I know a lot of people have questions about this. [3:19] These discussions that we're talking about in Washington have not included Hezbollah. [3:24] Hezbollah, the group, its fighters are in Lebanon actually involved in the combat and the fighting that we've seen. [3:31] And so of them not being involved is worrisome to some in the region. [3:36] Marcus, we've got about 30 seconds, but I want to ask you, because right behind you, we see how lively and beautiful Beirut is. [3:41] What's the vibe there? What are people saying? [3:45] Gio, I can tell you that Beirut is a beautiful city and it is a vibrant city. [3:51] But in these past few days, it has been very different. [3:54] On Wednesday, there was a massive attack at 100 different locations across the country, and that really shook people. [4:01] And there's a real degree of unease. [4:03] And that's why many people are hoping those talks in Washington could produce perhaps a ceasefire here in Lebanon. [4:09] And that's what we're all hoping for. [4:10] Marcus Moore, thank you for your reporting. [4:12] All right, let's get to our Ike Ajachi now in our newsroom here at ABC. [4:15] He's covering that horrific story about a teenager charged with sexually assaulting and murdering his stepsister aboard a cruise ship. [4:22] He's pleaded not guilty. [4:24] Ike, people are searching right now for details about Timothy Hudson Kepner, who's been charged as an adult. [4:29] So what do we know about him? [4:31] Yeah, Gio, the allegations in this story are wild. [4:33] Timothy Hudson Kepner is 16 years old, and he's the stepbrother of 18-year-old Anna Kepner. [4:39] And he's being charged as an adult in federal court. [4:42] And prosecutors say that he raped and killed 18-year-old Anna while their blended family was on a vacation, a carnival cruise, back in November of 2025. [4:51] Now, he's indicted on first-degree murder. [4:53] He's also indicted on aggravated sexual abuse charges. [4:56] And if he's found guilty, he could spend the rest of his life in jail, Gio. [5:00] Ike, a lot of people are asking, how did Anna Kepner die? [5:03] Well, essentially, investigators are saying Anna died by mechanical asphyxiation on the carnival horizon. [5:12] That's essentially a medical examiner found her, and she was killed by a bar hold. [5:18] And a bar hold is when you take your arm, and you're essentially pressing that against the neck, which makes it very hard to breathe, almost impossible. [5:25] Her body was then found underneath a bed in a cabin after she was reported missing. [5:31] Oh, gosh, that's awful. [5:32] What is mechanical asphyxiation? [5:35] You were just talking about that. [5:38] Yeah, that's right. [5:39] Mechanical asphyxiation is when a physical force outside the body essentially makes it very hard or almost impossible to breathe. [5:47] That can happen when pressure is applied to the neck or the chest that essentially blocks airflow or blood flow, blood flow, rather, which prevents oxygen from getting in the body. [5:57] And the medical examiner said that Anna died from that bar hold, which, again, prevented her from breathing properly and essentially led to her death, Gio. [6:06] Yeah, and all of these are questions that so many people are searching for right now. [6:10] Anna Kepner's family, I imagine they have a statement. [6:13] They've said something. [6:14] Yeah, that's right. [6:16] Anna's mother called her a loving, joyful 18-year-old, and she's spoken about how painful this has been after finding Anna, who passed away, including being told that she's not even allowed to attend her daughter's memorial. [6:30] Now, we also know that, according to court documents, texts that were released later show what appears to be a frantic messages, a lot of confusion going on between that blended family after they found out Anna had passed away. [6:45] Her family, they've been pushing for answers ever since this last year. [6:49] They're calling on the Justice Department to continue this investigation, make sure it's thorough, and they're essentially asking for everyone just for peace at this moment, Gio. [6:58] Yeah, and we will all send their prayers there to them and that family. [7:01] Ike, thank you so much for that. [7:03] All right, time now to pay up. [7:04] Tomorrow is tax day. [7:06] It is the deadline to file individual income tax returns with the IRS. [7:10] Kimberly Washington is here with more on what you need to know. [7:13] She's a CPA and tax journalist, and she's got a lot of the tips. [7:16] So, Kimberly, let's go right through it. [7:17] These are all the questions people are asking on search right now. [7:20] What happens if you miss the tax deadline? [7:23] Right, so, of course, if you miss the tax deadline, you might, of course, receive a penalty. [7:27] So, you really do need to be careful. [7:30] Keep in mind that the IRS assess penalties based on the amount that you owe. [7:33] If you expect a refund, you may not get a penalty, so you may not have to worry. [7:37] But you definitely want to try to, of course, beat the deadline, file an extension if you need to because, of course, you don't want a penalty added to your tax account. [7:46] Well, what is that penalty? [7:48] Well, the penalty, of course, is based on the amount that you owe, and it could be, of course, up to 25% of that amount. [7:54] So, again, you just don't want that to happen to you. [7:57] So, if you expect that you will owe, send some money tomorrow to the IRS, and that's because, of course, the more that you pay, the less penalty that you will have. [8:06] So, it really does depend on what you owe, and that will determine whether or not you'll be required to pay that penalty. [8:12] Okay, here's another question from Search. [8:13] Can you change your taxes after filing? [8:17] Yes, you can. [8:18] You can actually file an amended tax return. [8:20] You want to do it as soon as possible. [8:22] So, if you do find that there is a mistake on your tax return, you can file a 1040x, and that way you can submit that tax return to the IRS. [8:30] And, of course, that's going to make certain that it takes over anything that you filed previously when it comes to that tax return. [8:37] So, you can, of course, change if you find that there is an error, and you do want to do it as soon as you can, better sooner than later when it comes to filing your taxes. [8:46] Well, people want to know, how do you file a tax extension? [8:48] Well, it's really quick. [8:51] It's really easy. [8:52] You can head over to the irs.gov website and search for what's called free file tax return. [8:57] So, what you'll do is just simply put in your information, the amount that you expect to owe. [9:02] You're going to put that there as well. [9:03] And you can file quick and easy, and you can do it less than a minute or two. [9:07] And, of course, it goes directly to the Internal Revenue Service. [9:10] So, you can do it quickly, but you want to make sure you do it by the end, of course, of the end of the day of April 15th. [9:16] Okay, so by the end of April 15th, so by the end of the day tomorrow, you want to file for that extension. [9:22] When is the last day to actually go ahead and submit the extension? [9:26] It is April 15th, midnight, if you're going to do it electronically. [9:30] Like, keep in mind, also, though, if you're going to file that extension by, of course, a tax form, 4868, by paper mail, [9:36] you definitely want to make sure you check with your local post office and determine what's the postmark date concerning it. [9:42] Keep in mind that, of course, different post offices have different dates, so you definitely want to check if you're going to do it by paper mail. [9:49] But the best way to go about it is definitely go to irs.gov, search for free file, [9:53] and, again, you can file that extension free online and do it before midnight tomorrow. [9:59] A little bit of a Cinderella story with taxes. [10:01] All right, so can I pay my taxes with a credit card? [10:03] This one comes up all the time, every single year. [10:06] What do you say? [10:08] You definitely can. [10:09] You can pay your taxes with a credit card, and you can also, if you expect that you're going to pay [10:14] and you don't have all the money to pay at this time, you can actually reach out to the IRS and request what's called an installment agreement, [10:22] and you can pay monthly payments when it comes to the amount that you owe. [10:25] But whatever way that you go about it, you do want to make sure you have some agreement with the IRS, [10:29] so that way you can be in compliance, and that way they can't come after you if you do owe the IRS. [10:35] So just put something in place, at least by tomorrow's deadline. [10:39] Listen, your clients are lucky to have you as CPA. [10:41] Thank you so much, Kimberly Washington. [10:42] We so appreciate it. [10:44] All right, so we just ran through your top searches, but what else is on your timeline? [10:47] Let's get right back over to Maya. [10:48] So, Maya, what other stories are trending? [10:51] Happy World Quantum Day to all who celebrate GEO. [10:53] The day promotes awareness of quantum science, the latest in quantum technology, [10:58] and today's Google Doodles celebrated the day with a really cool animation, [11:02] and it caused a spike of over a million searches in all things quantum computing. [11:05] Honestly, GEO, it's basically a global hype day for the supercomputers of the future [11:09] that are going to make our current tech look like calculators from the 90s. [11:13] I love those animations that Google always does. [11:15] All right, Maya, thank you so much. [11:16] Coming up here, one search always leads to another. [11:18] You know that. [11:19] We've got a trending topic, but that's just the surface. [11:21] So, we're peeling back the layers of AI, and if tech is going too far, [11:26] that's in the spiral, and it's next. [11:36] All right, welcome back to Searched. [11:38] Today's top searches are only part of the story. [11:40] A simple scroll can sometimes, well, take you down a deep rabbit hole. [11:43] So, it's time now for the spiral. [11:52] All right, so you guys can't stop asking questions right now about meta using AI. [11:56] So, we're following your clicks and your curiosity here, [11:58] and it looks like you guys want to talk about the company reportedly building [12:01] an AI version of CEO Mark Zuckerberg, [12:04] and what to know about AI using the likeness of others. [12:07] It's such a topic. [12:08] Let's break it down here. [12:09] We've got Mike Dubusky up first, and Ina Fried from Axios. [12:13] Thank you both for joining us right now. [12:15] So, let's start with Mark Zuckerberg preparing to introduce meta staffers to his AI clone. [12:20] That's according to Financial Times, our technology reporter right there, [12:23] Mike Dubusky, has more on this. [12:25] All right, Mike, so part of the wider push here to develop personal superintelligence? [12:30] Yeah, that is certainly what meta is aiming at with this new project reported first by the Financial Times. [12:38] It's basically bringing together a few technologies that meta has been working on for the past few years. [12:43] On the one hand, we all remember the metaverse, this sort of virtual reality world [12:47] where you were represented by a three-dimensional avatar. [12:50] Well, that's kind of like what Mark Zuckerberg has in mind here, it seems, [12:55] an almost photo-real representation of himself, an avatar that can appear in meetings, [13:00] appear in videos, and sort of speak for Mark Zuckerberg. [13:04] The way that avatar speaks is by using this other technology that meta has been working on for the past few years, [13:10] artificial intelligence, generative artificial intelligence. [13:13] According to this Financial Times report, this AI avatar of Mark Zuckerberg has been trained on his statements, [13:20] his mannerisms, his likeness, and supposedly is able to represent that to the public [13:26] and to people internally at meta as well. [13:29] Whether that actually works in the real world, we've seen these large language models go awry in the past, [13:34] I think remains an open question. [13:35] Well, and my open question is why, right? [13:38] What's the rationale behind this? [13:40] Well, on the one hand, it seems like a pretty nice thing to have, right? [13:45] You know, you can send your AI avatar to a meeting, so you don't have to. [13:49] And, you know, Mark Zuckerberg is a busy guy, as are most executives, [13:53] and you can kind of see maybe the logistics that he was thinking of here with this idea. [13:58] On the other hand, Meta has been trying to pivot to being an AI-first company. [14:02] They've tried throwing a lot of things against the wall, effectively. [14:05] First, social media, then pivoting to the metaverse back in 2021. [14:09] We've seen them sort of start to take steps backward from that project in favor of investing [14:15] in artificial intelligence, which is kind of the hot new thing right now. [14:18] This would be another project under that umbrella. [14:21] So there's sort of a convenience factor, again, if it works, Geo. [14:25] And then there's sort of a larger, what does this represent about where Meta is aiming question as well. [14:30] Yeah, has this been done before? [14:31] As of right now, not like this, not from what we've been able to ascertain. [14:38] Certainly, we've heard a lot of talk about the potential for AI to be used in this context. [14:43] We've heard from the CEO of Zoom that you could potentially have an AI avatar of yourself go off and take Zoom meetings. [14:49] However, it's never really reached the product stage. [14:52] One of the sort of big outgrowths of artificial intelligence recently has been the advent of agentic AI, [14:58] which is a special flavor of AI that can basically go out and do stuff for you. [15:02] It has agency. [15:03] This seems to be a kind of blue sky, further thinking expression of that. [15:09] We'll again have to see if it actually works in the real world, [15:11] because as AI agents have been deployed thus far, there have been some hiccups and missteps. [15:17] All large language model technology, all generative artificial intelligence models, [15:21] to some degree or another, hallucinate. [15:23] And that can be a real speed bump in this plan that Meta apparently is laying out. [15:27] Well, I hope I've been talking to the real Mike Dabusky. [15:30] Thank you so much. [15:30] Not your AI, right? [15:31] I can assure you. [15:32] Totally real. [15:33] Not your real. [15:33] Good. [15:34] All right, let's bring in Ina Fried now. [15:35] She's the chief technology correspondent over at Axios. [15:38] She's actually at a TEDx conference right now. [15:40] You're in a really quiet room. [15:42] Thank you for doing that. [15:43] So, Ina, what's your first reaction to AI Zuckerberg? [15:48] Yeah, I think there's a huge promise and excitement around the idea that we can have our AI take the meetings we don't want. [15:54] I don't actually think this is going to pan out, at least in the near term, [15:58] because what makes us human is I get to decide what words I want to say next. [16:02] If I want to say banana, I just said it. [16:05] But no AI algorithm is going to come up with banana because I just said that as a human being. [16:10] And I think this has come up at the TED conference already, this idea that prediction doesn't need to be a self-fulfilling prophecy. [16:18] And all this technology is really based on predicting what someone might do versus our actual one contribution to humanity is our humanness, our agency. [16:28] Yeah, it's pretty tough to be human. [16:29] All right, so let's talk about AI and likeness, especially with public figures. [16:33] Are there any restrictions in place here? [16:34] Not enough. [16:37] So this is an area where there is some bipartisan agreement, this notion that we should own our AI likeness. [16:43] But there's not enough protection yet in law. [16:46] We've seen some more action on the deep fakes, which is obviously one of the most problematic areas, [16:51] especially non-consensual nude versions of oneself. [16:55] But really, there is this notion that I think most people agree with that I should own my own likeness, [17:02] that no one else should be able to show up and say they're me on a meeting, in a call. [17:06] So the idea that kind of transcends this is that when it's a human being involved, you should own also digital likenesses of yourself. [17:14] And that extends to celebrities and their ability to use and control their own likenesses. [17:19] So it was a big topic in the labor negotiations between the Actors Union and studios. [17:24] Yeah, look, I don't consider myself a celebrity, but I've been deep faked even. [17:27] So can anything be done about this? [17:30] I mean, at the technological level, I think the best we can hope for is that, you know, [17:34] there will be watermarketing technologies, at least the services provided by the major companies. [17:39] But I do think we have to prepare for the world that we're in, where deep fakes are possible, cheap, and widespread. [17:45] And actually, that's an interesting point, because if it's marked as a parody, do you have any rights there? [17:51] Is it protected? [17:54] You know, parody obviously is an important thing. [17:56] The ability to lampoon, especially public figures, is important. [17:59] We wouldn't want to see that go away. [18:02] Another area that courts take into account is, is this being done commercially for profit? [18:07] So you have more protection if someone is using your likeness to sell something than if they're using your likeness to make fun of you. [18:14] If somebody wants to take this video clip and make fun of me, life goes on. [18:17] If they want to sell shampoo based on it, that, that is an area where there's, or legal protection. [18:23] Well, you do have good hair, so I understand that. [18:26] Get back out to that TEDx conference and keep us safe. [18:29] Thank you so much, Gina. [18:30] Appreciate it. [18:31] All right, still ahead here. [18:32] It might be the top of your feed, but what's the vibe? [18:34] We've got your top pop culture and entertainment searches with Roxy Diaz, [18:38] including a social media spat between two big influencers. [18:41] It's the vibe check, and it's next. [19:00] Are you vibing yet? [19:00] Because it's time for our vibe check, a look at what's buzzing in entertainment and pop culture. [19:04] Roxy Diaz joins me now with more on what's trending on your feeds. [19:08] Hey, Roxy. [19:09] I got you, Gio. [19:10] Listen, the girly pops are having a field day with what has become a public social media spat [19:15] between Alex Cooper and Alex Earl. [19:18] Now, in 2023, Earl signed on as one of Cooper's first podcasters for the Unwell Network, [19:24] and two years later, Earl's Hot Mess podcast was dropped from Cooper's network. [19:28] Now, Alex Earl reposted a TikTok about Alex Cooper that called her an ambulance chaser [19:34] and profiting off of women's miseries. [19:36] But Cooper hit back on Monday saying, [19:38] Earl is just creating fake drama. [19:41] I'm sure more will unravel with these two. [19:43] Now, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has announced its 2026 inductees, [19:47] and I hate to start with low vibes, but for the third year in a row, [19:52] Mariah Carey was snubbed once again. [19:54] I know it has all of the Dream Lover fans asking, [19:57] what more do you want from Mariah Carey? [20:00] That was my Tyrese impersonation. [20:01] All right. [20:01] Now, artists that did make it include Billy Idol, [20:04] Luther Vandross, Queen Latifah, Celia Cruz, and more. [20:08] I'm personally excited for Sade. [20:10] Yes, the smooth operator singer that is known for avoiding the spotlight. [20:13] She's honored, and this is an honor that is well-deserved. [20:16] And just so you know, to be eligible for induction, [20:19] an individual artist or band must have released its first commercial recording [20:23] at least 25 years prior to the nomination. [20:27] And speaking of nominations, [20:29] Taylor Swift has the honor of leading this year's 52nd American Music Awards [20:33] that's hosted this year by Queen Latifah. [20:36] Now, Taylor Swift leads with eight nominations [20:38] and holds the title for the most awards won at the AMAs, [20:42] with 40 awards. [20:45] Now, the fate of Ophelia Singer may be leading the pack with eight nominations, [20:48] but Olivia Dean, Sabrina Carpenter, [20:51] and somber Foller Swift with seven award nominations. [20:55] And fan voting is open right now if you want to vote. [20:57] All you got to do is go to voteamas.com. [21:00] And finally, a concert tour that has all R&B fans going crazy right now. [21:05] Usher and Chris Brown will set out on a 33-city co-headlining tour. [21:09] The two have shocked fans everywhere [21:13] after they announced their surprise Raymond and Brown tour last week. [21:17] The concert kicks off in Denver, June 26th, [21:19] and the fellas will be hitting cities all over the United States, [21:23] like D.C., L.A., and Atlanta. [21:25] And I'm sure they're going to be adding a lot of dates [21:27] because they're going to be on tour until December 11th. [21:31] Now, Gio, I have a very important question for you. [21:34] Where was Usher at 7 o'clock in his drop-top? [21:40] Oh, God, Rox. [21:41] I know it. [21:42] I know it. [21:43] 7 o'clock. [21:44] Oh, help. [21:46] He was cruising the streets, Gio. [21:48] Okay, there we go. [21:48] He was cruising the streets. [21:49] You know what? [21:49] Because I got Ray on my mind right now. [21:51] I'm going to that concert tomorrow night. [21:54] Great comeback. [21:55] Sure, you enjoy that. [21:57] Roxie, thank you so much. [21:59] Don't do that again. [22:00] All right, I'm Gio Benitez. [22:01] This is Search on ABC News Live, where your questions meet real answers. [22:05] We're going to leave you with what's trending right now on abcnews.com. [22:07] You can scan the big QR code right there on your screen. [22:10] There it is. [22:11] Scan that, catch up, and we'll see you back here tomorrow.