Federal agents are investigating the death of 18-year-old Anna Kepner, who was found dead on the Carnival Horizon cruise ship on Tuesday (November 7). The teenager, a cheerleader from Titusville, Florida, was discovered under a bed, wrapped in a blanket and covered by life vests, according to a security source briefed on the investigation. The Miami-Dade medical examiner has yet to specify the cause or manner of her death.
A court filing in an unrelated family court matter revealed that Kepner’s stepbrother, a minor, may face charges in connection to her death. Shauntel Hudson, Kepner’s stepmother, requested a delay in her custody hearing, citing the ongoing criminal investigation involving her minor child. A man claiming to be Kepner’s uncle alleged that her stepbrother was responsible for her death, although these claims remain unverified.
Investigators are considering whether an altercation with her stepbrother occurred before her death, as reported by ABC News. Other possibilities, such as a medical emergency or an overdose, are also being explored. The FBI is reviewing ship security records, including camera footage and access-card swipes, to piece together the events leading up to her death.
Carnival Cruise Line stated their focus is on supporting the family and cooperating with the FBI. Kepner was a senior at Temple Christian School in Titusville and was planning to join the army after graduation. Her family has not yet commented publicly on the investigation.
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