STORYLINE: The Anna Kepner case has taken a darker turn — 13 days after the 18-year-old was found dead on a Carnival cruise, FBI agents reveal EXCLUSIVE details about her stepmother
Sources close to the investigation now say the family tragedy may hold vital clues to what really happened in Anna’s final 24 hours… and why key witnesses suddenly refused to testify.
Mystery over Anna Kepner’s cause of death deepens as FBI ‘still unclear if murder or overdose’ 13 days after body found
Anna Kepner’s stepmom is involved in a bitter custody battle with her estranged ex-husband
THE mystery surrounding Anna Kepner’s cause of death has continued to puzzle investigators as they probe several theories as to how the bubbly cheerleader died at sea while on a Carnival cruise ship.
Kepner, a senior at a high school in central Florida, was on a cruise with her family when she was found dead, wrapped in a blanket, covered in life jackets, and stuffed under a bed in her cabin on November 7.
Anna Kepner was described as a bubbly and affectionate teen, who planned to join the US Military after graduating high schoolCredit: TikTok
At the time of her death, Kepner was on a six-day cruise trip with her stepmother and two of her step siblingsCredit: Facebook/Shauntel Kepner
The Carnival Cruise ship returned to the Port of Miami on November 8, a day after Kepner’s body was foundCredit: AP
The 18-year-old’s body was only removed from the cruise after the ship returned to the Port of Miami the following day as scheduled.
But 13 days after the high schooler’s remains were discovered, federal investigators are still unclear as to what occurred on the ship in the hours leading up to Kepner’s death.
The Miami-Dade Medical Examiner’s Office recorded Kepner’s time of death as 11:17 am on November 7; however, the cause or manner of death has not been disclosed.
Investigators are probing several avenues, including whether there may have been an altercation between Kepner and her step-sibling, according to ABC News.
The step-sibling, who is only described as a 16-year-old minor, is considered a suspect in Kepner’s death, according to court documents viewed by The U.S. Sun.
Kepner was on the Carnival‘s Horizon with her father Christopher, her stepmom, Shauntel, and her two of her step-siblings.
The motion, filed by the minor’s father, Thomas Hudson, in his unrelated custody battle with his ex-wife, who is also Kepner’s stepmom, said the 16-year-old was briefly taken into custody but then released.
The minor is currently living with a third party at an unknown location, the court filing read.
Meanwhile, federal investigators are also looking into other possibilities, including whether Kepner could have died from a medical emergency or an overdose, the outlet reported.
Investigators are also reportedly combing through surveillance footage from the cruise and access-card swipes.
The FBI, which took over the investigation because Kepner died on international waters, reportedly recovered video from the vessel that showed Kepner with a suspect, according to Fox News.
BITTER CUSTODY BATTLE
Kepner’s stepmom, Shauntel, and her ex-husband, Hudson, are engaged in a bitter custody battle over their three children – an adult child, the 16-year-old minor who is under investigation, and a 9-year-old.
In a recent emergency motion, Hudson said that the couple’s oldest child lives with him after his child was involved in an alleged “violent altercation” with his mother and her new husband, Christopher Kepner – the father of the deceased high school cheerleader.
Hudson said the couple’s other two children live with his ex-wife, who he accused of denying him parenting time with his youngest child, according to court documents.
He claimed Shauntel “is continuing to alienate the two youngest children from him.”
Christopher Kepner, the father of the deceased high school cheerleader, and his wife, ShauntelCredit: Facebook/Shauntel Kepner
Investigators are examining other possibilities as to how Anna Kepner could have died on the shipCredit: TikTok/@fl.anna18
Hudson voiced his concerns over the future of his 16-year-old child and seemingly blamed his ex-wife’s choices for putting him in jeopardy.
“The Petitioner has not been allowed input into the children’s lives and his lack of involvement has negatively impacted the children,” the filing, referring to Hudson, read.
Hudson also claimed to the court that their youngest child is at “immediate risk of abuse, abandonment, or neglect” in the care of their mother.
In his filing, Hudson asked the court to place his youngest child in his care, award him additional parenting time, and address the placement of the 16-year-old.
Timeline of Anna Kepner’s death
Anna Kepner was a high school senior and cheerleader when she found dead on board a Carnival Cruise ship on November 7.
Timeline:
Nov. 6: Anna Kepner’s family said the 18-year-old teen was with them during the evening, but returned to her room early after telling them she was not feeling well.
Nov. 7: Kepner’s relatives grew concerned after the teenager failed to show up when the family gathered for breakfast that morning.
Nov. 7, 11:17 am: A maid reportedly located Kepner’s body under a bed in her cabin as the family search the enormous vessel.
Nov. 8: The Carnival Cruise’s Horizon returned to the Port of Miami after Kepner’s body was discovered. The ship was enroute to Mexico but rerouted to Miami.
Officials with the Miami-Dade Medical Examiner’s Office board the vessel after it docked in Miami and removed Kepner’s body.
The FBI takes over the investigation as Kepner died on international waters.
Nov. 9: Kepner’s family breaks silence in a statement to ABC News, mourning the teen as someone who would light up any room she walked into.
Nov. 17: Kepner’s stepmom filed an emergency motion in an unrelated custody hearing with her ex-husband indicating the FBI is considering a “criminal case” against a young relative.
The ex-husband of Kepner’s stepmom filed a separate emergency motion revealing that a 16-year-old stepsibling is considered “a suspect” in the “death of the step child during the cruise.”
The 16-year-old “suspect” was briefly placed into custody before being released.
The young relative is currently staying with a third party at an unknown location.
