Cause of Death of Tragic Carnival Cruise Girl, 18, Revealed

The cause of death for a teenage girl who died aboard a Carnival Cruise ship has been revealed.

Anna Kepner, an 18-year-old cheerleader from Titusville, Florida, died from asphyxiation resulting from a bar hold—an arm across the neck—according to a source who spoke to ABC News on Friday.

The source shared that investigators found two bruises on the side of her neck, and that preliminary information suggests there were no signs of sexual assault or that she was under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Cozumel, Mexico, Cruise Port Pier, arriving Carnival Horizon cruise ship. (Photo by: Jeffrey Greenberg/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)Jeff Greenberg/Jeffrey Greenberg/Universal Imag

Kepner had been on the Carnival Horizon cruise from Florida to the Caribbean with her family when she was found dead on November 8. The ship returned to port in Miami the same day.

Her body was found stuffed under a bed, wrapped in a blanket and covered by life vests, according to sources familiar with the investigation.

Federal investigators are looking into her 16-year-old step-brother as a potential suspect, according to a court filing in an unrelated custody case.

The filing came from Kepner’s stepmother, Shauntel Hudson, who was on the cruise with her children and Kepner’s father. She asked the family court to postpone a custody hearing because one of her children may face criminal charges, the filing said.

Kepner’s step-brother was allegedly “obsessed” with her, according to reporting from Inside Edition.

The outlet spoke with Steven Westin, the father of Kepner’s ex-boyfriend, who claims that Kepner was “scared of [her step-brother], because he always carried around a big knife.”

Westin also shared that his son witnessed Kepner’s step-brother lay on top of her while she was sleeping during a FaceTime call, adding that “[her step-brother] always wanted to date her.”

The tragedy of the teenager’s death deepened as details of how she was found stuffed under a bed emerged.Anna Kepner/Instagram

Kepner’s funeral was held on Thursday in her hometown of Titusville. Some family members were asked not to attend due to tensions over the ongoing investigation into her stepbrother’s potential involvement.

Kepner’s biological mother, Heather, told Inside Edition she was asked not to come by other family members, but said she would go to the funeral in disguise. She divorced from Kepner’s father, Christopher, when Kepner was 5.

“I’m going to put a wig on and wear some really tall shoes because I’m 4-foot-9,” she said.

Kepner’s obituary stated that she planned to join the U.S. Navy after graduation and wanted to become a K-9 police officer.

“Anna was pure energy: bubbly, funny, outgoing, and completely herself,” her obituary said.

“The Kepner family asks for privacy and respect during this difficult time — and for everyone to remember Anna with laughter, color, sunshine, and love. Because that’s exactly how she lived her life.”

Dad of Cheerleader Who Died on Cruise Is Being Kept in the Dark

The grieving father of an 18-year-old cheerleader found dead on board a Carnival cruise ship is begging the FBI for answers about her death.

Anna Kepner was on a six-day cruise from Florida to Mexico with her family when she was mysteriously declared dead on Friday morning. FBI agents swarmed the ship when it docked in Miami the next day, and the girl’s family still claims to have “no idea” what happened to her.

“We were there as a family. Everybody was questioned,” Anna’s father, Christopher Kepner, 41, told the Daily Mail. “Everybody came off that ship. I don’t know who they are looking at or what their investigation is.”

Anna Kepner, 18, was found dead on-board a cruise ship in international waters.Jeff Greenberg/Jeffrey Greenberg/Universal Imag

Agents interviewed Kepner’s entire traveling party, which also included his wife, his two younger children, and Anna’s step-siblings.

“The FBI hasn’t shared anything with me yet,” he added. “I would imagine they’re going to be in contact with me about it, but I know as little as everybody else.”

“I have no idea what is going on right now. We are just trying to sit still and wait for answers.”

The hulking Carnival Horizon cruise ship was in international waters at the time of the incident, midway between Cozumel and Miami. Both the distance from land and the number of people onboard the 3,700-capacity megaship meant the case was beyond the scope of local law enforcement, placing it under the FBI’s jurisdiction.

Anna’s death has turned the family’s lives “upside down,” Kepner explained, and said the rampant speculation about his daughter’s death on social media has all but forced him from the internet.

“I’ve had to shut the world out. I don’t watch the TV anymore. We’ve literally had to stop doing anything to do with the internet,” said Kepner, who works as a crane operator in Cape Canaveral.

“We are very private people. Our lives have been turned upside down.”

Anna, affectionately known as “Anna Banana” by her family, was set to graduate from high school next May and had just finished her first test to join the military, her parents said.

Kepner said his daughter was “an 18-year-old, beautiful young girl” who had her whole life ahead of her.

“She was graduating in May and then she was going to go off into the military to be master of arms and after a few years come back to her small town to be a canine unit with the Titusville Police Department.”

“She was full of life and loved by everyone in this community,” he added. “The whole family is lost for words. We miss her and love her more than anything.”

Carnival Cruise Lines confirmed Kepner’s passing in a statement, and said “Our focus is on supporting the family of our guest and cooperating with the FBI.”