Court hearing: Stepbrother ‘suspect’ hospitalized after Anna Kepner’s death on cruise ship
Teen stepbrother is the subject of a child custody dispute
Amid an FBI probe into the death of 18-year-old Anna Kepner aboard a Carnival cruise ship, the teen’s stepmother appeared at a court hearing Thursday involving custody of two children from her previous marriage.
One of those children, a 16-year-old boy, has been described by his parents as a “suspect” in Anna Kepner’s death.
The FBI has not confirmed the 16-year-old is a suspect, nor has the agency disclosed details about its investigation into Anna Kepner’s death.
Shauntel Kepner, who is the children’s biological mother and the stepmother of Anna Kepner, has been involved in a child custody dispute with her ex-husband, Thomas Hudson, for more than a year, court records show.
“The older child, who is approximately 16 years of age, is a suspect in the death of the stepchild,” Thomas Hudson’s attorney, Scott Smith, told the judge during a remote court hearing conducted online Thursday morning.
Although there was no immediate resolution to the former couple’s ongoing child custody dispute, the court hearing revealed new details about the cruise on the Carnival Horizon, which returned to the Port of Miami on Nov. 8.
Anna Kepner was joined on the cruise by her father, Christopher Kepner, her stepmother, Shauntel Kepner, and at least two of her children.
Anna Kepner shared a stateroom with her 16-year-old stepbrother, according to Hudson’s attorney.
“It’s our understanding that, because the cruise was in international waters… the 16-year-old was allowed to drink,” said Smith. “The teenagers were given their own room in which to stay. Just a lot of circumstances that showed that the mother in this case was not exercising appropriate supervision over this child or the other child involved.”
[WATCH: 16-year-old stepbrother ‘suspect’ in Titusville teen’s death on cruise ship, court documents show]
16-year-old stepbrother ‘suspect’ in Titusville teen’s death on cruise ship, court documents show
226
Millicent Athanason, Shauntel Kepner’s attorney, disputed the allegation that the 16-year-old consumed alcohol.
“The issue that counsel raised about drinking, there are videotapes on the ship that confirmed that there was absolutely no drinking,” said Athanason. “DCF investigated and saw there was no alcohol in mom’s house whatsoever. So I’m not sure where that’s coming from.”
The 16-year-old was hospitalized “immediately after the incident” for an undisclosed reason, according to Athanason, and is now living with one of his mother’s relatives.
Shauntel Kepner indicated her 16-year-old son “has a psychiatrist appointment” early next month, but did not elaborate after the judge cautioned the mother not to speak without first seeking advice from her attorney.
Brevard County Circuit Court Judge Michelle Pruitt Studstill scheduled a four-hour hearing on Dec. 5 to address child custody arrangements between Shauntel Kepner and her ex-husband.
The attorneys indicated Christopher Kepner, who was also on the cruise, could be called to testify at that hearing.
Hudson’s attorney indicated his client’s 16-year-old son might also be asked to appear in court.
“I would anticipate that the child will choose not to testify and invoke his Fifth Amendment right,” the judge said. “But I don’t know. If you are intending to call him, you will need to file a motion with the court prior to the hearing.”
News
HE WAS STARING AT THE WALL FOR 10 MINUTES — WIFE REVEALS THE MOMENT SHAMAR ELKINS ‘SNAPPED’ BEFORE THE HORROR UNFOLDED IN SHREVEPORT
“HE WAS STARING AT THE WALL FOR 10 MINUTES” — WIFE REVEALS THE MOMENT SHAMAR ELKINS ‘SNAPPED’ BEFORE THE HORROR UNFOLDED IN SHREVEPORTIn a chilling new account, the surviving wife of Shamar Elkins describes a disturbing silence inside the home…
“THE MESSAGE WAS DELETED IN 0.8 SECONDS.” A recovered phone revealed a message typed by Shamar Elkins that was deleted in less than a second. Forensic analysis showed the message contained only seven words. Investigators refused to disclose even part of its content… but said it directly referred to “what would happen next.”
The digital fingerprint of a crime is often more revealing than the physical scene itself and in the aftermath of the Shreveport massacre on April 19 2026 the technological forensic investigation has taken center stage. While the public and the…
“THE CHILD HID UNDER THE TABLE FOR 37 MINUTES” A survivor reportedly hid under a kitchen table for 37 minutes during the chaos. When found, the child calmly recounted to investigators what Shamar Elkins said before the first shots were fired — a detail that contradicts everything recorded in the 911 call
THE ARCHITECTURE OF A TRAGEDY IN CEDAR GROVE The events of that Sunday morning did not occur in a vacuum. Shamar Elkins, a 31-year-old former signal support systems specialist in the Louisiana Army National Guard, was a man whose life…
“HE SEARCHED THIS PHRASE SIX TIMES BEFORE THE ATTACK — POLICE ARE BRAINLED.” Phone records linked to Shamar Elkins reveal a disturbing pattern: the same search term was entered six times in less than 48 hours before the tragedy. Detectives say this is unrelated to any known family disputes… and may point to an unexpected underlying cause
THE ANATOMY OF A FAMILY ANNIHILATION: BEYOND THE VIRAL HOOKS The tragedy that unfolded in Shreveport, Louisiana, on April 19, 2026, has been described by local officials as one of the most “evil” scenes in the city’s history. Eight children…
BREAKING NEWS: Troy Brown, Shamar Elkins’ brother-in-law and father of one of his victims, has revealed the last message Elkins sent, which still haunts him
Brother-in-law of suspect Shamar Elkins speaks out Man facing divorce kills 8 children, including 7 of his own, in shooting rampage A Louisiana man killed 8 children, 7 of his own. His family said warning signs preceded the tragedy …
“THE 911 CALL WENT SILENT FOR EXACTLY 11 SECONDS.” Dispatchers reviewing the audio tied to Shamar Elkins say there is a strange 11-second gap where no sound is recorded at all — no voices, no background noise. When the audio returns, one child is heard whispering something that police refuse to confirm… and it changes everything
THE SHREVEPORT MASSACRE: A DESCENT INTO DOMESTIC TERROR The silence that fell over the Cedar Grove neighborhood of Shreveport, Louisiana, on the morning of April 19, 2026, was not the peaceful quiet of a Sunday dawn. It was a heavy,…
End of content
No more pages to load
