The family tragedy aboard the Carnival Horizon has deepened as Christopher Kepner, the father of slain 18-year-old Anna Kepner, has publicly addressed the shocking possibility that his 16-year-old stepson may be involved in his daughter’s death. While the FBI continues its investigation without naming an official suspect, court documents from a separate child custody matter have strongly implicated the teen, forcing the father to take a firm stance.
Christopher Kepner, 41, confirms he last saw his daughter on the evening of November 6 when the blended family gathered for dinner aboard the cruise ship. Anna’s body was tragically found under a bed in her stateroom the following day by a housekeeper. Adding gravity to the situation, the victim’s death certificate, obtained by reporters, officially states that Anna died from “mechanical asphyxiated by other person(s),” confirming the death was a homicide.
The Father’s Fight for Consequences
Soon after the FBI launched its investigation into the death, Christopher’s wife (Anna’s stepmother and the boy’s biological mother) stated in unrelated court filings that her 16-year-old son may be subject to a criminal investigation, essentially naming him as a focus of the federal probe.
While declining to explicitly confirm his stepson’s guilt due to the ongoing investigation, Christopher Kepner made it clear that he will not protect the teenager if the evidence proves involvement.
“I do not stand behind what my stepson has done,” Christopher said. He added with firm resolution: “I want him to face the consequences … I will be fighting to make sure that does happen.”
When pressed on whether he believes his stepson is responsible, Christopher maintained a careful distance, acknowledging the investigative facts while deferring to law enforcement: “I cannot say that he is responsible but I can’t decline. He was the only one that was in the room and the FBI has an ongoing investigation in which they will have to provide the evidence to say that he did do it or did not do this.”
A Closeness Before the Tragedy
Christopher’s current statements align with the general sentiment of his daughter’s grandparents, who had previously noted the strong bond between the two teenagers. “He was a normal kid,” Christopher said, echoing the grandparents’ sentiment that the slain teen and her stepbrother were close, like “two peas in a pod.”
“And I would’ve never thought that any of this would’ve happened,” he added, reflecting the shock and disbelief felt across the entire family.
With the FBI maintaining tight lips on the details of the investigation, Christopher Kepner concludes that the only path to clarity is through federal procedure. “Right now, my best course of action is to let the FBI do what they’re doing,” he stated. “They have the evidence that they need. When they make the arrest then we’ll start seeing the justice side of things.” The FBI has jurisdiction over the case since the death of a U.S. citizen occurred in international waters.
