The mysterious death of 18-year-old high-school cheerleader Anna Kepner aboard the Carnival Horizon on November 8 continues to be shrouded in secrecy, but newly surfaced family court documents and exclusive interviews are focusing intense scrutiny on her 16-year-old stepbrother. According to Anna’s grandparents, the teen, who is reportedly being investigated as a possible suspect, was in a state of profound shock when her body was discovered, emphasizing the closeness of the blended family.
Anna Kepner, a high-school cheerleader from Titusville, Florida, was on a family vacation when she was found dead concealed under a bed in a stateroom on the cruise ship. While the FBI has officially confirmed it is investigating the case, the agency has not publicly named a suspect or a person of interest.
Family Court Filings Name Suspect
Despite the official silence, court filings in a separate, unrelated child custody case have offered the clearest public indication yet that federal investigators are scrutinizing a member of the victim’s family.
In a petition obtained by reporters, Thomas Hudson, the biological father of Anna’s 16-year-old stepbrother, stated that the teenager is a “suspect in the death of the step child during the cruise.”
Anna’s stepmother and the boy’s biological mother, Shauntel Hudson (who is sometimes identified as Shauntel Kepner in media reports), made similar acknowledgments in her own court documents, stating that the FBI had informed her that her son could be facing a criminal case following Kepner’s death.
Grandparents: ‘He Couldn’t Even Speak’
Anna Kepner’s biological grandparents provided key insights into the dynamic between the two teens, telling ABC News in an exclusive interview that Anna and her stepbrother were extremely close, often described as being like “two peas in a pod.”
Her grandmother, Barbara Kepner, recounted the stepbrother’s reaction after Anna’s body was found, suggesting his state was one of utter distress. “He was an emotional mess. He couldn’t even speak,” Barbara said. “He couldn’t believe what had happened.”
Investigators reportedly informed the family that security footage from the ship indicated that the boy, who was sharing the room with Anna, was the only person seen going in and out of the cabin during the critical time period.
The 16-year-old allegedly told the family he has no recollection of the events that transpired in the room. “In his own words, say he does not remember what happened,” Barbara Kepner told ABC News, adding, “I believe, to him, that is his truth.” She refrained from commenting on speculation about a criminal case against him, stating, “I can’t accuse him because I don’t know what happened in that room.”
Following the cruise ship’s arrival in Miami, the teen was hospitalized for psychiatric observation before being released, a detail confirmed by his father’s lawyer.
Cause of Death Remains Limited
Nearly three weeks since the tragedy, information about the circumstances surrounding Anna’s death remains highly limited, with federal officials refusing to comment on the ongoing investigation. A formal ruling regarding the cause and nature of her death has not been publicly announced.
However, a source close to the investigation previously told ABC News that Kepner died by asphyxiation from a “bar hold”—a restraint where an arm is held across the neck. Reporters have not independently verified this information, and the Miami-Dade County Medical Examiner’s office continues to defer all inquiries to the FBI, who have repeatedly stated they “do not provide operational updates about ongoing investigations.”
