Executive Summary
- Anna Kepner, 18, was found dead under a bed on a Carnival cruise ship on November 8.
- Sources told ABC News the cause of death was asphyxiation caused by a “bar hold.”
- The FBI is investigating, and reports suggest a potential criminal case involving a stepbrother.
Anna Kepner, an 18-year-old high school student from Florida, was found dead aboard a Carnival cruise ship on November 8, with emerging reports citing asphyxiation as the cause of death. While the Miami-Dade County Medical Examiner has not yet released an official report, sources familiar with the investigation have provided preliminary details regarding the circumstances of the teenager’s death.
According to a source cited by ABC News, Kepner died from asphyxiation resulting from a “bar hold,” described as an arm placed across the neck. Investigators reportedly identified two bruises on the side of the victim’s neck. The same reports indicate that Kepner’s body showed no signs of sexual assault, and toxicology screenings reportedly found no traces of drugs or alcohol in her system.
Law enforcement sources confirmed to ABC News and CBS News that a housekeeper discovered Kepner wrapped in blankets and positioned under a bed in a cabin. The teenager had been traveling on a Caribbean family vacation with her father, stepmother, and three stepsiblings at the time of the incident. Upon the ship’s return to Miami, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) assumed jurisdiction and opened an investigation.
According to reporting by WESH, a criminal case “may be initiated” against Kepner’s stepbrother. The FBI has reportedly declined to comment on specific details as the inquiry remains active, and a final autopsy report is still pending.
Investigative Status
The investigation into Kepner’s death underscores the federal jurisdiction over serious incidents occurring on U.S.-based cruise vessels in international waters. As authorities await the finalized autopsy results to corroborate the preliminary findings of asphyxiation, the focus of the inquiry will likely center on forensic evidence recovered from the cabin and interviews with the family members present on the voyage. Regarding reports identifying the stepbrother as a subject of interest, it is important to note that all individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.