Executive Summary
- Anna Kepner, 18, was found dead aboard the Carnival Horizon on November 7.
- Court documents from a custody battle identify her 16-year-old stepbrother as a suspect.
- Family members allege the cause of death was asphyxiation, though official reports are pending.
- The FBI is leading the investigation into the incident.
Federal authorities are investigating the death of 18-year-old Anna Kepner, who was found deceased aboard the Carnival Horizon cruise ship on November 7, following the release of court filings that identify her teenage stepbrother as a suspect. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has assumed primary jurisdiction over the case, which is standard protocol for potential major crimes occurring aboard U.S.-based vessels in international waters.
According to records from the Miami-Dade Medical Examiner Department, Kepner was pronounced dead shortly before noon on November 7. While the official cause and manner of death remain listed as pending, family members stated in an interview with ABC News that the teenager died from asphyxiation. Reports indicate that a cleaning crew member discovered Kepner’s body concealed under a bed in a cabin she had been sharing with her stepbrother and other teenagers during the voyage.
The identification of the 16-year-old stepbrother as a suspect was disclosed in civil court documents regarding a custody dispute involving Kepner’s stepmother, Shauntel Hudson. In legal filings submitted on November 17, attorneys for Hudson wrote that the “sixteen year old child is now a suspect in the death of the step child during the cruise.” The filing notes that the families were vacationing together when the incident occurred.
Surveillance footage secured by security personnel allegedly shows the stepbrother as the sole individual entering and exiting the shared cabin during the timeframe of the incident, Kepner’s grandmother, Barbara Kepner, told ABC News. She described the siblings as having a close relationship and noted that the stepbrother appeared to be in a state of shock, claiming no memory of the event. Following the ship’s docking in Miami, the juvenile was hospitalized for psychiatric observation and subsequently released to family members in Hernando County, according to reports from Florida Today.
Carnival Cruise Line issued a statement confirming full cooperation with the federal inquiry. The FBI has declined to release specific operational details, citing the active status of the investigation.
Investigative and Legal Context
This case highlights the specific jurisdictional authority the FBI holds over crimes committed within the special maritime jurisdiction of the United States. The investigation will likely hinge heavily on the pending autopsy results and forensic analysis of the cabin environment to determine if the death was accidental or the result of foul play. Furthermore, the involvement of a juvenile suspect introduces distinct legal procedures regarding questioning and potential prosecution within the federal system. It is important to note that all individuals, including the minor identified in court documents, are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.