Executive Summary
- Anna Kepner, 18, has been cremated following her death aboard the Carnival Horizon; the death certificate lists the time of death as Nov. 7.
- Family members state the cause of death was ruled as homicide by mechanical asphyxiation, though the public death certificate does not list a cause.
- The FBI is leading the investigation, and court documents from a separate custody battle suggest Kepner’s 16-year-old stepbrother is a subject of the inquiry.
Anna Kepner, an 18-year-old from Florida who died aboard the Carnival Horizon cruise ship earlier this month, has been cremated following the issuance of her death certificate. According to a copy of the document obtained by Fox News, Kepner’s official time of death was recorded as 11:17 a.m. on November 7, one day before the vessel returned to its port in Miami.
The publicly available version of the death certificate does not list the cause or manner of death; under Florida law, these specific details are included only on copies provided to the immediate family. The Miami-Dade Medical Examiner’s Office has declined to comment further on the findings, citing the active status of the ongoing investigation.
While federal authorities have not released specific forensic details, Kepner’s family stated in an interview with ABC News that the death was ruled a homicide resulting from mechanical asphyxiation. Dr. Priya Banerjee, a forensic pathologist not involved in the case, noted that mechanical asphyxiation occurs when an external force prevents the chest or abdomen from expanding, thereby hindering breathing.
Family accounts indicate that Kepner was discovered wrapped in a blanket and covered by life jackets under a bed in the cabin she shared with her stepbrother. Although the FBI has not publicly identified a suspect or announced criminal charges, court filings from an unrelated custody dispute involving the stepbrother’s parents suggest the 16-year-old is a subject of the federal inquiry. Christopher Kepner, Anna’s father, has been subpoenaed in that family court case, where attorneys have recently filed a motion for a gag order to prevent public reporting from jeopardizing the investigation.
Investigative Outlook
The progression of this case highlights the complexities of federal investigations involving potential juvenile subjects and maritime jurisdiction. The FBI’s limited release of information aligns with standard protocols designed to protect the integrity of sensitive inquiries, particularly when a minor is involved in the scope of the investigation. The legal maneuvering in the separate family court case underscores the challenges of balancing privacy rights with public scrutiny in high-profile incidents. It is important to note that no criminal charges have been filed, and the 16-year-old mentioned in court documents is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
