Executive Summary
- An 18-year-old woman, Anna Kepner of Titusville, Florida, died while traveling on the Carnival Horizon cruise ship.
- The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is leading the investigation into the circumstances of her death.
- Carnival Cruise Line has confirmed the death and stated it is cooperating fully with law enforcement.
- The cause of death has not been released as the investigation remains active and ongoing.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation has launched an investigation into the death of an 18-year-old woman aboard a Carnival cruise ship that departed from Miami. Anna Kepner, a recent high school graduate from Titusville, Florida, died on Saturday while traveling on the Carnival Horizon during a voyage to the Caribbean. The circumstances and cause of her death have not been publicly disclosed.
In a statement, Carnival Cruise Line confirmed the death and stated its primary focus is on supporting the guest’s family. The cruise line also affirmed it is fully cooperating with the FBI. “Since this is an ongoing matter under the jurisdiction of law enforcement, it is up to the FBI’s Miami public affairs office to provide further details,” the statement continued.
Family members described Kepner to ABC News as a bright, straight-A student with a “bubbly personality” who could light up a room. They noted her love for being near the water, highlighting her recent boating license and scuba diving certification. Kepner had recently taken the test to join the military and was speaking with recruiters about her career path.
Tributes from her community have been shared following the news of her death. Temple Christian High School, her alma mater, described her as curious, gentle, and caring in a Facebook post. A former employer, Aqua Mart Aquariums, also released a statement praising her work ethic and expressing condolences to her family.
The Carnival Horizon has a guest capacity of 3,960 and sails from Miami and Galveston, Texas, to the Caribbean. The investigation into Ms. Kepner’s death is ongoing, and no further details have been provided by authorities at this time.