Executive Summary
- An 18-year-old woman, Anna Kepner of Titusville, Florida, died aboard the Carnival Horizon cruise ship during a Caribbean voyage.
- The FBI is leading the investigation into her death, which occurred in international waters, but has released few details.
- The victim’s father, Christopher Kepner, stated the family has not been informed of the circumstances surrounding her death.
- The cruise ship altered its course and returned to Miami ahead of schedule following the incident.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is leading an inquiry into the death of an 18-year-old woman from Florida who was found deceased last week aboard a Carnival cruise ship in international waters. The family of the teenager, identified as Anna Kepner, reports they have received little information regarding the circumstances of her death.
The incident occurred on the Carnival Horizon during a six-day Caribbean cruise that departed from Miami. According to a report from the Miami-Dade County Medical Examiner, Kepner’s time of death was recorded as 11:17 a.m. on Friday. Her father, Christopher Kepner, stated that the family remains “in the dark” and is waiting for information from authorities.
“The FBI hasn’t shared anything with me yet. I would imagine they’re going to be in contact with me about it – but I know as little as everybody else,” Christopher Kepner said in a statement. Because the death took place in international waters, the FBI has jurisdiction over the case. Following the incident, the cruise ship altered its course and returned to the Port of Miami on Saturday.
Anna Kepner, a resident of Titusville, Florida, was a high school cheerleader and gymnast at Temple Christian School and was scheduled to graduate in May. Her family noted that she had recently completed a test to join the military. Mr. Kepner said the family has had to “shut the world out” to avoid speculation on social media.
As the investigation proceeds, federal authorities have not released specific details to the public. The Kepner family has requested privacy as they await official findings regarding the teenager’s death.