The Federal Bureau of Investigation is focusing its investigation into the mysterious death of an 18-year-old Florida cheerleader on her 16-year-old stepbrother, who was aboard the same Carnival cruise ship when she died.
Disturbing Discovery at Sea
Anna Kepner was discovered deceased in her cabin aboard the Carnival Horizon cruise ship on November 8, 2025. The circumstances of the discovery were deeply disturbing. Her body had been wrapped in a blanket, covered with life jackets, and concealed beneath a bed. An autopsy later confirmed she had died the night before her discovery.
The high school senior from Florida was on a Caribbean-bound cruise when the tragedy occurred. She was sharing her cabin with her 14-year-old biological brother and her 16-year-old stepbrother, who is now considered a suspect by the FBI according to court documents obtained by the Daily Mail.
A Family in Turmoil
Complicating the investigation is a bitter and ongoing legal battle between the teen's parents. Anna Kepner's stepmother, Shauntel Hudson, and her father, Christopher Kepner, who divorced in 2023, have been engaged in a fierce custody dispute over their two minor children. One of those children is the 16-year-old stepbrother now under scrutiny.
Court filings reveal allegations of a troubled family dynamic. Hudson has accused her ex-husband of domestic and physical abuse against their children. In turn, Christopher Kepner has pointed the finger at his ex-wife, claiming in legal papers that her choices have jeopardized their son's future. The custody battle was scheduled for a hearing in December.
Life of a Promising Teen Cut Short
Friends and family remember Anna Kepner as a bright, energetic, and smiling teen with a passion for cheerleading and the beach. She was a member of the Temple Christian School Class of 2026 and its Varsity Cheer Team.
Kepner had ambitious plans for her future. She intended to join the U.S. Navy after her graduation in the spring and later hoped to become a police K-9 handler. Her life was celebrated on Thursday, November 20, at 5 p.m. at The Grove Church in her hometown of Titusville, Florida, on the state's Space Coast.
In a heartbreaking detail, it was reported that Kepner's 14-year-old brother had gone to sleep in their shared cabin just feet away from where his sister's body was hidden. Noticing she was absent, he had assumed she was with their parents. The 16-year-old stepbrother, identified in court documents only as "TH," is currently in the care of his maternal relatives.
The Miami-Dade County Medical Examiner's Office is handling the autopsy to determine the official cause of death. Authorities have not yet publicly stated how Anna Kepner died or confirmed if her death is being treated as a homicide. The family has declined to comment, with "No Trespassing" signs posted at the stepmother's Titusville home.
