The death of 18-year-old Florida cheerleader Anna Kepner aboard a Carnival cruise ship this month has prompted a widening federal investigation, newly surfaced court records show. The FBI, which has jurisdiction because the incident occurred in international waters, has released few details about the circumstances surrounding Kepner’s death. But an emergency motion filed in a Brevard County family court suggests that one of the teen’s stepsiblings may face criminal exposure in the case. Why It Matters The court filing-in which Kepner’s stepmother says she cannot testify because the FBI warned that a minor in her household could be prosecuted-marks the first on-record indication that the inquiry has focused on someone within the teen’s blended family. The unusual intersection of a private custody dispute with a federal death investigation underscores the case’s growing complexity and raises new questions about what happened aboard the ship in the hours before Kepner was found dead on November 8. What To Know Kepner, from Titusville, Florida, was found dead on November 8 while on a six-day Caribbean cruise with her father, stepmother and extended blended family. Her body was discovered in her cabin by a crew member late that morning. The Miami-Dade County Medical Examiner listed her time of death at 11: 17 a. m. November 7, though no cause or manner of death has been publicly identified. Stepmother’s Emergency Court Filing Kepner’s stepmother, Shauntel Hudson, filed an emergency motion on November 17 in a separate divorce and custody case. The filing contains no additional details about household problems or what may have happened on the cruise beyond confirming that the FBI is investigating Kepner’s death and that one of Hudson’s minor children may face a criminal case. The document is procedural, offering no description of alleged wrongdoing or family dynamics, only stating that testimony could be self-incriminating and requesting a delay in the divorce hearing. However, in the filing, Hudson’s attorney wrote that “an extremely sensitive and severe circumstance has arisen,” preventing Hudson from testifying as scheduled. “Currently there is an investigation being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigations (F. B. I.) arising out of the sudden death of eighteen (18) year old Anna Kepner,” the motion states, noting that Hudson and her minor children were on the ship with Kepner and her father at the time of the teen’s death. The filing continues: “The Respondent has been advised through discussions with FBI investigators and her attorneys, that a criminal case may be initiated against one of the minor children of this instant action.” Hudson’s motion further asserts that any testimony she might provide “could be prejudicial to her or her adolescent child in this pending criminal investigation,” invoking her right against self-incrimination under the Florida Constitution. Her request seeks a continuance of the family-court hearing “until the criminal investigation has been concluded.” Family Response And Ongoing Investigation Kepner’s father, Christopher Kepner, has said publicly that he has not been provided details about the investigation. “The FBI hasn’t shared anything with me yet,” he told the Daily Mail, adding, “I have no idea what is going on right now. We are just trying to sit still and wait for answers.” He said the family, including all children and adults traveling together, had been interviewed by agents after the ship docked in Miami. Anna had told her family the evening before her death that she felt unwell and returned to her cabin. When she did not appear at breakfast the next morning, her family began searching the ship. A maid later discovered her body, according to the Daily Mail, and the ship altered its course to return to Miami. Carnival Cruise Line said in a statement that its “focus is on supporting the family of our guest and cooperating with the FBI.” The FBI has said only that no further information is being released at this time. Kepner, a high school senior, was described by family and her school community as an energetic and well-liked student with plans to join the military after graduation. Temple Christian School, where she was a gymnast and varsity cheerleader, called her “a bright, kind-hearted young woman whose presence brought warmth and energy into the classroom” in a statement shared on social media. What People Are Saying Christopher Kepner, Anna’s father: “’We were there as a family. Everybody was questioned. Everybody came off that ship. I don’t know who they are looking at or what their investigation is. I have no idea what is going on right now. We are just trying to sit still and wait for answers.” What Happens Next The next phase of the investigation will unfold largely out of public view as the FBI completes forensic work, awaits medical examiner findings and evaluates whether evidence supports potential charges against a minor stepsibling identified in the family-court filing. The custody case involving that child could be paused, and while the family might eventually receive private updates, federal juvenile investigations are tightly sealed, meaning any public disclosure could take months.
https://www.newsweek.com/anna-kepner-death-update-stepsibling-on-cruise-ship-may-face-criminal-case-11073502
Anna Kepner Death Update: Stepsibling on Cruise Ship May Face Criminal Case
