New details are emerging about the disturbing behavior of the 16-year-old stepbrother now being questioned following the death of 18-year-old Florida cheerleader Anna Kepner.
According to the father of Anna’s ex-boyfriend, the teen had an unhealthy fixation on her long before she was found dead aboard a cruise ship earlier this month.
Stepbrother Allegedly Showed Concerning Behavior Toward Anna
Steven Westin, father of Anna’s ex-boyfriend Joshua, told Inside Edition that the 16-year-old stepbrother had an alarming obsession with Anna ever since their families blended. Westin said his son described the boy as constantly pursuing her, despite Anna being frightened of him.
“She was scared of him because he always carried around a big knife,” Westin said, via The Sun, adding that Joshua once witnessed something unsettling during a FaceTime call.
According to Westin, Joshua saw the stepbrother enter Anna’s room while she was sleeping and climb on top of her. “He’s infatuated, attracted to her like crazy. He always wanted to date her,” Westin said. He added that his son attempted to warn Anna’s parents but claimed, “They didn’t want to believe me.”
Credit: Instagram.
Body Found Hidden in Cruise Cabin
Court documents filed by Anna’s stepmother, Shauntel Hudson, describe how Anna’s body was found on November 8, hidden under her bed and covered with life vests inside the family’s cabin. The teen had been on a six-day cruise with her father, stepmother, her 14-year-old brother and the 16-year-old stepbrother.
The ship was on its return to Port Miami when the grim discovery was made.
Family Remembers Anna as a Joyful, Kind Teen
An obituary published by Anna's family described her as a bright and joyful child who "filled the world with laughter, love, and light".
“She was a really good child,” Hudson told FOX 35. “She never really cried that much as a baby and as a teenager she was the same. Just always happy. She was always trying to make everybody smile.”
Kepner died on the Carnival Horizon cruise ship. Credit: Jeffrey Greenberg / Universal Images Group / Getty Images.
FBI Leads Investigation Into Cruise Ship Death
Because Anna died in international waters, the FBI is handling the investigation. Agents have reportedly questioned the stepbrother, but federal authorities have not released further details and remain tight-lipped as the case continues.
The death of the high school senior has sparked widespread concern, with investigators now working to determine exactly what happened in the hours before her body was found.