It has been almost a month since 18-year-old high school cheerleader Anna Kepner was found dead aboard a Carnival Cruise Line ship – yet the circumstances surrounding her killing remain shrouded in mystery.
Kepner was discovered on November 7 in her cabin on the Carnival Horizon, her body reportedly wrapped in a blanket, covered in life jackets, and placed beneath a bed. The disturbing details immediately captured national attention, raising urgent questions about what happened during the family vacation.
Despite the public interest, federal investigators have released no information about the events leading to her death or the progress of their investigation.
FBI Tight-Lipped as Investigation Continues
The FBI boarded the ship when it returned to the Port of Miami following its six-day Caribbean itinerary, but officials have not named a suspect or commented publicly on evidence.
The only indication of a potential suspect came indirectly – through unrelated custody filings submitted by the parents of Kepner’s 16-year-old stepbrother. In those court documents, the teen was identified as a suspect, though he has not been charged.
According to filings submitted by his father, Thomas Hudson: “The sixteen-year-old child is now a suspect in the death of the stepchild during the cruise.”
The boy was briefly detained before being released and is now staying with a relative. Details about his detention, questioning, or why no charges have been filed remain unclear.
Family Members Demand Answers
Kepner’s father, Christopher, has been outspoken about his frustration and his desire for accountability.
“I do not stand behind what my stepson has done,” he said. “I want him to face the consequences.”
He added that only two people were present in the cabin: “He was the only one that was in the room and the FBI has an ongoing investigation in which they will have to provide the evidence to say that he did do it or did not do this.”
A death certificate obtained by ABC News lists asphyxiation as the cause of death, and federal investigators have classified the case as a homicide. However, the Miami-Dade Medical Examiner has not publicly released the full cause or manner of death.
Timeline and Key Details Still Unclear
The death certificate reportedly lists the date of injury as November 6 – one day before Kepner’s body was found. However, no time of injury was recorded, adding yet another gap in the timeline.
Authorities have not released any information about what may have occurred in the hours leading up to her death, nor whether foul play is definitively linked to an altercation inside the cabin.
Report Points to Possible Altercation Inside Cabin
One avenue authorities are reportedly exploring is whether a confrontation unfolded between Kepner and her stepbrother the night before her body was discovered.
Her ex-boyfriend, Joshua Tew, told reporters that Kepner’s younger sibling – who was also sharing the cabin – reported hearing a violent argument behind the locked door.
According to Tew, the younger sibling claimed he heard “yelling and chairs being thrown,” along with the stepbrother shouting, “Shut the hell up,” at Kepner.
“He knew something was going on,” Tew said. “Something was banging around, like chairs were getting thrown around in the room.”
Grandparents Plead for Clarity
Kepner’s grandparents, Barbara and Jeffrey, have also publicly pressed for answers, saying the truth of what happened must come out.
“Whatever happened in that room, the only person responsible is the person that was in the room with Anna,” Barbara said, referring to the 16-year-old boy.