A family holiday aboard a Carnival cruise ship ended in tragedy when an 18-year-old cheerleader from Florida was found dead in her cabin, with her teenage stepbrother now named as a suspect in her mysterious death.
A Grim Discovery at Sea
Anna Kepner, aged 18, was on a six-day Caribbean cruise with her father, stepmother, siblings, and step-siblings when her life was cut short. The incident occurred on November 7, while the ship, the Carnival Horizon, was sailing in international waters between Mexico and Florida.
Sources close to the investigation revealed the harrowing details of the discovery. Anna's body was found wrapped in a blanket and had been concealed under a bed inside her own cabin. This grim find prompted an immediate response, with FBI agents swarming the vessel as soon as it docked in Miami a day later.
The 'Obsessed' Stepbrother and Family Warnings
Court filings obtained by the Daily Mail confirm that Anna's 16-year-old stepbrother, who cannot be named for legal reasons, is now officially a 'suspect' in her death. The boy was reportedly 'obsessed' with the teenager.
Steven Westin, the father of Anna's ex-boyfriend, gave an interview to Inside Edition, claiming the stepbrother was 'infatuated, attracted to her like crazy' and had relentlessly pursued a romantic relationship with Anna despite their blended family dynamic. Westin further alleged that his own son had tried to warn Anna's parents about the stepbrother's behaviour, but claimed the family 'didn't want to believe me.'
Legal Fallout and Custody Battle
In the wake of the tragedy, the 16-year-old suspect has been released from custody but is now in the care of an unnamed 'third party'. The situation has triggered a legal battle within the family.
The boy's anxious father, Thomas Hudson, filed an urgent motion on Tuesday demanding clarification on what is happening to his son. The filing also seeks immediate custody of his other minor child, a nine-year-old girl who currently lives in Titusville, Florida, with Shauntel Hudson and Anna's father, Christopher Kepner.
The motion starkly states, 'The respondent took the remaining minor children on a cruise with a stepchild of her paramour. The sixteen-year-old child is now a suspect in the death of the stepchild during the cruise.' The FBI investigation continues as the family grapples with an unimaginable loss.
