Family's Dream Vacation Turns to Tragedy
What should have been a joyous family holiday aboard the Carnival Horizon cruise ship ended in unimaginable tragedy when 18-year-old Anna Kepner was found dead in her cabin earlier this month. The American teenager, described by her grieving grandparents as "mighty" and independent, had been travelling with three generations of her blended family when her life was cut short in shocking circumstances.
Barbara and Jeffrey Kepner, Anna's grandparents, have now revealed that the FBI privately informed them their granddaughter likely died from asphyxiation - possibly from a bar hold - and that the prime suspect in her death is her own stepbrother.
The Final Hours: A Night That Ended in Tragedy
Speaking exclusively to ABC News on Monday 24th November 2025, Barbara Kepner recounted the family's final moments with Anna. "We were all having a great time," she said, struggling to comprehend how their holiday could end so tragically. "I couldn't fathom why anyone would wanna hurt my baby."
On the last evening Anna was seen alive, the teenager's braces had been bothering her, prompting a brief return to the cabin she shared with her two step-siblings. She later rejoined her family in the casino, dressed up and seemingly in better spirits.
"She just said, 'Meemaw, I think I'm gonna go back to my room for a little bit, I don't feel well,'" Barbara recalled. "And she must have felt better, because she got dressed up. And she came down, we were playing in the casino. And she sat down and she played $20. And she didn't win anything. And she said, 'Meemaw, I love you guys, I'll see you later.' She'd pop in and out to check in with us. And we never saw her again after that."
The Morning After: A Devastating Discovery
The following morning, a medical alert sounded through the ship. Jeffrey Kepner immediately recognised the room number being called. "I went blank," he confessed. "I still wake up seeing that."
A crew member discovered Anna's body concealed under the bed with bruising on her neck. When Anna's father entered the room, Barbara said "all he had to do was look at her and he knew she was gone." Upon hearing the devastating news, Barbara recalled, "I just screamed. I couldn't stop screaming."
The FBI investigation has revealed that security footage showed the stepbrother was the only person seen entering and leaving the cabin that night, according to information shared with the family.
Family Torn Apart by Suspicion and Grief
The most heartbreaking aspect for the Kepners is the suspicion surrounding Anna's stepbrother. "I know that those two kids cared about each other in the right way," Barbara said, expressing her difficulty in reconciling the allegations with their family dynamic. "I can't accuse him because I don't know what happened in that room."
The teenage suspect, who hasn't been named publicly, reportedly told Barbara he "does not remember what happened." She added, "I believe, to him, that is his truth."
Following the ship's docking, the stepbrother was interviewed by investigators before being hospitalised for psychiatric observation. He has since been released to stay with a relative, according to family statements and court records.
Ongoing Investigation and Unanswered Questions
While the Miami-Dade Medical Examiner has completed an autopsy, official findings haven't been released. However, the grandparents confirmed they were told there were no signs of sexual assault and no indication of drugs or alcohol in Anna's system. Toxicology results remain pending.
In a separate custody case involving the suspect's mother, her attorney wrote that a "criminal case may be initiated" against one of her children and that she couldn't testify because it "could be prejudicial... in this pending criminal investigation."
No charges have been filed at this time as the FBI continues its investigation into the tragic cruise ship death.
Jeffrey Kepner expressed the family's deepest unanswered question: "The biggest question that I want answered is the why. And that's the answer that I don't know if we'll ever get."
Barbara reflected on the double tragedy that has torn their family apart, saying the incident has taken "more than one child" from them. "I now know how she died. It helps a little bit, but it's not going to bring Anna back," she said. "No matter what we find out... it's not going to bring either one of these children back."
Anna, who had been eager to join the Navy after high school, will never realise her dreams. "We were looking forward to seeing her grow," Jeffrey added mournfully.
Carnival Cruise Line has stated it is supporting the family and cooperating fully with the FBI investigation into this devastating incident that turned a family vacation into every traveller's worst nightmare.
