The grandparents of an 18-year-old Florida woman found dead on a Carnival cruise ship have spoken of their grief after her stepbrother was named a suspect in the case. Anna Kepner, a high school senior from Titusville, was discovered asphyxiated under a bed on the Carnival Horizon on 8 November.
Barbara Kepner told ABC News that the family fears losing both grandchildren, regardless of the outcome. “No matter what we find out, it’s not going to bring either one of these children back,” she said. Investigators said Kepner died from a bar hold to the neck, and her death certificate lists homicide by mechanical asphyxiation.
The 16-year-old stepbrother, who has not been named, was reportedly questioned by law enforcement and described as “an emotional mess” by his grandmother. He told her he does not remember what happened. Kepner’s stepmother, Shauntel Hudson, requested a delay in a custody hearing, citing potential criminal charges against a minor child.
Kepner’s ex-boyfriend, Jim Thew, said she had complained about feeling uncomfortable around her stepbrother. The family had been on a cruise to start a new tradition for their blended family, occupying three staterooms on the vessel.
The FBI is investigating the death but has not commented on potential arrests. The Miami-Dade medical examiner has yet to release autopsy or toxicology reports. Barbara Kepner said knowing the cause of death offers some solace, but “it’s not going to bring Anna back.”
