A Florida court has heard that the teenage stepbrother who shared a cabin with murdered 18-year-old cheerleader Anna Kepner on a Caribbean cruise is likely to face criminal charges for her death.
FBI Weighs Federal or State Prosecution
During an emergency custody hearing in Brevard County on Friday, it was revealed that FBI investigators are actively considering whether to prosecute the 16-year-old boy in federal or state court. The minor, currently in the care of an unnamed relative, has not yet been formally charged.
"We are not sure what the FBI are going to do, whether he's going to be charged federally or whether it's going to be turned over to the state," said Millicent Athanason, a lawyer representing the boy's mother, Shauntel Hudson. She added that authorities are awaiting further testing results, with no clear timeline for a decision.
Grim Discovery on the Carnival Horizon
Straight-A student Anna was on a family vacation last month when she was found dead on November 7. Her body was discovered stuffed under a bed in her cabin, wrapped in a blanket and covered with life vests. The Carnival Horizon ship was swarmed by FBI agents upon its return to Miami.
The court heard that Anna had been sharing the small stateroom with her 16-year-old stepbrother and her 14-year-old half-brother for the six-night voyage. Her stepmother, Shauntel Hudson, 36, defended the sleeping arrangements, stating her room was directly "across the hallway." She conceded, however, that neither she nor Anna's father, Christopher Kepner, 41, checked on the teens after they retired to their cabin around 7pm on November 6.
Anna was declared dead at 11.17am the next day in international waters between Mexico and Florida. A law enforcement source indicated she died from asphyxiation caused by a bar hold.
Custody Battle and Family Turmoil
The hearing was prompted by Shauntel's ex-husband, Thomas Hudson, who sought emergency custody of their nine-year-old daughter, claiming she was at risk. During questioning, Shauntel revealed her 16-year-old son takes medication for ADHD and insomnia and had missed two doses of his insomnia drug prior to the incident.
Judge Michelle Studstill denied the custody request after learning the accused teenager would not be returning to the family home in Titusville, Florida. The court also heard from Shauntel's eldest son, Andrew, 18, who was absent from the cruise. He testified he was so resistant to the blended family move that he tried to climb out of the moving car, alleging he was put in a chokehold.
Shauntel and Christopher Kepner refuted claims they allowed the teenagers to drink alcohol on board. Shauntel stated she only consumed two pina coladas and a glass of wine during the entire cruise.
A former boyfriend of Anna's, Josh Tew, has claimed he witnessed the stepbrother behaving inappropriately toward Anna during a FaceTime call nine months ago, alleging the teen tried to "get on top of her" and threatened her.
