The teenage stepbrother of 18-year-old cheerleader Anna Kepner has been sent to live with other relatives after being named a suspect in her death aboard a cruise ship, court documents have revealed.
A Fatal Voyage and a Suspect Named
Anna Kepner was found asphyxiated under a bed in the cabin she shared with her 14-year-old biological brother and her 16-year-old stepbrother on the Carnival Horizon ship. The grim discovery was made on November 7 while the vessel was in international waters between Mexico and Florida.
Her father, Thomas Hudson, detailed the circumstances in court filings, stating her death has been ruled a homicide. The FBI boarded the ship when it docked in Miami, but no charges have yet been filed. The investigation is ongoing, with authorities deciding whether the case should be prosecuted in federal or state court.
The focus of the probe is the unnamed 16-year-old stepbrother, who was reportedly the last person in the cabin with Anna. It has also emerged that the boy did not have his biological father's permission to go on the trip.
Family Court Hearings and Custody Battles
During a family court hearing, Anna's stepmother, Shauntel Hudson, testified that the three teenagers were "like best friends" and had wanted to stay together in one stateroom. She and Anna's father, Christopher Kepner, were in a room directly across the hallway.
Shauntel conceded that neither she nor Christopher checked on the teens after they retired to their cabin around 7pm on November 6. Anna had reportedly gone to bed early, saying she felt unwell.
The stepmother also revealed that her 16-year-old son takes daily medication for ADHD and insomnia. She stated he had missed two doses of his insomnia drug in the lead-up to the tragedy.
The court hearing was part of an emergency custody petition filed by Shauntel's ex-husband, who sought custody of their nine-year-old daughter, claiming she was at risk. However, the judge ruled the girl should remain with her mother after learning the teenage suspect would not be returning to the family home in Titusville, Florida.
Investigation Continues as Family Seeks Answers
According to sources, on the night of November 6, Anna's 14-year-old brother left the cabin to take photos around the ship, leaving Anna alone with her stepbrother. When he returned, he did not see Anna but assumed she was with the adults.
It was not until the next morning, when the two boys went to breakfast, that the family realised Anna was missing. A medical emergency was announced over the ship's system, prompting Christopher Kepner to rush to the cabin, where a cleaning crew had just discovered his daughter's body.
In a document filed on November 13, it was confirmed the 16-year-old suspect is now living with another relative "to ensure the safety of the youngest child of the parties." His location will remain confidential and only disclosed to his parents and law enforcement.
Millicent Athanason, a lawyer representing the boy's mother, said, "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. They are also waiting on some testing results."
The FBI continues its investigation into the suspected murder, with the cruise ship community and the victim's family awaiting further developments.
