The FBI is investigating the mysterious death of 18-year-old Anna Kepner aboard a Carnival cruise, uncovering troubling family dynamics, allegations of underage drinking, and possible misconduct by a minor relative.
No charges have been filed, but the probe has intensified a bitter custody dispute between her parents and stepmother.
Court records tied to stepmother Shauntel Kepner’s ongoing legal battle with ex-husband Thomas Hudson reveal that investigators have focused on Anna’s 16-year-old stepbrother.
A source close to the family told Fox News that Anna’s ex-boyfriend witnessed unsettling late-night behavior aboard the ship, including the stepbrother allegedly entering her bedroom at 3 a.m. during FaceTime calls.
“When I was on FaceTime with her, and she was lying down, and her brother tried to go on top of her,” the ex said. He added that he alerted Anna’s parents and noted that she had expressed discomfort around her stepbrother.
The teen referred to Anna as his “first love” and said he would have joined the cruise if they had not broken up beforehand, per Trending Politics.
After Anna’s death, her stepbrother’s father, Thomas Hudson, immediately pushed for a custody hearing. Hudson alleged that Shauntel had alienated the younger children following a violent incident involving the eldest and argued that her actions put their futures in jeopardy.
Court documents further claim the teens had access to alcohol during the cruise despite being underage. Shauntel’s attorney denied the allegations, maintaining that the claims are exaggerated and disputed.
The stepbrother’s current location is unclear.
Court filings indicate he is no longer in either parent’s custody and is staying with an unidentified third party.
The custody dispute has become increasingly contentious, with both sides presenting starkly different narratives of the family’s internal dynamics.
In response to the ongoing FBI investigation, Shauntel filed an emergency motion in Brevard County to delay a December hearing.
Her attorney, Millicent Athanason, told the court that a criminal case may be initiated against one of the minor children in the ongoing legal proceedings, signaling the seriousness of the probe.
Authorities have yet to identify which child is under investigation publicly, citing the sensitivity of involving minors.
Family members say official updates remain scarce. Anna’s birth mother, Heather Wright, told WESH 2 that she learned of her daughter’s death only after searching online.
“I found out through Google. I ended up Googling it, because the only information I had was that my daughter was on a cruise,” Wright said. Her comments underscore the confusion and lack of transparency surrounding Anna’s tragic passing.
The circumstances surrounding Anna Kepner’s death remain unclear, and investigators have not released additional details regarding the cause of death. Sources close to the case have described the situation as “tragic and complex,” with multiple layers of family dysfunction, legal conflict, and unanswered questions.
As the FBI continues its investigation, the blended family remains embroiled in a heated custody battle. The community is left grappling with grief and seeking answers, while authorities work to piece together the events that led to the young woman’s untimely death aboard the Carnival Horizon.
