What was intended to be an unforgettable family vacation has become exactly that - but sadly in the worst sense of the word possible. Earlier this month, 18-year-old Anna Kepner, a cheerleader and high school senior, embarked on a Carnival Horizon cruise with her family from Miami to the Caribbean. Included in their group was Anna's father Christopher Kepner, her stepmother Shauntel Hudson, and three step siblings. But the tropical cruise ended with the most tragic outcome possible. Contents [hide] 1 A Shocking Discovery 2 Anna's Step Sibling Suspected 3 Surveillance Footage 4 Custody Dispute 5 Remembering Anna A Shocking Discovery According to multiple outlets, while the cruise ship was en-route to Mexico on November 7, Anna told her father and stepmother she was feeling unwell and returned to her cabin to rest. The following morning when she didn't join the rest of the family for breakfast, worry struck and a search began. That same morning, a housekeeper who entered Anna's room found the teen deceased under her bed, according to multiple outlets. The cruise then returned to Miami to dock and release the 4,000 passengers. Related: RHOC Alum Loses Custody Of Kids After Unsettling CPS Call: Report Two days after the shocking discovery, a cruise spokesperson told People: "The death of a guest traveling on the Carnival Horizon voyage that returned to PortMiami on Saturday morning, Nov. 8, is being investigated." Anna was reportedly discovered wrapped in a blanket, covered in multiple life jackets, and wedged under the bed. The Miami-Dade Medical Examiner's Office has since determined her time of death to be 11:17 p.m. on November 7, the night before she was found. However, the cause of her death is yet to be determined. The FBI is now spearheading the death investigation as the teen's demise occurred in international waters. The spokesperson said: "Since this is an ongoing matter under the jurisdiction of law enforcement, it is up to the FBI's Miami public affairs office to provide further details. Our focus is on supporting the family of our guest." So what the hell happened?? Anna's Step Sibling Suspected Well, in an unrelated emergency custody motion filed in court on Monday, Anna's stepmom Shauntel revealed the FBI is considering criminally charging her 16-year-old son, Anna's younger stepbrother. In an emergency filing of his own, Shauntel's ex Thomas confirmed their 16-year-old is officially "now a suspect" in Anna's death and had been taken into custody, according to court docs obtained by the outlet. The motion states: "The sixteen year old child is now a suspect in the death of a step child during the cruise." Court documents revealed the 16-year-old has since been released from custody to a third party, according to court docs. Multiple outlets have since reported the FBI is currently reviewing surveillance footage from the cruise and electronic swipe card data to determine who may have entered Anna's cabin. Surveillance Footage The DailyMail.com has since reported that Anna, the 16-year-old stepbrother, and the 16-year-old's younger sibling were bunking together in a cabin. The FBI has since obtained footage of Anna walking back to her room after informing her father and stepmother she didn't feel well the night before her death. As seen in the footage, the two minor siblings are seen returning to the cabin shortly after. After that, the youngest sibling was seen exiting the cabin and wandering the cruise deck snapping photos. According to the outlet, when the young sibling returned to the room, they noticed Anna was not present, but figured she was out and about. Now, the FBI is investigating a possible altercation that occurred between Anna and the 16-year-old before her death, hence him being named a suspect. However, an overdose or some sort of medical episode have not yet been ruled out. Custody Dispute In his custody fillings, Shauntel's ex, the 16-year-old's father, claimed Shauntel put their son in "jeopardy" following the disaster: "The sixteen-year-old's future has been put in jeopardy because of the choices made by the Respondent." He also accused Shauntel of alienating the 16-year-old and their youngest child from him, and claimed "the youngest child is at immediate risk of abuse, abandonment, or neglect in the care of the Respondent." The father further claimed that his and Shauntel's oldest child, an adult, resides with him after an alleged "violent altercation" between him, Shauntel, and Anna's father Christopher. What a completely awful situation from top to bottom. Remembering Anna In an interview following her death, Anna's loved ones called her a "people person. She loved being around people. She had that type of energy that just drew you in with her smile." She apparently had ambitions to join the military after she graduated high school next May: "She was already talking to recruiters and had chosen her career path. She wanted to do something that would help her community." Our
Perez Hilton
Critical Teen Cheerleader Mysteriously Found Dead On Family Vacation Cruise -- Now The 16-Year-Old Stepbrother Is Being Investigated!
November 20, 2025
22 days ago
2 celebrities mentioned
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