Anna Kepner: Stepbrother Charged in Cruise Ship Death – A Developing Story
The case surrounding the death of 18-year-old Anna Kepner, found deceased on a Carnival Cruise Horizon ship in November, has taken a dramatic turn. Court documents related to a separate family matter reveal that Anna’s stepbrother has been charged with homicide by the U.S. Attorney in the Southern District of Florida.
The revelation surfaced in a February 20th emergency divorce court petition filed by Thomas Hudson, the stepbrother’s father, seeking full custody of his 9-year-old daughter. The petition cites “social media from the Kepner family” as evidence of the homicide charge, levied on February 3rd. The stepbrother’s identity was not explicitly named in the petition.
Anna Kepner, 18, was found dead aboard a Carnival cruise ship on Nov. 7, during a vacation with her family. (Anna Kepner/Instagram)
Details of the Investigation
The stepbrother was photographed entering a Miami federal court on February 6th, attempting to conceal his identity with a camouflage hoodie, baseball cap, and hood. He was accompanied by his attorney. This followed an earlier appearance at juvenile court.
Anna Kepner was discovered deceased in her cabin on November 7th. Authorities found her under the bed, wrapped in a blanket and covered with life jackets. The Miami-Dade County Medical Examiner’s Office determined her time of death to be 11:17 a.m. The Carnival Horizon returned to the Port of Miami the following day, initiating an FBI investigation.
Family Reaction and Custody Battle
The homicide charges have fueled a custody dispute. Thomas Hudson’s petition argues a “significant and unanticipated change of circumstances,” directly referencing the charges against his son. Currently, primary custody of the 9-year-old daughter rests with Shauntel Hudson, Anna’s mother, and Christopher Kepner, Anna’s father.
Following Anna’s death, Christopher Kepner offered a carefully worded statement to People magazine. He expressed a desire for his stepson to face consequences, but stopped short of directly accusing him of responsibility. “I want him to face the consequences… I will be fighting to make sure that does happen,” Kepner stated. “I do not stand behind what my stepson has done. I cannot say that he is responsible, but I can’t decline.”
This is a developing story, and further details are expected to emerge as the legal proceedings unfold. For more information on cruise ship safety, you can visit the Cruise Critic Safety Guide.
Fox News’ Sophia Compton and Michael Ruiz contributed to this report.
