The tragic death of an 18-year-old Florida woman aboard a Carnival cruise ship has been officially declared a homicide, according to a recently released death certificate.
Details of the Tragic Incident
Anna Kepner, a high school senior and cheerleader from Titusville, Florida, was found deceased on November 8. Her body was discovered wrapped in a blanket, concealed under a bed and covered with life vests aboard the Carnival Horizon ship. The death certificate, obtained by her family and provided to ABC News, states the teenager "was mechanically asphyxiated by other person(s)" on November 6.
Investigative sources informed ABC News that there were two bruises on the side of her neck, and her family believes she may have been choked by an arm bar. The report also indicated there were no drugs or alcohol in her system at the time of her death and no signs of sexual assault.
Family Trip Turns to Tragedy
Kepner was travelling with her extended family, including her grandparents, father, stepmother, siblings, and stepsiblings. Her grandfather, Jeffrey Kepner, expressed that the family was looking forward to spending quality time together. "The cruise itself wasn't what made me excited. It was the fact that I was gonna get to spend another week with my youngest son and his family and all the grandkids," he told ABC News.
Her grandmother, Barbara Kepner, said the family was having a wonderful trip before the unthinkable happened. "I couldn't fathom why anyone would wanna hurt my baby," she said. Anna was in her final year of high school and had plans to join the U.S. Navy after graduation. "We were looking forward to seeing her grow," her grandfather added.
Investigation and Potential Suspect
According to a court filing reported in the original news, the investigation points towards a family member. The teen's stepmother, Shauntel Hudson, requested a delay in a child custody hearing because her son, a 16-year-old minor and Anna's stepbrother, could potentially face charges.
Barbara Kepner noted that the two teens typically got along "like brother and sister," adding, "I know that those two kids cared about each other in the right way. I can't accuse him because I don't know what happened in that room." As of the latest reports, no charges have been filed in connection with Anna Kepner's death, and the investigation is ongoing.
