The Federal Bureau of Investigation has opened an inquiry into the perplexing death of Anna Kepner, an 18-year-old woman whose life was cut short on a Carnival cruise ship. The circumstances surrounding her demise have brought to light troubling family dynamics, allegations of underage drinking, and potential misconduct involving her 16-year-old stepbrother.
Anna's death has intensified an already bitter custody battle between her parents and stepmother. Court records from the ongoing legal strife between Shauntel Kepner, Anna's stepmother, and Thomas Hudson, her father, have revealed that the investigation is particularly focused on Anna's teenage stepbrother. No charges have been filed at this time, but the revelations have added fuel to the family's fraught legal disputes.
A source close to the Kepner-Hudson family, speaking to Fox News, detailed disturbing incidents alleged to have taken place aboard the cruise ship. According to Anna's ex-boyfriend, who recounted events he witnessed over FaceTime, there were unsettling late-night interactions between Anna and her stepbrother. The ex-boyfriend claims to have seen the stepbrother allegedly attempting to climb on top of Anna while she was in bed, prompting him to alert her parents to the concerning behavior.
The narrative of a troubled sibling relationship is further complicated by the ongoing custody hearings initiated by Thomas Hudson. He contends that Shauntel Kepner has created an environment of alienation and potential danger, particularly after a violent incident involving the eldest child, which he argues could jeopardize the futures of their other children.
Amidst these family tensions, court documents have surfaced, suggesting that Anna and her stepbrother had access to alcohol during the cruise, despite being underage. Shauntel Kepner's attorney has responded to these claims, characterizing them as exaggerated and heavily disputed.
The custody dispute has reached a heightened level of acrimony, with each side presenting contrasting accounts of the family's internal dynamics. In the wake of the FBI's involvement, Shauntel Kepner filed an emergency motion in Brevard County to postpone a custody hearing scheduled for December, hinting at the potential for a criminal case to emerge against one of the minor children.
Given the sensitive nature of the case, authorities have refrained from publicly identifying which child is under investigation. Meanwhile, family members have expressed frustration over the scarcity of official updates. Heather Wright, Anna's biological mother, told WESH 2 that she discovered the tragic news through an online search, highlighting the confusion and opacity that has shrouded the case.
Investigators have not disclosed the cause of Anna's death, and the situation remains enveloped in complexity. As the blended family contends with their legal battles, the community is left mourning and seeking clarity. The FBI's investigation aims to unravel the sequence of events that ended with Anna Kepner's untimely death on the Carnival Horizon.
