Stepbrother Suspect in Tragic Cruise Ship Death
The FBI is investigating the 16-year-old stepbrother of an 18-year-old Florida girl who was found dead aboard the Carnival Horizon cruise ship earlier this month. The tragic incident has cast a shadow over what was meant to be a family holiday.
Anna Kepner, a high school cheerleader from Titusville, was discovered deceased in her stateroom on 8 November. The ship was on a family trip that included her father, stepmother, and two step-siblings. Preliminary findings from the medical examiner indicate that Anna died from asphyxiation due to a bar hold, with two distinct bruises found on her neck.
A Family Holiday Turns to Tragedy
Anna was reportedly sharing the cabin with her stepbrother during the voyage. In a disturbing detail revealed in a separate custody hearing, an attorney stated that the 16-year-old boy was permitted to consume alcohol while the ship sailed in international waters.
After the Carnival Horizon docked at PortMiami, the teenage boy was taken to a hospital for assessment. The FBI's Miami office has taken the lead on the investigation, with Carnival Cruise Line confirming its full cooperation. Neither the FBI nor Carnival has publicly disclosed the exact circumstances leading to Anna's death or what specifically prompted agents to focus on her stepbrother.
Grief and a Search for Answers
The case gained further notoriety when Anna's biological mother, Heather Wright, revealed she learned of her daughter's passing through Google searches, having not been officially notified by the family travelling with her.
Anna Kepner, who was expected to graduate high school next year, was remembered at a memorial service in Titusville. Hundreds of mourners were encouraged to wear bright colours in honour of Anna's bright and beautiful soul. As the community grieves, the final autopsy and toxicology reports are still pending, leaving many questions unanswered in this heartbreaking case.
