True Crime Society - The cruise ship loss of life of Anna Kepner

Anna Kepner (18) was discovered useless on a Carnival cruise ship – the Carnival Horizon – on November 8, 2025. The ship had been cruising within the Caribbean and Anna had been on trip along with her father, stepmother and three stepsiblings. It has lately emerged that one in all her stepsiblings is a suspect in her loss of life.

As some background into Anna, she was born on June 13, 2007. Her household gave her the nickname Anna Banana.

Anna’s dad and mom are Christopher Kepner and Heather Wright. Christopher had married a lady named Shauntel Kepner – she was the stepmother on the cruise on the time that Anna died.

Anna’s obituary lists her siblings as Andrew, Tim, Alex, Connor, Cody, Kylie, and Brooke.

At one level previous to marrying Shauntel, Christopher married a lady named Tabitha. They break up in 2023.

Anna’s household have stated that she was pure power, bubbly, humorous and outgoing. She by no means had a filter and so they discovered that charming.

Anna was dwelling in Titusville, Florida and he or she attended Titusville Excessive Faculty for a time frame. Whereas at that college, she was a member of the Varsity Cheer Workforce. She additionally attended Astronaut Excessive Faculty and eventually went onto Temple Christian Faculty, the place she was attributable to graduate subsequent yr.

Anna has an intensive obituary which we are going to hyperlink on the weblog however that is an excerpt from it:

She beloved her siblings deeply and made positive they at all times felt it whether or not or not it’s taking them to the park, Halloween Horror Nights, or simply out for enjoyable, as a result of that’s who she was: considerate, nurturing, and at all times considering of others. She had a giant, stunning coronary heart, typically sending random “I really like you” messages or little gestures that made somebody’s day. Anna beloved children, dolphins, butterflies, arts and crafts, and doing puzzles along with her Memaw. She had the most effective “blonde moments,” the type that made everybody snicker. And her well-known “I gotta poop” joke shall be one her household by no means forgets. Whoever’s home was closest received the shock go to!

Shauntel (stepmother) had beforehand been married to a Thomas Hudson. The 2 had been within the means of divorce and custody proceedings as of November 2025. It will grow to be essential because the case goes on.

The cruise that the household had been on was a 6 day Caribbean cruise.

Some information concerning the ship:

The Carnival Horizon is a 133,500 gross-ton cruise ship in-built 2018, measuring 1,055 ft lengthy with a beam of 122 ft. It has a capability for about 3,960 to 4,977 passengers and a crew of 1,450.

The ship was attributable to return again to Miami on November 8. Ports visited embrace Jamaica, Grand Cayman and Cozumel.

Anna had been sharing a cabin along with her 14 yr outdated brother and 16 yr outdated stepbrother. The 2 boys had bunk beds and Anna had her personal mattress.

On the night of November 6, Anna stated that she felt unwell and went again to her cabin. In keeping with the Every day Mail, the 2 boys additionally went again to the room. The 14 y/o modified his garments and went again out onto the ship. He has stated when he received again, he seen that Anna was not in mattress however he assumed she was out with the adults and he went to sleep.

When she didn’t present up for breakfast the following day, her members of the family started trying to find her.

A housekeeper ultimately discovered Anna’s physique wrapped in a blanket, coated with life jackets and stuffed underneath a mattress in her stateroom. The ship was crusing between Mexico and Florida on the time, and Anna was declared useless in worldwide waters.

Anna’s time of loss of life was listed as 11.17am on November 7.

When the ship docked, the FBI boarded and started their investigation.

Christopher would converse to the media about how little he apparently knew concerning Anna’s loss of life.

‘We had been there as a household. All people was questioned. All people got here off that ship. I don’t know who they’re or what their investigation is,’ he stated.

‘The FBI hasn’t shared something with me but. I might think about they’re going to keep in touch with me about it – however I do know as little as all people else.

‘I do not know what’s going on proper now. We’re simply attempting to sit down nonetheless and watch for solutions.’

Carnival stated in an announcement: ‘Our focus is on supporting the household of our visitor and cooperating with the FBI.’

A spokesman for the FBI added: ‘No additional data is being launched at the moment.’

On November 17, Shauntel filed a movement asking for extra time to answer filings referring to her 2024 divorce. Her ex had beforehand accused her of ‘willfully violating’ courtroom orders and ‘denying his parenting time’ in a movement for contempt filed in Brevard County. Her purpose was cited as an “extraordinarily delicate and extreme circumstance.”

“’At the moment there may be an investigation being performed by the Federal Bureau of Investigations (F.B.I.) arising out of the sudden loss of life of eighteen-year-old Anna Kepner,” the submitting reads, including that Hudson had been suggested “{that a} prison case could also be initiated towards one” of her minor kids.

“Any testimony the Respondent might give, both written or oral, could possibly be prejudicial to her or her adolescent youngster on this pending prison investigation, subsequently the Respondent can’t be compelled to testify,” the submitting continued.

In keeping with NBC Information, one other submitting on Tuesday, November 18 identifies her teenage son as a suspect.

This information is from NBC:

One other courtroom submitting referring to Hudson’s previous marriage, filed Tuesday, identifies her teenage son with the initials T.H. as a suspect in Kepner’s loss of life. Within the meantime, he’s dwelling with a relative to guard the protection of his youthful sister and of Kepner’s different sibling, in line with the doc.

‘The respondent took the remaining minor kids on a cruise with a stepchild of her paramour,’ his submitting says.

‘The sixteen-year-old youngster is now a suspect within the loss of life of the stepchild in the course of the cruise. Whereas launched from custody, the sixteen-year-old youngster is residing with a 3rd social gathering.’

The submitting provides: ‘The sixteen-year-old’s future has been put in jeopardy due to the alternatives made by the respondent… the youngest youngster is at fast threat of abuse, abandonment, or neglect within the care of the respondent.’

The submitting additionally said that Thomas Hudson was getting his son a lawyer.

Anna’s organic mom has made some claims on social media about being stored at midnight about her daughter’s loss of life.

“My stunning child woman was discovered useless Friday and I simply came upon final night time,” Heather Wright wrote on TikTok on Tuesday, November 11, including that “her dad and stepmom didn’t even attempt to contact me, so I’m gonna give that to God and let him type it out together with who ever did this to my child woman.”

Heather lives in Oklahoma.

“ANNA MARIE I MISS YOU SO MUCH YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW SHATTERED I AM OVER THIS… PLEASE FORGIVE ME FOR NOT BEING THERE I’M SO SORRY,” Wright, who goes by justmom1984, continued.

Heather has frequently spoken to the media. “My ex-husband didn’t attempt to contact me in any respect in anyway to let me know that my daughter died,” she informed NewsNation.

She stated she first heard that Anna could be useless from a pal — who informed her younger son that his “sister was murdered on a cruise ship.”

Heather has stated that she stored attempting to contact Anna through her cell and social media however received nowhere. So she went to google.

“Then I Googled ’18-year-old died on cruise ship,’ and that’s when my daughter’s face popped up throughout Google,” Heather stated.

Heather has additionally spoken about how her ex banned her from attending Anna’s memorial.

“He stated he knew for a reality Anna wouldn’t need me there and I stated, ‘That’s a lie, however no matter,’” she stated.

“He stated if I step foot in Florida, ‘I’ll have you ever arrested instantly for again youngster help,” she continued, including she snuck into the service regardless.

“I wore a wig and I wore some actually tall excessive heels in order that approach if he was in search of any person quick, he wouldn’t see me. No one noticed me, I kinda stayed within the again near the door so if I wanted to make a fast getaway, I might.”

Krystal Wright – presumably Heather’s sister – made this submit on social media.

An alleged uncle of Anna’s has made this submit on social media.

Investigators at the moment are reviewing surveillance video from the ship and analyzing digital swipe card information that will present who entered Anna’s cabin. They’re additionally analyzing Anna’s cellphone data. The FBI and ship safety are additionally conducting interviews with different passengers, crewmembers and Anna’s household.

On November 21, 2025, Anna’s explanation for loss of life was revealed.

Anna died by asphyxiation ensuing from a bar maintain — an arm throughout the neck — a supply briefed on the investigation informed the media.

Investigators additionally discovered two bruises on the facet of her neck, the supply stated

In keeping with the supply, the preliminary data signifies there have been no indicators of sexual assault and there didn’t seem like medication or alcohol in Anna’s system. Post-mortem and toxicology reviews that might verify these particulars haven’t been accomplished.

Anna’s boyfriend, a male named Joshua Tew has come out and stated that Anna had been preventing along with her brother beforehand on the ship.

Anna and the unnamed brother had been allegedly contained in the locked cabin … and in line with Joshua, Connor might hear him “yelling at her in a dangerous approach.” Joshua was informed the stepsibling even yelled at her to “shut the hell up.” There was additionally some “banging round” heard within the room … together with what the brother believes had been chairs being thrown.

Joshua informed Inside Version Anna was afraid of her stepbrother and sometimes slept at mates’ properties as a result of “she didn’t really feel protected round him.” He additionally alleged he was sexually harassing her … however Anna was too scared to inform anybody.

It’s been reported the stepsibling had an odd infatuation with Anna. Joshua’s father, Steven Westin, even alleged he as soon as tried climbing on prime of her in mattress.