FL - Anna Kepner, 18, dies aboard Carnival cruise ship traveling from Miami to Caribbean, FBI launch probe, 7 Nov 2025

[Gemmie]

You're fine! I'm so glad you started a thread. I have been watching and waiting for a couple of days to see if somebody was going to do it! What an unfathomable tragedy. Of course, there are rumors circulating online but it's hard to imagine anything beyond an accident when you have an ambitious young person vacationing on a cruise with family.

The thanks goes to steeltowngirl for starting the thread.

I guess I'm the minority because I don't have a hard time imagining something nefarious happened to her and that it might not be an accident. In fact I'd be surprised if it was an accident or from natural causes. And I'm always ready to eat my words if wrong.

 

[MissPie]

DBM.

 

[Serononin]

Pretty lil thing.

View attachment 624909

And she had a life goal. Not everyone her age does. Heck, not a lot of the perps I've read about on this site at 2-3-4X her ago do! It's all just so sad.

“She had just finished taking the test to join the military,” they said. “She was already talking to recruiters and had chosen her career path. She wanted to do something that would help her community.”

Passenger who died on Carnival cruise ship identified as 18-year-old, family says

The family of 18-year-old Anna Kepner, who was reported dead while aboard the Carnival Horizon cruise ship on Saturday, speaks out.

abcnews.go.com

And a straight-A student, volunteer and varsity cheerleader, with a boating license and scuba certificate to boot! To think of all the things she would have done in her life... just tragic

 

[trucksareforgirls]

There are cameras EVERYWHERE on these ships. Not to mention the "medallions" that work as your room key and credit card which track your every step on board. If she was indeed murdered, there should be tons of evidence to work with.

 

[steeltowngirl]

I just arrived in Florida yesterday to visit my family and my daughter asked me if I'd heard of this case - (she knows I follow cases). When I saw no thread was up, I posted. Not sure how I feel now after reading the awful comments on Daily Mail. Ugh.

I wonder if Anna had any preexisting health conditions? FBI is saying they are involved since the ship was in international waters. So, I suppose it could be a death from natural causes. But her grandmother is saying foul play. She must have a reason for feeling that way.

Video clip of Anna in this Inside Edition piece.

 

[otto]

Isn't she wearing an Apple watch, or something similar that tracks heart rate? Wouldn't that be the most likely reason that the time of death is precise?

Screenshot from video in comment #25 at timestamp 1:01.

 

[azure]

Isn't she wearing an Apple watch, or something similar that tracks heart rate? Wouldn't that be the most likely reason that the time of death is precise?

Screenshot from video in comment #25 at timestamp 1:01.

View attachment 625004

I believe it is the medallion that gets you access to your room and amenities on the ship.

 

[steeltowngirl]

Isn't she wearing an Apple watch, or something similar that tracks heart rate? Wouldn't that be the most likely reason that the time of death is precise?

Screenshot from video in comment #25 at timestamp 1:01.

View attachment 625004

Good catch. If it's an Apple Watch and it was charged, it may have noted low heart rate. And sadly, no heart rate. My Apple Watch is set to send notifications of low heart rate. Else, as someone mentioned in post above, the time of death will be noted at the time when a person is confirmed deceased by LE or medical personnel.

 

[Gemmie]

A bit about Carnival's Medallion's. There is a video clip at the link talking about them.

Carnival unveiled the OceanMedallion™ at CES 2017 and created an interactive experience where media and CES attendees could experience the technology in action. On board MedallionClass ships, the Medallion activates an experience platform using a guest-centric, Experience Internet of Things™ approach that helps maximize the vacation experience in real-time based on guests’ choices and preferences — delivering enhanced personalization across every aspect of a cruise vacation.

The Medallion holds a guest’s unique digital identity and communicates with readers on board, as well as in select ports, and provides crew members with information about each guest to help them provide better service. The Medallion also enables payment, unlocks stateroom doors, speeds up embarkation and much more.

“Each guest is different and the things that make them happy are different,” said Arnold Donald, president and CEO of Carnival Corporation.

Carnival OceanMedallion

Carnival Corporation set out to innovate to exceed the expectations of its cruise guests and arrived at a veritable smart city on water. The OceanMedallion™, designed to customize the cruise for each passenger, is a small wearable powered by a personalization platform. Carnival unveiled the...

www.ces.tech

 

[Gemmie]

What various medallion holders look like:

Amazon.com : carnival medallian

 

[Gemmie]

The medallion itself is a quarter-sized piece of metal that passengers can use to make onboard purchases, open their cabin doors, check in at safety drills and leave and re-board the ship in port. Most passengers wear the Medallion inside a free metal case at the end of a neck lanyard (Bracelets and necklaces are on sale on board for up to $60).

https://www.yorkdispatch.com/story/money/business/2019/03/18/carnival-introduces-wearable-medallions-passengers/39220017/

 

[steeltowngirl]

Anna's obituary said in lieu of flowers at her service, people are encouraged to leave flowers on her car at the school.

The family asks everyone to "remember Anna with laughter, color, sunshine, and love. Because that’s exactly how she lived her life," her obituary said.

Anna Kepner update: Funeral planned after death on Carnival cruise ship

One week after the death of Titusville teen, Anna Kepner, her family plans a celebration of life, in honor of Anna who "who filled the world with laughter, love, and light," her obituary said.

www.fox35orlando.com

 

[Lebowski]

the picture looks to me like a smart watch. you can see what looks like a dark bezel at the edge. and the center part is square/rectangular, like the screen of many smartwatches, but (i think?) unlike the medallion

 

[azure]

the picture looks to me like a smart watch. you can see what looks like a dark bezel at the edge. and the center part is square/rectangular, like the screen of many smartwatches, but (i think?) unlike the medallion

Upon closer inspection, I think you're correct.

 

[Lebowski]

seems like she was found fairly quickly. died on the last day and found before people got off the boat. if foul play, there may not have been any effort to hide the body.

 

[Gators North]

Yeah, pretty sure that’s a smartwatch. I have an Apple Watch, but I don’t know if Android watches have the same functionality to track heart rate, etc.

 

[crhedBngr]

Another vibrant soul leaves the world too soon.

My Deepest Condolences to Anna's Family and Friends.



JMVHO.

 

[Lebowski]

every child death makes me want my kid surrounded by armed guards with medical degrees at all times for the rest of her life. kinda glad she's a huge chicken about doing anything dangerous.

 

[MissPie]

Brian Entin had a short report on Anna’s death a few days ago. Little new to report from what everyone has posted here, but an interesting interview with a lawyer who discusses crime aboard cruise ships and how shoddy the investigations and security onboard can be. Thinking of you @Arkay

 

[BreakingNews]

Something just occurred to me. On the good side... how often do murder investigations have a small amount of people for LE to sleuth? Because think about it... it was someone on board the ship. Unless they had a stowaway that jumped overboard before docking.

The ship takes just under 4000 passengers. That plus crew is a lot to process. But at least they would know the names of all these people.

Carnival Horizon | Cruise Ships | Carnival Cruise Line

Say hello to Carnival Horizon! The same way the sea and the sky are united by one perfect line, Carnival Horizon brings you together with great fun, comfort, dining, and exotic destinations. Explore photos, deck plans, staterooms, itinerary options, and more.

www.carnival.com.au