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

[Chypre]

Yes, particularly when they had a full day aboard the boat prior to disembarking, plenty of time to hear Anna's brother's account of the struggle he overheard in their room, and plenty of time to put two and two together.

I didn't know that.

 

[soap mama]

It's "possible" that dad thought a third party could have hurt Anna, but that thought couldnt last for long. And who are we kidding, deep down they knew.

 

[Mdcastle]

Question if anyone has an idea…could the suspect be charged as an adult or would he be subject to FL law since that’s where the family resides? Interested in how minors are charged for crimes that occur on a cruise ship.

Aiden Fucci was charged as an adult at age 14 in Florida.

 

[mickey2942]

It's "possible" that dad thought a third party could have hurt Anna, but that thought couldnt last for long. And who are we kidding, deep down they knew.

Yeah. Kid was probably sent to "substance abuse treatment". Law enforcement would need a court order to even be able to talk to kid in substance abuse treatment facility, because it is medical treatment, HIPPA protections and all of that.

Isn't that "convenient". Someone worked fast on the ship to make that happen in a heartbeat.

"Whisked away to the hospital". Imagine that.

The stepbrother was taken to the hospital. It was revealed during the court hearing that Kepner's stepbrother was taken to the hospital immediately after the Carnival cruise ship docked at PortMiami. It's not known why he was taken to the hospital.

Anna Kepner: Court hearing reveals new details on Kepner Family's Carnival cruise vacation

Anna Kepner's stepmom and ex-husband appeared virtually in Brevard County court on Thursday regarding an unrelated custody dispute. However, as part of that hearing, new details and allegations about the Kepner Family's vacation aboard the Carnival Horizon cruise ship were discussed.

www.fox35orlando.com

 

[ChatteringBirds]

Maybe he said he wanted to harm himself? Or maybe he suddenly started acting very erratically? Maybe he wanted to avoid being questioned, or he could be emotionally unstable. JMO.

 

[Silverstorm]

Poor Anna's biological mom. No woman should have to get news of her daughter's death that way. What is wrong with her father? I hope she sues him for a wrongful death lawsuit.

So, the stepmom is in court with her ex over custody issues? How is a woman allowed to have custody of any of her children when 1 of them murdered someone? (allegedly).

 

[Ghostwheel]

I had the same question initially, but then I read one report that was worded differently, he wasn't locked out as such, he thought that the step brother must have been holding the door shut.
It makes me wonder if he had barricaded it somehow.

There are ways to blockade the door with a coat hanger, certain movable furniture, and if he thought ahead, you can order interior safetly locks for your cabin. Keeping someone out would not be hard. And of course, what if Anna was being chokeholded against the door?

I feel bad for the 14 year old because it appears he SLEPT in the room with his deceased sister. Or worse, was she was stuffed under HIS bed? They keep just saying "a bed".

 

[mickey2942]

Maybe he said he wanted to harm himself? Or maybe he suddenly started acting very erratically? Maybe he wanted to avoid being questioned, or he could be emotionally unstable. JMO.

Maybe his Mama didn't want him to talk to ANYONE..

 

[Stunned]

absolutely there was buzzing all over the ship, Im sure. I was on a ship when a woman unexpectedly passed away. My husband and I were waiting in the buffet line in the dining area when there was a commotion happening. He went to check it out and came back and said something happened to a woman on deck 8 and crew were rushing to help. After we got home my next door neighbor told me her coworker was on the same cruise we were on and passed away suddenly from a heart attack. The family were still trying to get her body back to the states. That's how I learned there were morgues on a ship. In case tragedy happens.

Hard question to ask, I know how much cruise ships charge for emergency Dr. Visits, I wonder if they charge for morgue use? Sorry!

 

[Silverstorm]

Hard question to ask, I know how much cruise ships charge for emergency Dr. Visits, I wonder if they charge for morgue use? Sorry!

lol! that's a good question! This particular woman was traveling alone so who would pay? The family that was trying to get her body back to the US? I would be in disbelief opening that bill!

 

[lonetraveler]

yeah, i wasn't sure how much we can say, but i have opinions about him and they are piling up.

YEP!

 

[browneyes]

Ha. I just laughed out loud reading this. Vacations were all about family and kids for us. One big tent, or hotel room. And usually we took Grandma with us too. We could be "alone" at home.

We would have never separated our kids from us. Which is also why I never liked that show, "Home Alone", what kind of parents would be in first class on an airplane and leave their children in coach?!

Cruise ships offer few, very few accommodations for a family of this size. If you snag one, it’s $$$$$$. We let our kids stay in an adjoining cabin when they were teenagers, but the same cabin with us when they were younger. Some situations just won’t accommodate the everyone together physically vibes. But you must know your kids and what you trust them with. No way would I have put my daughter in a cabin with a newish stepson. We’d have done girls cabin with mom and boys cabin with dad in their situation. And to be honest, I don’t see how the dad stays married to his wife. I just couldn’t ever get past it. All my humble opinion.

 

[browneyes]

There are ways to blockade the door with a coat hanger, certain movable furniture, and if he thought ahead, you can order interior safetly locks for your cabin. Keeping someone out would not be hard. And of course, what if Anna was being chokeholded against the door?

I feel bad for the 14 year old because it appears he SLEPT in the room with his deceased sister. Or worse, was she was stuffed under HIS bed? They keep just saying "a bed".

There is a bolt lock on the inside of the cabin door to prevent anyone coming in with a card swipe. You have to purposely lock and unlock it.

 

[lonetraveler]

Maybe his Mama didn't want him to talk to ANYONE..

BINGO!

 

[Kakidoll]

the question about the locked door. If the deadbolt was on from inside, the key card does NOT open the door. A master lock would be able to, but not anyone elses card. Thats most likely what the little brother was saying about not being able to get in the cabin. And as someone who cruises frequently with friends/families, its very common for people to put the teens next door or across the hall. Parents in the balcony, kids across the hall in an inside cabin. If there was an issue beforehand, as it sounds, with this particular 16 yr old and his actions, then that was on the parents as BAD parenting. I still don't even kknow how many were acutally in the 'family' travelling together, i also heard grandparents..... so there could have been multiple cabins near each other. You have lots of families that travel for birthdays, reunions etc... if some go to bed early and others stay out late, one may crash in anothers room. Usually NOT with any negative issues. This is NOT the norm. Again, this is on the parents to KNOW their kids and put them first.

 

[StarryStarryNight]

The adults in this family seem totally committed to themselves and nobody else including their children. No way they would give up their private cabin and do what was best for the entire family.
In my opinion, all the adults should be charged as accessories to murder.

 

[Stunned]

The adults in this family seem totally committed to themselves and nobody else including their children. No way they would give up their private cabin and do what was best for the entire family.
In my opinion, all the adults should be charged as accessories to murder.

YES! YES and YES!

 

[PayrollNerd]

I think they're basing this claim on the documents in the child custody case. I don't think that is an official naming of a suspect per LE/FBI, etc.

Stepbrother of teenager found dead on cruise ship is a suspect in her death, court filing says

Anna Kepner died while she was on the Carnival Horizon cruise ship with her family on Nov. 7. The cause and manner of her death are still pending.

www.nbcnews.com

 

[snowman 007]

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.aboard them. Als

To me there should have been something found or witnessed as curisie ships have an insane amount of security cameras on them. Also in saying this if the cameras havent found anything them there must be a crew member in on whatever happened to this young person that they dont want others to find out

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

There is a bolt lock on the inside of the cabin door to prevent anyone coming in with a card swipe. You have to purposely lock and unlock it.

Yes! Similarly to most hotel rooms, entrance doors to staterooms have a deadbolt lock that prevents someone opening the door with their cruise card/medallion. We always double lock our cabin door during the overnight hours. If AK's younger brother tried to enter the stateroom with his key card and couldn't, it was most likely because of the deadbolt lock.