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

[tara83]

Did I read somewhere the stepbrother had been drinking alcohol? Obvious where this is headed…

Family of 18-year-old who died on cruise speaks out as stepbrother is named 'suspect'

The young woman's body was discovered by a room attendant, “concealed under the bed,” and there were bruises on the side of her neck, according to the Kepners.

abcnews.go.com

“She said on the ship, the stepbrother told her, “In his own words, say he does not remember what happened.” She added, “I believe, to him, that is his truth.”

The stepbrother was questioned along with other family members by law enforcement -- who also pored over the ship’s security camera footage and access-card swipes to get a picture of who was where at the various times prior to the death, according to the Kepner family and a security source briefed on the investigation.

“He was an emotional mess. He couldn't even speak. He couldn't believe what had happened,” Mrs. Kepner said of the stepbrother. After the boat docked in Miami, the stepbrother was hospitalized for psychiatric observation and then released to stay with a family member, Kepner said.”

It's nice that everyone in the family seems more concerned about the stepbrother than the fact Anna was murdered. The more I hear about this family it's obvious she never stood a chance.

 

[Eli9]

Did I read somewhere the stepbrother had been drinking alcohol? Obvious where this is headed…

Family of 18-year-old who died on cruise speaks out as stepbrother is named 'suspect'

The young woman's body was discovered by a room attendant, “concealed under the bed,” and there were bruises on the side of her neck, according to the Kepners.

abcnews.go.com

“She said on the ship, the stepbrother told her, “In his own words, say he does not remember what happened.” She added, “I believe, to him, that is his truth.”

The stepbrother was questioned along with other family members by law enforcement -- who also pored over the ship’s security camera footage and access-card swipes to get a picture of who was where at the various times prior to the death, according to the Kepner family and a security source briefed on the investigation.

“He was an emotional mess. He couldn't even speak. He couldn't believe what had happened,” Mrs. Kepner said of the stepbrother. After the boat docked in Miami, the stepbrother was hospitalized for psychiatric observation and then released to stay with a family member, Kepner said.”

There it its

His truth

Not the truth

His

MOO. JMO

 

[steeltowngirl]

From the GMA interview at link, we can finally surmise who slept where on the cruise.
CK, SHK, KK, BH in one cabin
AK, TH, CK in one cabin
Grandparents in one cabin

The Kepners, their son, his three children, including Anna, his new wife, and her children from a previous marriage, took the trip together. It was to be a new tradition they were looking forward to keeping, Jeffrey Kepner said. The three generations had three staterooms on the ship.

“The two younger girls stayed with the parents and then the three teenagers, they decided amongst themselves they wanted to stay in the room together. But we had a larger room and we made it very clear that at any time if they weren't getting along, they didn't want to be together, we had an extra bed in our room that they could come to,” Barbara Kepner said.

Family of 18-year-old who died on cruise speaks out as stepbrother is named 'suspect'

The young woman's body was discovered by a room attendant, “concealed under the bed,” and there were bruises on the side of her neck, according to the Kepners.

www.goodmorningamerica.com

 

[tlcya]

how old is the step brother? Assuming still a minor because the lack of a name being published. Is he older or younger than Anna was?

 

[steeltowngirl]

how old is the step brother? Assuming still a minor because the lack of a name being published. Is he older or younger than Anna was?

T.H. is 16

 

[MistyWaters]

how old is the step brother? Assuming still a minor because the lack of a name being published. Is he older or younger than Anna was?

He’s younger, 16 years old.


*****
Another news report just out. According to the grandmother, Brady Bunch #2. One interesting tidbit noted, the COD came from a ‘source’, not the ME.

What Anna Kepner's grandparents said about cruise ship death

Grandparents of Titusville teen Anna Kepner share details on her cruise ship death as FBI investigates and stepbrother emerges as a suspect.

www.floridatoday.com

“The three teenagers, including Anna and her stepbrother, had decided among themselves to share one of the rooms, Barbara Kepner said in the interview.

She told the news outlet that in the close-knit family there was "no such thing as steps" and that the blended family was very close.

"He was in a room with her. He was the only one seen coming and going," Barbara Kepner said. "I can't accuse him because I don't know what happened in that room."

 

[tara83]

He’s younger, 16 years old.


*****
Another news report just out. According to the grandmother, Brady Bunch #2. One interesting tidbit noted, the COD came from a ‘source’, not the ME.

What Anna Kepner's grandparents said about cruise ship death

Grandparents of Titusville teen Anna Kepner share details on her cruise ship death as FBI investigates and stepbrother emerges as a suspect.

www.floridatoday.com

“The three teenagers, including Anna and her stepbrother, had decided among themselves to share one of the rooms, Barbara Kepner said in the interview.

She told the news outlet that in the close-knit family there was "no such thing as steps" and that the blended family was very close.

"He was in a room with her. He was the only one seen coming and going," Barbara Kepner said. "I can't accuse him because I don't know what happened in that room."

He was the only one seen coming and going to the room but she can't accuse him because she doesn't know what went on in the room Anna was murdered? And they were all so close despite them not even being together long? Yeah the Grandma is sketchy...

 

[steeltowngirl]

Grandma of woman, 18, found dead on cruise ship breaks silence

Barbara Kepner, the grandmother of Anna Kepner, 18, who was found dead on a Carnival cruise ship, offered new details into the ongoing investigation into her murder.

www.dailymail.co.uk

Mama has already coached 16 year old. "Amnesia", he doesn't remember anything. How convenient.

Well, hopefully custody won't be an issue when 16 year old is incarcerated.

Wonder if we will hear anything more about the case. From the link:

The motion calls for a Non-Dissemination Order, preventing ‘both parties’ from discussing or giving out information – and to seal the case ‘where the court documents are not available to the public’.

Specifically, she demands the shutdown of information about the FBI probe, her custody battle, any law enforcement activity and the passing on of documents, photographs or texts relating to her ‘suspect’ son.

She also wants ‘sensitive information’ redacted from public court records.

 

[soap mama]

I think the "talked to everyone" statement by the dad meant everyone in their family was talked to.

I am concerned the 16yo may try to pin this on the 14yo since he came back to the room and slept there.

Im also concerned about jurisdiction.

 

[TwoBlueJays]

It's nice that everyone in the family seems more concerned about the stepbrother than the fact Anna was murdered. The more I hear about this family it's obvious she never stood a chance.

Interesting that the grandmother says Anna left dinner feeling unwell [due to pain from braces] to go to the cabin, but then got 'dressed up' and went to the casino with the grandmother, and 'popped in and out' checking on them in the casino before retiring to cabin [for the night].
So suggests that she was feeling better, and probably was not 'sick in bed' when assaulted. She may however have been asleep.
moo

 

[soap mama]

Interesting that the grandmother says Anna left dinner feeling unwell [due to pain from braces] to go to the cabin, but then got 'dressed up' and went to the casino with the grandmother, and 'popped in and out' checking on them in the casino before retiring to cabin [for the night].
So suggests that she was feeling better, and probably was not 'sick in bed' when assaulted. She may however have been asleep.
moo

Wait, i missed this about the braces and casino. Which link has this info?

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Wonder if we will hear anything more about the case. From the link:

The motion calls for a Non-Dissemination Order, preventing ‘both parties’ from discussing or giving out information – and to seal the case ‘where the court documents are not available to the public’.

Specifically, she demands the shutdown of information about the FBI probe, her custody battle, any law enforcement activity and the passing on of documents, photographs or texts relating to her ‘suspect’ son.

She also wants ‘sensitive information’ redacted from public court records.

This case is going to get ugly

 

[Gemmie]

did this family have a habit of going on cruises??

They've gone on 2 that I'm aware of. May and November.

 

[Mdcastle]

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.

Yeah, suites on a cruise ship are a luxury product, and there's not that many of them. More common and usually cheaper for big families to rent two adjoining cabins, or a balcony cabin and an interior right across the hall. The kids can rough it in an interior cabin on a nice cruise (or in the back seat of the family car or in the coach section of an airplane on a nice vacation and when they're earning their own money and paying for their own vacations they can get a nice balcony.

 

[Kakidoll]

Waiting for the lawsuit against carnival and a money grab from this family now. They obviously have changed stories and are sticking together to protect each other. What a shock. NOT.

 

[whitelilac]

He’s younger, 16 years old.


*****
Another news report just out. According to the grandmother, Brady Bunch #2. One interesting tidbit noted, the COD came from a ‘source’, not the ME.

What Anna Kepner's grandparents said about cruise ship death

Grandparents of Titusville teen Anna Kepner share details on her cruise ship death as FBI investigates and stepbrother emerges as a suspect.

www.floridatoday.com

“The three teenagers, including Anna and her stepbrother, had decided among themselves to share one of the rooms, Barbara Kepner said in the interview.

She told the news outlet that in the close-knit family there was "no such thing as steps" and that the blended family was very close.

"He was in a room with her. He was the only one seen coming and going," Barbara Kepner said. "I can't accuse him because I don't know what happened in that room."

bbm
I don't believe this.
According to Anna's ex boyfriend Anna was afraid of the 16 year old stepbrother. (link and article some pages back where the ex boyfriend spoke out)
Anna also didn't like the stepmother, and at one point she said I don't know these people. They were not "close knit", nor "very close."

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Waiting for the lawsuit against carnival and a money grab from this family now. They obviously have changed stories and are sticking together to protect each other. What a shock. NOT.

What kind of lawsuit could they file against Carnival Cruises? None of this is the fault of Carnival.

 

[ChatteringBirds]

What do the parents do for a living; are either of them a mandated reporter or in contact with vulnerable people?

 

[whitelilac]

What kind of lawsuit could they file against Carnival Cruises? None of this is the fault of Carnival.

deflection. They are circling the wagons. Do any of these people actually care that Anna was murdered? I haven't heard a single thing about any of them grieving Anna. Even her father. Seems they are all in a self protective mode. I also don't believe for a minute that the 16 year old has amnesia.

 

[Synergizer Bunny]

Re deadbolts

Yes, cruise ship cabins have a deadbolt lock on the inside.

But...
Staff with a master keycard or a specific override key
can open the deadbolt.
This is typically reserved for emergencies.

Nobody wants to be trapped in a cabin in case of emergency, right?

JMO

Would the time that CK tried to use his key card when he returned to the room and the door would not open be recorded? If so, would it be recorded as a "tried and failed to enter the room" or just be recorded as a swipe with the key card?

I believe that TH intentionally locked the deadbolt to keep everyone out. I'm assuming that he may have done this after murdering AK. He needed time to hide her body. After he hid her body and covered with life jackets, he then unlocked the deadbolt.

Did TH ever leave the room that night after this happened? When was the next time that he left? Was it for breakfast the next morning?

I know that he was carted off to the hospital after Anna's body was discovered. How did TH act at breakfast before the discovery? Did any family member see scratches on his hands or arms?

JMO.