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

[mickey2942]

Should be some interesting holidays in this family coming up. I see this as so impossibly dysfunctional, probably step-mom will try to bully life into being "normal" and forbid any conversation about this at the table.

Reminiscent of the scene from "The Prince of Tides" where everyone sits down for dinner and pretends everything is "FINE".

 

[tlcya]

Grandma seems very sweet but frankly the comment about no stepchildren is kablooey. I can't begin to imagine how the adults in her family could not understand how Anna and her brother might feel about being told these new kids on the block are totally equal in their eyes in all respects.

Most likely, this made it impossible for Anna to even discuss concerning issues with ANY of the adults who were supposed to protect her and look out for her best interests. Being booted to the dining room as a "bedroom" is sad but there were no alternatives it seems. Too bad it wasnt the older boys who may have needed less closet space and it was only 8 more months then they could have taken her room.

As to the 16 year old "having demons", does this mean drugs, alcoholism, thefts, chronic lying, p@rnography addictions? What would constitute DEMONS for a 16 year old?

Its been publicized that the father was told of the 16 year old's attack on Anna in the night when the bf, now ex bf, was watching via live cam, and that the father blew it off. I wish we knew more detail on that from the ex bf. Did he think they lied about that? Did he think that behavior was no big deal? Did he tell them to work it out between themselves?

I can imagine Anna didnt want to impose on her elderly grandparent's privacy by sleeping in their room. Quite probably, they retired for the night well before the teen kids and wouldn't have taken well to the teen's use of late night blue screen technology either.

Any ideas on the 16 year old's DEMONS? Its interesting that no friends, classmates, neighbors, soccer team mates, parents of any of those, no one, has spoken of him. Was he a ghost? Are they afraid of him? Of his mom? What's up with the total news block?

BBM, I wanted to add to your list - behavioral or mental health problems? It is an odd statement. a 16 year old with "demons"

 

[Marah]

Isn't there an awful smell after someone dies? How did no one smell or say anything about the smell?

 

[soap mama]

As a mom, now grandma there is no way opposite sexes are sharing a room once they hit 10- 12 years old. Even bio siblings. I grew up with a brother and had a son and daughters. Never slept in the same room. It's just not a good idea to me. Hormones , false accusations....better to keep them apart. I know others have different experiences , this is a big no for me.

THIS!! I use the phrase "avoid the appearance of impropriety"
I understand families are on budgets, but the grands had an extra bed and the parents could have had single sex rooms.

 

[soap mama]

My question: why didn’t the stepbrother decline room service that day?

Bc he's 16 and not a crime Einstein like us lol

 

[soap mama]

Now I am wondering. She died of mechanical asphyxiation. If you knock someone out, or even just wrap them in a blanket so they can't move and shove them under a bed, that can cause mechanical asphyxiation if there is a bar under the bed that keeps her from breathing. Especially if someone sits on the bed.

I can now see several ways this could have gone sideways. Pushed up against the side of a bunk, trapped under the bed, an arm across the neck, even sitting on her chest with a leg across her neck. I can think of a few more, but I'll leave that for now.

I understand mechanical asphyxiation to mean anything outside the body. So his arm on her throat is "mechanical"

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Isn't there an awful smell after someone dies? How did no one smell or say anything about the smell?

Good question that I wondered about as well. THE STAGES OF HUMAN DECOMPOSITION

 

[soap mama]

I see Grandma more concerned about protecting stepbro and perception of the family than actual grief about Anna. JMO

I think she is just really being careful with her words bc the family dynamic is flammable

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Now I am wondering. She died of mechanical asphyxiation. If you knock someone out, or even just wrap them in a blanket so they can't move and shove them under a bed, that can cause mechanical asphyxiation if there is a bar under the bed that keeps her from breathing. Especially if someone sits on the bed.

I can now see several ways this could have gone sideways. Pushed up against the side of a bunk, trapped under the bed, an arm across the neck, even sitting on her chest with a leg across her neck. I can think of a few more, but I'll leave that for now.

Possibly the ladder for the top bunk.

 

[LMDlong]

I have been reading and following, and I am not liking the whole situation at all.

An 18 yo is dead, murdered, maybe by a family member, maybe not.
The main POI is a minor.

The media are feasting on this tragedy, and some of the family members seem to have jumped on the media wagon too.

There has been so much info put out and so few verifiable facts, it's making me uncomfortable.

I fear that LE's silence is making the speculations and innuendos even worse.
I just wish they gave at least a few straight facts to stop this circus.

JMO

Good points . I wonder if her death occurring in international waters could be what’s holding up legal actions . Does anyone know who has jurisdiction of this homicide ?

 

[Cedars]

ABSOLUTELY! Plus an 18 year old girl needs physical privacy from siblings, parents and anyone else!

Innumerable well- off young women like her voluntarily go backpacking around the world, staying in hostels where they share dorm rooms and coed bathrooms with strange young men they've never met before.

Innumerable women go on team sport outings or outdoor hiking, climbing, skiing, kayaking, etc adventures where they share small tents with men and the only facility is an outhouse.

<modsnip: rude>

The problem was this particular boy, not every boy.

JMO

 

[LMDlong]

Possibly the ladder for the top bunk.

And the bruising on the side of the neck .

 

[tara83]

Innumerable well- off young women like her voluntarily go backpacking around the world, staying in hostels where they share dorm rooms and coed bathrooms with strange young men they've never met before.

Innumerable women go on outdoor hiking, climbing, skiing, kayaking, etc adventures where they share small tents with men and the only facility is an outhouse.

The categorical statements are, IMO, foolish. The problem is not that every young woman is going to be murdered by her stepbrother or other boy she briefly shares a room with.

The problem was this particular boy, not every boy.

JMO

I'm still trying to figure out how they thought them sharing a room was a great plan even though even the grandma knew he had demons in his past.

 

[Eli9]

Good points . I wonder if her death occurring in international waters could be what’s holding up legal actions . Does anyone know who has jurisdiction of this homicide ?

It can be determined by who owns the ship and where it's registered.

What Happens If Someone Is Murdered in International Waters?

When a crime occurs beyond national borders, a complex hierarchy of rules determines legal authority based on the vessel’s registry and the people involved.

legalclarity.org

When a murder occurs on the high seas, the primary basis for legal authority is “flag state jurisdiction.” Under international law, a ship is governed by the laws of the country where it is registered, known as the flag state. Article 92 of UNCLOS establishes that a ship on the high seas is subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of its flag state. The vessel is treated as a piece of that nation’s territory.

Other legal principles can create overlapping jurisdictional claims. The “nationality principle” allows the country of which the alleged perpetrator is a citizen to assert jurisdiction, regardless of where the crime took place. This means a country may have laws allowing it to prosecute its nationals for serious crimes committed abroad.

 

[Lebowski]

I'm still trying to figure out how they thought them sharing a room was a great plan even though even the grandma knew he had demons in his past.

right. even putting this in their own twisted terms, how did people not realize what an obviously bad idea this was?

answer: the people who made the decision didn't give a ****

 

[Lebowski]

I think she is just really being careful with her words bc the family dynamic is flammable

i would be surprised if the current marriage stayed together. even more surprised if there isn't already finger-pointing behind the scenes.

 

[Kakidoll]

Bc he's 16 and not a crime Einstein like us lol

because most probably they weren't in the room when the cleaner came. you AM or PM or both when you board, they then come SOMETIME to do your room either after you go to breakfast, or evening. I always do evening because i sleep in. They come in ONLY when you are NOT there. If you put the do not disturb sign out, they will sometimes knock. The Horizon and EVERY carnival ship i've been on (All but 2) have the inside lock that prevents others with a normal sail and sign card access. I will say not everyone probably knows its there. I've accidently locked out a roommate and my friend locked out her husband after she went to bed drunk and locked it without thinking about it. He came knocking on my door and we could NOT wake her up with phone or knocking, so he just crashed on our couch. NOT a big deal and very common. I cruise with groups of up to 100 plus people. We look out for each other and have cruised together for 15 years, so just like friendships on land, someone drinks too much, or is arguing with a spouse etc, you let them 'crash' at your 'house' The kids being in a cabin together does not surprise me at all EXCEPT for teh fact that they did seem to have issues before. As for her feeling uncomfortable and not choosing to sleep in grandmas room..... or they went to bed earlier. Grandma said she was in the casino, as was Anna, and ANNA went to bed, grandma stayed. Which a 3am to 4am time for 'older' cruisers is somewhat common if you are a gambler. She could have stopped by casino, gone to the disco, or another club, met up with other people, whatever, before going back to her cabin that night. No idea when bro or step bro came back. But she WAS seen out and about after dinner according to the interniew with grandparents.

 

[PrairieWind]

It happens though. A lot.

It may, but it shouldn't. And it is expensive. Are the drinks being charged to the room account? They will show up on the bill later.

It can be determined by who owns the ship and where it's registered.

What Happens If Someone Is Murdered in International Waters?

When a crime occurs beyond national borders, a complex hierarchy of rules determines legal authority based on the vessel’s registry and the people involved.

legalclarity.org

When a murder occurs on the high seas, the primary basis for legal authority is “flag state jurisdiction.” Under international law, a ship is governed by the laws of the country where it is registered, known as the flag state. Article 92 of UNCLOS establishes that a ship on the high seas is subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of its flag state. The vessel is treated as a piece of that nation’s territory.

Other legal principles can create overlapping jurisdictional claims. The “nationality principle” allows the country of which the alleged perpetrator is a citizen to assert jurisdiction, regardless of where the crime took place. This means a country may have laws allowing it to prosecute its nationals for serious crimes committed abroad.

That's not entirely true. The flag of the ship governs the admin issues of the ship. But the company is headquartered in the US. And, in this case, the victim and suspects are US citizens, so the US DoJ has jurisdiction.

 

[Cedars]

<modsnip: Quoted post was removed> ... they should have left him behind, just locked him up somewhere for the rest of his life.

He could have killed his younger brother, or his grandmother. He could have come up behind a solitary passenger looking over the railing and pushed them over, he could have drowned a briefly unwatched child in the pool, he could have snuck up behind the serving station, grabbed a knife, and gone on a rampage...

 

[LMDlong]

It can be determined by who owns the ship and where it's registered.

What Happens If Someone Is Murdered in International Waters?

When a crime occurs beyond national borders, a complex hierarchy of rules determines legal authority based on the vessel’s registry and the people involved.

legalclarity.org

When a murder occurs on the high seas, the primary basis for legal authority is “flag state jurisdiction.” Under international law, a ship is governed by the laws of the country where it is registered, known as the flag state. Article 92 of UNCLOS establishes that a ship on the high seas is subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of its flag state. The vessel is treated as a piece of that nation’s territory.

Other legal principles can create overlapping jurisdictional claims. The “nationality principle” allows the country of which the alleged perpetrator is a citizen to assert jurisdiction, regardless of where the crime took place. This means a country may have laws allowing it to prosecute its nationals for serious crimes committed abroad.

Thank you.