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

[OneLove]

I found her comments very,very strange Saying they were 2 peas in a pod and cared for each other in the right way Who actually even thinks of saying things like the right way? Plus the demons... >snip<

I had the distinct impression she'd been "briefed" by son & dil or their attorney or both, got a bit garbled in presenting that way too obvious "vital point", and clearly was trying to get ahead of the known previous sexual assault. The "no steps, only grands in this family" seemed also way too coached, as though a defense attorney had advised them.

Maybe they, indeed, are genuinely a very loving, very open and generous family and are simply shortsighted as to the kids needs at their developmental age. Maybe they're doing the best they knew how.

But putting a sexual predator 16 year old with an 18 year old high school senior in one tiny little ship cabin, especially with available alcohol and who knows what else, was head in the sand crazy. I know officially the 16 and 14 year old weren't of age to drink but we all know how easy it is on-board, overlooked by staff as long as its not blatant, and many parents allow it at that age anyway or simply pretend not to see. Wink wink. Recipe for disaster.

There was a previous post with a reference to the 14 year old hearing yelling in addition to thumping sounds, specifically "shut up" being shouted. There was rage, clearly. Did he not want to report this to the parents because he didnt want to get his sister and/or step brother in trouble (yes he IS a step despite granny's claim)? Or had they been told "no fighting or you're ALL grounded?

I'd bet my bottom dollar that stepmom had already consulted a defense attorney before they ever left the ship. I'd bet the hospital stay was a planned strategy to avoid media presence and any potential law enforcement questioning. I'm sure they are trying to lock down any and all info and sweep it all under the rug as much as possible.

The 16 year old's dad seems to be trying to keep their custody hearing from being closed, or at least the attorney is. Apparently he wants all the facts laid out in the open. That usually means the facts are not in step mom's favor. It looks like step mom's about to get a public skewering if exhusband gets his way.

I hope Anna can speak through them and whatever happens, I hope her 14 year old brother lands in the most favorable situation for his future. I wonder if biomom will be fighting for custody.

 

[Gemmie]

Has there been any mention in MSM about Anna's bio mom?

A fair amount IMO.

 

[SoBu]

I agree with all that has been stated about the misplaced priorities of the adults in these children’s lives. And, from my personal experience growing up in the 70s in a family with six children with 2 different moms and 3 different fathers (one completely out of the picture), we had some similar unhealthy dynamics to this family, thankfully without any deaths, but unrelated teens should be well supervised at all times! Very challenging, actually, and the child with no father involved was definitely somewhat invisible to the adults/parents. Despicable really.

 

[steeltowngirl]

Wonder what she is afraid will come out?

There may be a treasure trove of information in the parents’ calls and text messages during the cruise.

It was Anna’s grandmother that initially called out Anna’s death as a murder. Makes me wonder if the father and stepmother were hoping to play it off as some sort of accident or misadventure.

JMO

 

[acutename]

Anna is the victim, no reason excuses the poi .

Not 'Demons '
Not she didn't mind sharing or wanted to
Not but they were two peas in a pod
Not infatuation
Not anything she done or didn't do as a person
Not her yelling

The responsibility lays firmly at his feet
He chose to lock the door
He chose to strangle Her
He chose to wrap Her in a blanket
He chose to roll or push Her under the bed
He chose not to tell anyone
He chose not to get help

Anna didn't get to choose
Choices were made for her before and after her death

POI was 16 ,he wasn't 8 , he had acute awareness of what was right and wrong acutely enough to conceal Her body
JMHO

#women's choices matter

we know nothing about this step brother- maybe he required constant supervision but they were in denial about his condition- we do not know what school he attended- if he was on meds- we really know nothing IMO

 

[BlaiseFinlay]

I had the distinct impression she'd been "briefed" by son & dil or their attorney or both, got a bit garbled in presenting that way too obvious "vital point", and clearly was trying to get ahead of the known previous sexual assault. The "no steps, only grands in this family" seemed also way too coached, as though a defense attorney had advised them. ….

Yeah, I almost described the portions that I heard as “lawyerly.”

Edit: Regarding custody of the 14 year old, his bio mom is Tabitha. I’m not sure we’re aware of their custody arrangement. But yes, this would certainly be reasonable grounds to revisit it if needed, I would think!

 

[Stunned]

So was this cruise a special one off affair? Does Shauntel have only one child younger than the 16 year old?

I think one daughter. IMo

 

[bajaflash]

Im not one to judge when people engage in infidelity, but making moves on a minor teenaged babysitter is egregious beyond words. It's predatory.

 

[OneLove]

I think one daughter. IMo

Thank you. So the 2 younger daughters were step sisters to each other. If Tabitha's daughter did not live primarily with them but Anna did, I'm curious as to why Anna's bed was in the dining room. This makes me even sadder for Anna who seems to have been pushed to the periphery and even denied her bio mother's presence at her funeral, over money yet,we are told, when that was no longer even an issue since Anna was dead fgs, That seems to reek of anger out of control and NOT in any way in any of the kids' best interests. I can't imagine that would go over well with the judge in the custody case of Shauntel's children.
Even though her children are not Chris's, he is the resident male parent in that home making decisions on behalf of the kids and setting the tone of the environment. And we see where that got Anna.

 

[Lisbeth_S]

I have to say I'm struggling not to judge the parents for their choices here. And I'm really trying!
I suspend judgement on their involvement in Anna's death (waiting to know more facts), but the whole situation is disgraceful.

I mean, the family tree is enough for me to imagine that the living situation may not have been the most harmonious, with those kids sent left and right and in the midst of endless custody battles.
I am not surprised the 16yo had "demons" (aka psychological issues) and god knows about the other children involved.
Mental health issues don't obviously excuse (alleged) murder, however having the care, support, stability and professional help would have probably increased the chances for Anna to be still here today.

I may be going against the majority here, but I think the 16yo was one of the victims of the adults' choices, and he ended up becoming the perpetrator (allegedly).

It could have been prevented, if the adults made better decisions IMO.

 

[Arkay]

I mean, the family tree is enough for me to imagine that the living situation may not have been the most harmonious, with those kids sent left and right and in the midst of endless custody battles.

I agree, and I think this is actually an understatement.

The only consistent part of these kids’ lives was the inconsistency.

Who’s my family today? Who’s going to be my family tomorrow?
What happened to the family I had yesterday?

Does anyone around here love me and care about me?

Even just one stable person who put their needs first could have made an enormous difference. No killer, nobody killed, perhaps, had they had one person who was reliable and made them feel safe and secure.

JMO

 

[lissakirk]

I asked in an earlier post about the size of Temple Christian School in Titusville. I looked it up and Wikipedia says teaching staff of 24 and total enrollment of 300 students from elementary through high school.

This seems... small? She first attended public high school where she was a cheerleader, then was moved to a religious school (do we know why?) then was moved to Temple. That seems alot of school changes for someone just starting their senior year of high school.

Wikipedia states yearly tuition was a bit over $6,000. Wondering who paid and do all the kids go there and why? I find myself wishing they'd saved that money and bought a house with one more bedroom.

Maybe the silence of anyone who knows these people is due to not many actually knowing them? The step grandfather who spoke out, is he the step mom's dad? He didnt say much but didnt hold back either. Guessing he knows more about the 16 year old. Or is he the step mom's exhusband's dad? The article didnt identify that.

Did the 16 year old play soccer on the little church school's team?

Anna went to both the public high schools in Titusville, then Temple (the religious school). I'm curious about why as well.

 

[Rexa]

any chance that step brother maybe spiked her drink at dinner and that's why she wasnt feeling well?? Ik she said bc her bands but why is there no toxicology report yet???

 

[su5ie]

any chance that step brother maybe spiked her drink at dinner and that's why she wasnt feeling well?? Ik she said bc her bands but why is there no toxicology report yet???

According to paternal grandma , Anna got changed into different clothes and returned to the company of the family in the casino .

So in my opinion, she used the feeling sick as an excuse to either escape awkwardness or typical teenager just wanted to change ,fix hair ,have a bit of space etc without other family members saying she didn't need to and persuading her to stay when she really wanted to go be by herself to do teenage girl stuff

She could also have just felt bloated after dinner and needed to "unbloat " teenage girls and embarrassment in all that

 

[Rexa]

According to paternal grandma , Anna got changed into different clothes and returned to the company of the family in the casino .

So in my opinion, she used the feeling sick to either escape awkwardness or typical teenager just wanted to change ,fix hair ,have a bit of space etc without other family members saying she didn't need to and persuading her to stay when she really wanted to go be by herself to do teenage girl stuff

imo that very much seems most likely but I feel like somethings off with all these story's, I haven't seen anyone mention anything of cameras? do we have any footage of where she was when?? the casino account from gma just seems weird to me, she comes back all dressed up just to blow $20 then leave right after? maybe I'm just tired but seems odd to dress up for a 5 min interaction yk

 

[OneLove]

Anna went to both the public high schools in Titusville, then Temple (the religious school). I'm curious about why as well.

Thank you, and are you sure sbout that? I thought i read she went to Titus High then a religious school then the final religious school, Temple.

Do you know if she still was able to spend time with Tabitha after they divorced? Since Tabitha claimed Chris was violent with their kids, I wonder if that included Anna too and was Anna scared of him?

 

[Hexe]

Yes, the suspect could explain away the presence of his DNA as they shared a room

DNA in the room, yes. Copious amounts of his DNA all over her body? No.

 

[dalsglen]

any chance that step brother maybe spiked her drink at dinner and that's why she wasnt feeling well?? Ik she said bc her bands but why is there no toxicology report yet???

It was stated (by grandma I think) that it wasn't that she was unwell, but her braces were giving her some pain. Quite reasonable for Anna to duck out of dinner with toothache.

 

[steeltowngirl]

Former FBI agent discusses death by asphyxiation with Brian Entin.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1993694964988178898

 

[mickey2942]

I have to say I'm struggling not to judge the parents for their choices here. And I'm really trying!
I suspend judgement on their involvement in Anna's death (waiting to know more facts), but the whole situation is disgraceful.

I mean, the family tree is enough for me to imagine that the living situation may not have been the most harmonious, with those kids sent left and right and in the midst of endless custody battles.
I am not surprised the 16yo had "demons" (aka psychological issues) and god knows about the other children involved.
Mental health issues don't obviously excuse (alleged) murder, however having the care, support, stability and professional help would have probably increased the chances for Anna to be still here today.

I may be going against the majority here, but I think the 16yo was one of the victims of the adults' choices, and he ended up becoming the perpetrator (allegedly).

It could have been prevented, if the adults made better decisions IMO.

Seriously? The parents are at fault for a 16 year old killing a girl? I will say, if he didn't do it here, he probably would have done it somewhere, at some point. Normal 16 year old boys don't choke women, or put them in a choke hold head lock until they are dead.