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

[Mauig’ma]

Again, I mention that we do not know if Anna was deceased when she was stuffed under the bed. She may have been unconscious and how she was put under the bed caused her demise. If he doesn't remember anything, he wouldn't remember if she was breathing or not at that point. (Mechanical strangulation can be caused by entrapment)

Come on. You really think she died from being trapped under the bed? And that he didn’t choke her to death? Really? Pretty evident he killed her imo moo

 

[Arkay]

And i do think a 16 yr old SHOULD be charged as an adult in most circumstances. BUT you have way too many people that want to press for adult charges on some 16 yr olds then others that vigorously defend them as being a CHILD and not understanding or developed. Until we have more REAL answers, its all just guessing at this point.

I’m going to take a leap of faith and say that I highly doubt any of us on Websleuths could look back at our 16-year old selves and recall a time when we strangled a relative, shoved her under a bed and attempted to hide her.

When I was 16 I’d already graduated high school and was involved in moving on to college. I had my little teenaged boyfriend and not once did either of us, young and not fully developed as we were, contemplate strangling one another, or anyone else. We spent our free time volunteering at a United Cerebral Palsy center in Manhattan.

I completely agree that at 16 we are not fully formed, we may make stupid choices, we may not fully understand the ramifications of those choices, but none of us at that age thought “oh, I know, let’s strangle someone and then hide them, yippee!”

I do agree TH might, possibly, maybe, perhaps, have not intended to actually kill her, just harm her, but I struggle with that. Aged 16 is not aged 5, where truly the cause and effect of an action may bewilder. At sixteen, no, I don’t believe it.

JMO

 

[Gators North]

I’m sure that this won’t be a popular opinion, but I agree with @Arkay and @Mauig’ma. He killed her.

I think that ultimately the charge will be manslaughter, but it should be murder. As someone else mentioned, it takes time to strangle someone and he could have stopped at any point.

ETA: MOO.

 

[I am not Sherlock H.]

As expressed by others, also envisioning that the apparent assailant should be charged to the full extent of the law. And as an adult as appropriate and as allowed by law.

With the event having occurred IIUC at sea on a cruise ship, there IMO becomes a matter of which territory the vessel was flagged in, who owns it, where the event occurred, in what waters, etc. IIUC the FBI is also involved. Unfortunately at times, it seems IMO that crimes at sea on a vessel can have a ‘complicated’ analysis and prosecution. IANAL. MOO

 

[Ghostwheel]

Come on. You really think she died from being trapped under the bed? And that he didn’t choke her to death? Really? Pretty evident he killed her imo moo

Well, she didn't die of manual strangulation, she died of mechanical asphyxiation (I mentioned my boo-boo up thread) and that is not the same as strangulation. Since I don't have all the evidence, and I HAVE seen cases where people died of positional asphyxiation, I, personally, wait for all the facts since it's not evident to me what the sequence of events were without all the facts. I wasn't in the room.

Can I make a case for arm across throat until dead with what is known? Yep. Can I make a case for under a bed and cannot breath because something is stopping her from breathing with what we know? Yep. Can I make a case for he has nothing to do with it with what we know? Not at all.

In case anyone needs a link to COD

Anna Kepner's death on cruise ship ruled a homicide

The death of 18-year-old Anna Kepner has been ruled a homicide, according to a copy of the death certificate issued on Monday and provided to ABC News by Kepner's family.

abcnews.go.com

 

[acutename]

Well, she didn't die of manual strangulation, she died of mechanical asphyxiation (I mentioned my boo-boo up thread) and that is not the same as strangulation. Since I don't have all the evidence, and I HAVE seen cases where people died of positional asphyxiation, I, personally, wait for all the facts since it's not evident to me what the sequence of events were without all the facts. I wasn't in the room.

Can I make a case for arm across throat until dead with what is known? Yep. Can I make a case for under a bed and cannot breath because something is stopping her from breathing with what we know? Yep. Can I make a case for he has nothing to do with it with what we know? Not at all.

In case anyone needs a link to COD

Anna Kepner's death on cruise ship ruled a homicide

The death of 18-year-old Anna Kepner has been ruled a homicide, according to a copy of the death certificate issued on Monday and provided to ABC News by Kepner's family.

abcnews.go.com

supposedly he had sat on her previously. He could have sat on her chest- what has been released from the ME does not say anything about marks on her neck. He might really have very little intelligence and at 16 he is strong so he might have not realized that whatever he did would be fatal- thus teens drink enough to die; drive 100 mph, etc. Nothing that he did is "normal" but if he is 16 with the mind of a 5 yr old.... do we know if he was in normal grade level classes? Guess we know he can drive a 4 wheeler down a driveway. I keep thinking of Lenny in Of Mice and Men.

 

[Kalanit]

Well, she didn't die of manual strangulation, she died of mechanical asphyxiation (I mentioned my boo-boo up thread) and that is not the same as strangulation. Since I don't have all the evidence, and I HAVE seen cases where people died of positional asphyxiation, I, personally, wait for all the facts since it's not evident to me what the sequence of events were without all the facts. I wasn't in the room.

Can I make a case for arm across throat until dead with what is known? Yep. Can I make a case for under a bed and cannot breath because something is stopping her from breathing with what we know? Yep. Can I make a case for he has nothing to do with it with what we know? Not at all.

In case anyone needs a link to COD

Anna Kepner's death on cruise ship ruled a homicide

The death of 18-year-old Anna Kepner has been ruled a homicide, according to a copy of the death certificate issued on Monday and provided to ABC News by Kepner's family.

abcnews.go.com

All strangulation is mechanical asphyxiation. Not all manual asphyxiation is strangulation.

https://journals.lww.com/jfsm/fulltext/2023/09010/characteristics_of_mechanical_asphyxia__a.10.aspx

 

[Ghostwheel]

All strangulation is mechanical asphyxiation. Not all manual asphyxiation is strangulation.

The point i was attempting to make is that the COD is "mechanically asphyxiated by other person(s)", which can encompass many things all of which could be attributed to "other person(s)". It is not specifically "strangulation" only and strangulation was not listed as COD. There is no other confirmation of what "mechanically asphyxiated by other person(s)" means in this case, yet.

From

https://www.pathologyoutlines.com/topic/forensicsasphyxia.html#:~:text=Mechanical%20asphyxia:%20asphyxia%20due%20to%20impaired%20breathing,asphyxia%2C%20traumatic%20asphyxia%2C%20smothering%2C%20choking%20and%20strangulation)

"Mechanical asphyxia: asphyxia due to impaired breathing secondary to the body being in an unnatural position or severe compression to the neck, chest or other areas of the body that make respiration difficult or impossible (positional asphyxia, traumatic asphyxia, smothering, choking and strangulation)"

 

[Spectrix]

supposedly he had sat on her previously. He could have sat on her chest- what has been released from the ME does not say anything about marks on her neck.

I don't think we've seen anything from the Medical Examiner per se, but marks on her neck were reported:

Anna Kepner, a teenager who was found dead on a Carnival Horizon cruise ship this month, possibly died by asphyxiation resulting from a bar hold -- an arm across the neck -- a source briefed on the investigation told ABC News on Friday.
Investigators also found two bruises on the side of her neck, the source said.

Source - ABC News

 

[OneLove]

Regardless of whether he *meant* to unalive her, he DID leave her dead lifeless body underneath the bed and hid it with lifejackets and slept in the same room all night long and acted as though it hadn't happened the next morning.... *until* the moment it was apparent to her father she was missing, whereupon he *then* went hysterical and claimed he didnt remember anything from the night before. Rotfl. Sure sure. Believing he didn't realize he had killed her is like believing you can dig a hole to China with a plastic hand trowel.

Was he "intellectually" challenged? Maybe. But even a doorknob or a slug knows if you stuff a lifeless body under a bed carefully hidden by lifejackets and leave it all night totally motionless and soundless, its dead as a doornail.

Some of these "what if" scenarios stretch the rubber band waaay beyond the breaking point. But, hey ; thats what both defense attorneys and sociopathically negligent parents *do* and every great once in a blue moon, it works (on compromised and/or "challenged" jurors) so there's that.

We shall see.

But there's really not a chance in hell he didnt know he killed her whether he planned to in advance or not.

Grandma KNEW he struggled with "demons". I'm absolutely sure she knows much MUCH more about his past behavior problems than we do. The schools he attended know much more than we do. The poor kid was drugged, bounced between schools, had a rough homelife, and had negligent supervision and oversight. I'm not judging him harshly because he's a troubled teen with an incompletely formed imperfect amygdala. But YES, he knew he had murdered Anna. And he hid it. And he now has lots of co-conspirators aiding his denial.

Its very sad he didnt get the help he needed when he needed it that might have prevented this whole tragedy.

 

[Spectrix]

Some of these "what if" scenarios stretch the rubber band waaay beyond the breaking point. But, hey ; thats what both defense attorneys and sociopathically negligent parents *do* and every great once in a blue moon, it works (on compromised and/or "challenged" jurors) so there's that.

The reality of the situation is that even if TH caused Anna to become unconscious via strangulation and then stuffed her under the bed and she died from asphyxiation (or whatever interesting combination of events might have lead to her death), the jury are likely to be instructed to treat it as an intentional killing, because it's assumed that restricting air or blood flow to another person is likely to cause their death.

 

[steeltowngirl]

As expressed by others, also envisioning that the apparent assailant should be charged to the full extent of the law. And as an adult as appropriate and as allowed by law.

With the event having occurred IIUC at sea on a cruise ship, there IMO becomes a matter of which territory the vessel was flagged in, who owns it, where the event occurred, in what waters, etc. IIUC the FBI is also involved. Unfortunately at times, it seems IMO that crimes at sea on a vessel can have a ‘complicated’ analysis and prosecution. IANAL. MOO

I’m thinking that it is TH’s age as a minor and the lack of witnesses to the homicide that are creating the complication in the investigation.

Example case: Kenneth Manzanares brutally murdered his wife on a cruise in 2017 and was immediately detained and prosecuted. The FBI, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Alaska, Coast Guard, and the U.S. DOJ were all involved in the investigation and public reporting.

https://www.justice.gov/usao-ak/pr/utah-man-sentenced-30-years-prison-murdering-his-wife-cruise-ship-southeast-alaska

 

[acutename]

I don't think we've seen anything from the Medical Examiner per se, but marks on her neck were reported:

Anna Kepner, a teenager who was found dead on a Carnival Horizon cruise ship this month, possibly died by asphyxiation resulting from a bar hold -- an arm across the neck -- a source briefed on the investigation told ABC News on Friday.
Investigators also found two bruises on the side of her neck, the source said.

Source - ABC News

thanks for correcting me. I did not see that information. I do recall the younger boy hearing "banging like furniture being thrown around."

A Florida Family’s Cruise Turns Tragic: Who Killed Anna Kepner?

Anna Kepner, 18, was found dead in her stateroom aboard the Carnival Horizon on Nov. 7, but a month later there have still been no arrests in the case

people.com

(this article also says that that had all cruised together numerous times before)

This article has people back in their state rooms around 7 pm/7:30- and no explanation how the younger boy who was locked out finally got back into the room. I think if I were him and locked out, I would have been complaining to my parents IMO. I still wonder if the 16 yr old had tantrums- dangerous and destructive when you get bigger and strong. IMO. Mayo Clinic on "adult tantrums":
Intermittent explosive disorder involves repeated, sudden bouts of impulsive, aggressive, violent behavior or angry verbal outbursts. The reactions are too extreme for the situation. Road rage, domestic abuse, throwing or breaking objects, or other temper tantrums may be symptoms of intermittent explosive disorder.Jan 6, 2024

Intermittent explosive disorder - Symptoms and causes - Mayo Clinic​

 

[steeltowngirl]

There is no other confirmation of what "mechanically asphyxiated by other person(s)" means in this case, yet.

“Mechanically asphyxiated by other person(s)"
Anna’s breathing was permanently ended through physical force.

It’s not that complicated.

JMO

 

[su5ie]

I'm going to go out on a limb here and state because there is no witnesses in the room ,cttv or otherwise, I'm foreseeing accidental death as a cause .

I don't know what the charges are for that ,is it the same as a car accident where someone dies

I believe Tim knew inhibiting Anna's ability to breathe could kill her and the longer he inhibited that and especially the moment of unconsciousness before death he knew he had caused serious harm .

If he hid her at this point and she died after being placed under the bed , it is still murder in my eyes and the equivalent of firing a second bullet to ensure a person is dead. Is intent to kill her may not have been present but he did . In ireland manslaughter is when a murder occurs in the heat of the moment and 1st degree is murder intended . So I don't know how the difference is going to be proved

The fact he slept or appeared to do that and go join family for breakfast shows an individual not outwardly emotional over what he did until he was caught

 

[MistyWaters]

Has ABC News made the death certificate available to the public after it was provided to them, anybody know?

Anna Kepner's death on cruise ship ruled a homicide

The death of 18-year-old Anna Kepner has been ruled a homicide, according to a copy of the death certificate issued on Monday and provided to ABC News by Kepner's family.

abcnews.go.com

The death of 18-year-old Anna Kepner on a Carnival cruise ship has been ruled a homicide, according to a copy of the death certificate issued on Monday and provided to ABC News by Kepner's family.

The document said the death was caused by "mechanical asphyxia" and the date of injury was listed as Nov. 6, though the time is unknown. It says the teenager "was mechanically asphyxiated by other person(s)."

A formal autopsy and toxicology report have not been released yet.

 

[ChatteringBirds]

It's been said, but asphyxiation is not quick. Not if he used his arm, not if he used the bed itself. So I don't understand the idea that a manslaughter charge may be appropriate.

I hope there won't be a plea and him walking free at a young age.

I do think there is something really wrong with him but not that he doesn't understand cause and effect and life and death.

if he is 16 with the mind of a 5 yr old.... do we know if he was in normal grade level classes?

Was he "intellectually" challenged? Maybe

I think it would have come out if he was very mentally challenged, like needing a special school or an aide. In any case, if he was selling firewood unsupervised, he has some independence and skills.

 

[Charlot123]

supposedly he had sat on her previously. He could have sat on her chest- what has been released from the ME does not say anything about marks on her neck. He might really have very little intelligence and at 16 he is strong so he might have not realized that whatever he did would be fatal- thus teens drink enough to die; drive 100 mph, etc. Nothing that he did is "normal" but if he is 16 with the mind of a 5 yr old.... do we know if he was in normal grade level classes? Guess we know he can drive a 4 wheeler down a driveway. I keep thinking of Lenny in Of Mice and Men.

Sort of…but then, the fault falls squarely on the so-called “parents and coparents” whose goal was to observe the boy and not to leave him with other kids. In fact, the 14-year-old stepbrother was also at risk, if one thinks.

 

[OneLove]

>snip< I do think there is something really wrong with him but not that he doesn't understand cause and effect and life and death.





I think it would have come out if he was very mentally challenged, like needing a special school or an aide. In any case, if he was selling firewood unsupervised, he has some independence and skills.

I totally agree with both these points. As I read it, his biggest problem has been diminished parenting. And if he does have intermittent explosive disorder, which is very real and can be scary to deal with, then why the hello was his parent (who apparently wanted ALL the parenting responsibility and decisions to herself) allowing the routine laxity in his supervision and environment?

I'd very seriously love to know what his consequences were when he misbehaved at home. Was there ANY parenting going on in that home other than chemical control through medication both day and night?

 

[Hexe]

Was there ANY parenting going on in that home other than chemical control through medication both day and night?

Caling the psychiatric meds "chemical control" is IMO very wrong. These are not means of external control, these are medications, designed to help. And it seems this boy has been deprived of them by his mother, it was a point of contention between her and his father.