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

[Luna20]

Which parent said that the family lives in two trailers 100 ft apart? I heard it was mentioned at the hearing.

 

[mickey2942]

This entire family, including extended family and bio, step, everyone else...I just pray for the children. I am sad for them.

 

[JennieM]

Which parent said that the family lives in two trailers 100 ft apart? I heard it was mentioned at the hearing.

Anna’s bedroom was in a trailer lounge?

 

[JudyBolton]

Another thing I learned from the hearing was that all of the children attended the same school. Now, they've been asked to leave due to media bombardment and have transferred to a different school (possibly larger with more security?).

I remember earlier here we speculated whether they attended different schools. It quite unusual with all of that media that none of the students have agreed to talk to them.

 

[lonetraveler]

Do I understand that the 9 year old stays with her mother because the mother said that the 16 yo will never be in the house again? That the courts think think the best choice for the 9 yo is live in a house missing two people because one allegedly killed the other?

I so feel like I am missing something.

As crazy as it sounds, that is what I interpreted what she said as well

 

[JudyBolton]

My interpretation of the judge was that she did not want to deal with any of this - she kept making reference to the future hearing (Dec. 16th maybe?) where a different judge would hear the biological dad's case. She emphasized "emergency" over and over again and seemed set on not doing anything unless the 9 year old was in imminent physical danger from the 16 year old brother. No other bad acts or red flags were considered. I hope the next judge will be different.

 

[Kittypoo]

Anna’s bedroom was in a trailer lounge?

This has Maddie Soto vibes. A parent putting their new partner above their child. A girl without her own bedroom space and not being safe guarded.
Lazy parenting at best child abuse at worst IMO

 

[mickey2942]

This has Maddie Soto vibes. A parent putting their new partner above their child. A girl without her own bedroom space and not being safe guarded.
Lazy parenting at best child abuse at worst IMO

It is heartbreaking how many strangers on this thread, cared more about Anna, than her own biological kin. And how we were outraged that a 17/18 year old girl did not have her own bedroom. And the fact that she seemingly had no choice about the cruise arrangements, share with two teen boys, or don't go? How cruel. If she even had a choice...

 

[Luna20]

Anna’s bedroom was in a trailer lounge?

What is that? I know what a trailer is but I’ve never heard of a trailer lounge. Is it the property that was said to be 100 yards away?

 

[Kemug]

As an 18 year old young woman, and I acknowledge everyone is different, I would not enjoy being on a cruise ship sharing living/sleeping quarters with my grandparents. JMO

Do you remember way back at the beginning of Covid, when the Diamond Princess was quarantined for weeks off Japan? Very difficult for them all - especially for those who died. I particularly remember one family of 4, two teenage lads and their grandparents, who had an inside cabin. They weren't a particularly well-off family, and the grandparents were giving the boys a real treat. I'm sure they had been told many times that it would be fine, because you only needed to be in your cabin to sleep. I wonder how that worked out?

 

[Luna20]

Do you remember way back at the beginning of Covid, when the Diamond Princess was quarantined for weeks off Japan? Very difficult for them all - especially for those who died. I particularly remember one family of 4, two teenage lads and their grandparents, who had an inside cabin. They weren't a particularly well-off family, and the grandparents were giving the boys a real treat. I'm sure they had been told many times that it would be fine, because you only needed to be in your cabin to sleep. I wonder how that worked out?

What a nightmare that was for the people on board. They literally had cabin fever. People ran out of their medication, funds, clothing etc.

I will never understand why the parents put them in a room together. There is barely enough room for two in those tiny cabins.

 

[Springrain]

I'm a high school teacher, so this one really hits home for me.

I have so many questions about this case, and I need to read up more. NONE of this makes any sort of sense to me from a parenting and safety perspective. IMO.

Poor Anna. What a terrible, tragic story.

 

[JudyBolton]

During the emergency hearing, it was stated that Shauntel took the children on the cruise again the biological father's wishes. Something about needing his signature for passports and he refused but they ended up not needing them. Is that a serious violation? I wonder if that was a stipulation in their custody agreement and she violated it. The next hearing should be interesting.

 

[acutename]

During the emergency hearing, it was stated that Shauntel took the children on the cruise again the biological father's wishes. Something about needing his signature for passports and he refused but they ended up not needing them. Is that a serious violation? I wonder if that was a stipulation in their custody agreement and she violated it. The next hearing should be interesting.

it can look like abduction and the non-consenting parent can file court papers:

Chapter 61 Section 45 - 2023 Florida Statutes - The Florida Senate

www.flsenate.gov

(I forgot where this cruise actually went... It did return to the US)

 

[Stunned]

During the emergency hearing, it was stated that Shauntel took the children on the cruise again the biological father's wishes. Something about needing his signature for passports and he refused but they ended up not needing them. Is that a serious violation? I wonder if that was a stipulation in their custody agreement and she violated it. The next hearing should be interesting.

They would need their passports. IMO

 

[JudyBolton]

They would need their passports. IMO

I'm not a regular cruise customer so unfamiliar with the rules. However, the step-mom stated in court that, "they ended up not needing the passports." Either they didn't leave the ship when they stopped or they were able to accept an alternative form of identification.

OK - The Carnival website states if they start and stop at the same US location (called a closed loop cruise) they don't require a passport.

 

[Arkay]

I'm not a regular cruise customer so unfamiliar with the rules. However, the step-mom stated in court that, "they ended up not needing the passports." Either they didn't leave the ship when they stopped or they were able to accept an alternative form of identification.

OK - The Carnival website states if they start and stop at the same US location (called a closed loop cruise) they don't require a passport.

I recall that when I wanted to take my eldest granddaughter on a cruise, my daughter had to get her ex-husband to sign permission as well.

I do recall being on some cruises that began and ended in America and so we adults were not required to bring our passports. However for my granddaughter, who was 10 at the time, we did need something notarized from her father.

I imagine it was that we needed my former son-in-law’s permission, so that there was no issue like maybe my daughter would abscond with her daughter at one of the foreign ports, in between embarking and returning to America to disembark.

IIRC that was also on Carnival.

Anna being 18 probably factored in that she was an adult. I can’t imagine that they really didn’t need permission from the other biological parents to take the minor children.

JMO based on experience.

 

[Sueco]

Anna’s bedroom was in a trailer lounge?

Whats so chocking about that?
There are many families where the children dont have their own rooms and share rooms or sleep in the livingroom or room equal to one. Not all people have the opportunity or want to give separate rooms to every familymember. I dont think thats astonishing at all.

 

[Warwick7]

During the emergency hearing, it was stated that Shauntel took the children on the cruise again the biological father's wishes. Something about needing his signature for passports and he refused but they ended up not needing them. Is that a serious violation? I wonder if that was a stipulation in their custody agreement and she violated it. The next hearing should be interesting.

I know I'm a little behind in this group, but, why did he refuse giving over the passports or signing his signature? What was his beef? Wouldn't he want his children to enjoy a cruise?

Unless he was deliberately being an a$$, why be belligerent about not letting them go?

 

[Maat99]

I know I'm a little behind in this group, but, why did he refuse giving over the passports or signing his signature? What was his beef? Wouldn't he want his children to enjoy a cruise?

Unless he was deliberately being an a$$, why be belligerent about not letting them go?

Seeing how everything turned out, my thought is he may have had some concerns about the sleeping arrangements, unhealthy family dynamics, mental health concerns for his son, poor supervision by Shauntel etc.. etc.. IMO there is a long list of possibilities other than him just wanting to be a jerk. Jmo.