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

[mickey2942]

Re the waiting to figure out jurisdiction being the reason, it is understandable at first but as time passes it bothers me:


Is this kind of FBI “jurisdiction limbo” normal? Where they sit on a case saying they will have to turn it over to another jurisdiction but then take week(s)
to figure out where to turn it over? I agree I want the law to get things right, but if the suspect was suspected of killing a stranger, or multiple people … would the fbi actually just delay an arrest or even turning over the case to anyone, while they slowly figured out jurisdiction? That doesn’t seem safe.

Plus, the local or state or other agency they decide to turn it over to - - now that new agency who gets it will be in charge, but they will be stuck taking a case that is weeks old, hasn’t been worked on in weeks, where ship evidence is gone, ship witnesses dispersed, and time and fresh memories are passing - the fbi delay-limbo hampers the agency that will ultimately be in charge of the investigation and prosecution. That agency won’t be able to do any independent investigation at this point, as to many aspects of the case.

I just feel this is strange and can’t believe no authority is in charge or acting right now.

(And writing made me realize it’s seems so strange, that possibly the *real* behind the scenes situation is very different - maybe the suspect is just n fact securely confined and monitored, and the case is still being worked, and that info is just not publicized.)

I agree completely. And this can't be the first murder on a cruise ship. It is also odd, that there is the family saying the kids are "not safe" around the 16 YO, but it seems to me that he is at another family member's house, with absolutely no restrictions? No ankle monitor? Nothing?

Great. Let's hope no other young girls are in his vicinity. I guess he is free to go to school, do whatever he wants? Just kill a step sibling and life goes on as usual? No consequences. I guess Anna's family doesn't seem to want any justice for her.

 

[Mauritius]

In case you didn't hear this part - the oldest son left the Kepner household due to some sort of violent incident with Anna's dad. He is living with his biological dad at this time. It's not too strange to imagine that he had stories to tell his dad about how things were going in that household. ALSO, I believe the custody battle between Shauntel and her ex began before the cruise. So with a court date pending, and information from the oldest son, it's not surprising he was against his 2 youngest going on the cruise.

Your comment struck me - if a household recently had a child move out to come live with other parent due to a violent fight with the adults in the household, I agree other parent would be concerned with his other younger children still living in that household that had the violent fight. As well as those younger children going away with the same adults on a cruise. Put that way, the concern does make sense.

 

[OneLove]

>snip<
(And writing made me realize it’s seems so strange, that possibly the *real* behind the scenes situation is very different - maybe the suspect is just n fact securely confined and monitored, and the case is still being worked, and that info is just not publicized.)

Yeah; my concern has been they (as in SK) are the ones stalling while they make plans to disappear the kid well enough he can't be found for trial. I do not for one minute believe the FBI is stupidly "tryna figure out" anything. Their cases are very well put together, excellently prosecuted, and decidedly concluded. It takes time and though it might be hard for SK to grasp that her baby boy is NOT their number one full time focus *snort*, the FBI will get to this when his number is up and all ducks are very securely lined up for the slam dunk this will be.

Meantime, they probably have "eyes" on him in case they get to arrest HER also in case she tries to squirrel him away to "safety" where he can't be found. There are also other things those sharp "eyes" can be doing useful to their case. Their "microscope" is more sharply honed than the general public's and media's put together. 👁

 

[Shadow@light]

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

That is very True, Dotta.
Staff do have a Master Key that can override a Dead bolt, I worked in a 5 Star Hotels for many years in Housekeeping in Australia. A loss of our Master key was an instant dismissal, weather it was found or not . ( I saw it done)
If it was not found all locks on doors in Hotel was replaced. Or entering a room without knocking, got you into big trouble
Also staff are trained to be aware on what was happening around the Hotel, report and take action.
A distressed kid unable to get into his cabin , on the Ship Staff are nearby. They/Staff should have taken action also report to the Manager and Parents. Where Teenagers and Children staying ,we kept a close eye on what was going on.
In one of the Hotel which I worked in a young Lad had trouble getting into his room Dead Bolt, I knew there was family in there Parents ,two boy,s teenager the other ten years old, I walked up knocked on the Door said Housekeeping before I used Master key, Older Brother unlocked the Door, Parents were out exploring the town.
The incident was reported to parents.
There were other situations which was much worse, but we were trained in what to do.
I would like to know if the younger Brother had gone to the Parents to say he could not get into the cabin, IMO Was he dismissed for making a fuss or was he too scared to say anything. Did he go for help to Staff?
I just spoken to a couple of friends, they had been on Cruises, one was just last year, Disney Ship.
They informed me the double lock is eletronic turn of a knob inside the door, but be could opened by Staff Master Key, on their trip there was emergency a person in the next Cabin became unwell/ injured called for help on Phone , was unable to open door the Crew open the door with Master Key.

 

[Arkay]

Shauntel is definitely doing "Mama Bear". She says "16 YO" was diagnosed with "ADHD". And missed his sleeping medication 2x on the cruise. Sure, all boys with ADHD who miss their meds become psycho killers. Not.

Right.

And just who should be supervising TH taking his medication properly, anyway?

He’s 16, he’s away from home, he has ADHD which by definition means he cannot always pay attention to detail——this was his mother’s job, or at least the responsibility of a secondary adult.

Failure after failure and I do still fault TH, he committed this heinous act, but conditions were overlooked by those responsible for the safety and well-being of the family members.

JMO

 

[Warwick7]

From your article above:

"She said the three teenagers were all placed in the same room “upon the advice of a travel agent.”

Shauntel testified that Kepner, her stepbrother, and her brother got along like “Three Amigos,” describing their relationship as “best friends.”."

WTH?! A "travel agent", who does not know the family, decides who sleeps where?! Really?

And based on information from other sources, it doesn't sound like Anna thought they were "Three Musketeers".

Shauntel is definitely doing "Mama Bear". She says "16 YO" was diagnosed with "ADHD". And missed his sleeping medication 2x on the cruise. Sure, all boys with ADHD who miss their meds become psycho killers. Not.

Oh....now it's the travel agent's fault.