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

[Charlot123]

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?

It is my feeling that children in both (co-mingled) families struggled. Divorces, changes of residence, nasty parenting (as indicated by the oldest stepbrother of Anna running away from his “new home”.) Plus, overcrowding. Plus, continuing custodial processing between SH and her ex. Each kid’s needs were probably not met, but least of all, Anna’s, because her mother was out of picture.

 

[OneLove]

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.

I understand your point and agree wholeheartedly. I should have used quote marks around "chemical control" as it was meant in regards to Shauntel's state of mind concerning it along with absence of any parenting actions meant to guide and modify his behavior and to learn to monitor his own moods and reactions/
conduct. In my practice I saw this over and over among parents either overwhelmed OR too self involved to do active parenting beyond dosing their meds and it seems Shauntel didnt even do that very well along with not even checking on her troubled son from dinner on through the rest of the night. Anna and her 14 year old brother should ideally have been checked on by their father or their grandparents.

And, IMO, telling all their collective kids that there ARE no stepchildren or stepsiblings in their family on extremely disrespectfully of their known and lived lives up until their parents married and also very disrespectful of their other parents and their other parents' children who would also be their own half siblings. It denies reality and creates dissonance even if the *intent* was to generate unity. Its much better to generate authentic unity by active parenting rather to mouth words that seem to want to magically erase a large part of their lives. I'm sincerely hoping Chris's mother, in making that statement, meant that she loves and accepts them wholeheartedly as grands and would not treat them less than her biological grandchildren. Thats better and more authentic than any magical fairytale.

 

[PayrollNerd]

I haven't been online is a week or so and am not aware if this link has been shared yet.

New court documents reveal family texts after Florida teen found dead on cruise ship

Newly released court documents are shedding more light on conversations between family members in the days following the death of 18-year-old Anna Kepner.

www.wesh.com

 

[KSwizzle]

So the kid is saying he doesn't remember anything, extremely convenient and he's still not been charged, just a miscarriage of Justice so far moo

 

[PayrollNerd]

The hyper focus on “he doesn’t remember” is their “story”, all of them, they’ve let it be known, and nobody is to deviate from that. JMO

 

[PayrollNerd]

It’s about the 8 week mark now. Plenty of time for a toxicology report. Holidays have wrapped up. I wonder if we’ll hear anything from LE.

 

[BreakingNews]

It’s about the 8 week mark now. Plenty of time for a toxicology report. Holidays have wrapped up. I wonder if we’ll hear anything from LE.

Agree. Time he was arrested. Go from there. MOO.

 

[LovesPeace2]

Le are so quiet now, why isn't there a arrest or anything. I am so confused about the parents reaction to Anna's murder ,almost like she didn't matter. Its just my honest opinion ,I feel awful for Anna I hope there will be justice . Jmvho

 

[Gemmie]

Le are so quiet now, why isn't there a arrest or anything. I am so confused about the parents reaction to Anna's murder ,almost like she didn't matter. Its just my honest opinion ,I feel awful for Anna I hope there will be justice . Jmvho

Anna who?

</end sarcasm>

 

[lonetraveler]

Anna who?

</end sarcasm>

I must say that the three people who have most surprised me about how they are reacting to Anna's murder is her father and her grandparents.

 

[lonetraveler]

I also have concerns about what the 14-year-old half-brother might be going through. I feel like he is being pressured about what he has stated concerning the locked door, shouting and the furniture being moved around. It will not be long, IMO that the 14 yr old brother will "not remember anything".
Has the judge ruled on the custody hearing yet?

 

[LovesPeace2]

Anna who?

</end sarcasm>

Opps I meant to post I felt awful that Anna had to live this way before her murder

 

[LovesPeace2]

Opps just saw the bottom of ya post eugh old eyes today

 

[LovesPeace2]

I must say that the three people who have most surprised me about how they are reacting to Anna's murder is her father and her grandparents.

Yep it's like she didn't matter. I hope LE start charging people responsible. Anna deserved better. Its almost like they are erasing her. Jmvho

 

[su5ie]

Yep it's like she didn't matter. I hope LE start charging people responsible. Anna deserved better. Its almost like they are erasing her. Jmvho

I'm getting worried now that no charges will be brought and it will be docketed as accidental death

While no one was in that room and we don't know the facts of what exactly happened, we can surmise Anna did not kill herself and that step brother was the only person present.

He can not go unpunished even if his only intention was to shut her up and didn't realise his own strength in the pressure he applied

As he is a minor will it be known publicly if he is charged ? And if the fbi can't determine what happened because of no witness what is the protocol then

It pains me to write this because my guess is its not true based on allegedly nudity but if exact scenario cannot be determined could it be claimed that Anna hid under the bed and with the weight of a person on top caused the bed structure to sag and press into her neck and cause strangulation and therefore death .

I'm only asking as charges don't seem to be forthcoming

 

[steeltowngirl]

I doubt we will hear more from the FBI, especially since the alleged suspect is a minor.

Can I obtain detailed information about a current FBI investigation that I see in the news? | Federal Bureau of Investigation

Detailed information about current FBI investigations is protected from public disclosure, in accordance with current law and Department of Justice and FBI policy.

www.fbi.gov

I have no doubt about the manner of death - homicide.

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)."

[….]
The Kepner family previously told ABC News the FBI said Anna apparently died from asphyxiation, possibly caused by a bar hold -- an arm across the neck.

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

I am afraid this case is fading into obscurity, as is justice for Anna.

JMO