LATEST UPDATE: Forensic staff examining Anna Kepner’s clothing have just uncovered a small, water-damaged piece of paper hidden deep inside her pants pocket — a piece investigators say could redefine the final moments on the boat.
Despite the damage, specialists were able to carefully dry and separate the fragile scrap. On it, written in rushed, uneven handwriting, were exactly 3 words:
“Don’t trust him.”
Experts believe the message was written very quickly, possibly under stress, as the letters appear shaky and partially smeared. Even more unsettling, the note was folded twice, as if Anna had tried to hide it or keep it with her until the last possible moment.
Investigators are now trying to determine:
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When Anna wrote the message — whether it was minutes or hours before the incident.
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Who the “him” refers to, since no confirmed individual was supposed to be alone with her on the boat.
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Whether the note was meant to be found later, or if Anna was trying to warn someone just before something went wrong.
A forensic officer familiar with the discovery said the team is treating the note as a major clue, hinting that Anna may have sensed danger from someone close — or from someone who wasn’t supposed to be there at all.
Police have not ruled out the possibility that the message was written to identify a threat, making this one of the most significant breakthroughs in the case so far.