Murder suspect identified during investigation into Anna Kepner after death on Carnival cruise as grim new details emerge
Tragic cruise teen Anna Kepner’s 16-year-old stepbrother is facing a suspected ‘murder’ investigation according to a new bombshell court filing.
It is the first time the word has been used in the case of the school cheerleader who was found under a bed, wrapped in a blanket and covered with life vests in her cabin.
Anna, 18, had been on a six-day Caribbean getaway with her blended family when she was discovered dead while mega-liner Carnival Horizon was in international waters between Mexico and Florida on November 7.
The Daily Mail was the first to report her 16-year-old stepbrother was under investigation and a ‘suspect’ over the death of the teen from Titusville, Florida.
It was revealed earlier Friday that asphyxiation via a bar hold – an arm across the neck – was her official cause of death, ABC News reported.
Now a new filing exclusively obtained by The Daily Mail reveals the increased gravity of the FBI investigation.
It is disclosed in latest court paperwork from Anna’s stepmom Shauntel Hudson, 36, in her custody battle with ex Thomas which is now enmeshed in the tragedy.
In a motion to Brevard County Court in Florida, her attorney writes: ‘An extremely sensitive and severe circumstance has arisen wherein there is an investigation being conducted by Federal Bureau of Investigations, (FBI) arising out of the suspected murder of the Respondent/Mother’s stepdaughter.
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Tragic cruise teen Anna Kepner’s (pictured left) 16-year-old stepbrother (pictured right) is facing a suspected ‘murder’ investigation according to a new bombshell court filing
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Anna Kepner had been on a six-day Caribbean getaway with her dad , stepmom, siblings and step-siblings when she was declared dead in the international waters between Mexico and Florida
‘The minor child, TH, is currently the subject of the active FBI criminal investigation. There is good cause for the need to protect the privacy, sensitivity, and well-being of not only the minor child, TH, but the other individual family members as well.’
Shauntel’s new plea is part of her motion just filed to seal the divorce case and stop any further information about her family and many circumstances surrounding Anna’s death becoming publicly available.
She also wants ‘all proceedings be closed to the press in the event criminal charges are filed against the minor child, his right to a fair trial may be tarnished’.
The stepmom’s motion adds she is ‘requesting that the court close the proceedings in order to protect the interests of the minor child and the family’.
Shauntel also criticizes her ex Thomas in the motion, saying he may have ‘impeded the active criminal investigation’ with ‘confidential’ comments she understands he has made.
The motion calls for a Non-Dissemination Order, preventing ‘both parties’ from discussing or giving out information – and to seal the case ‘where the court documents are not available to the public’.
Specifically, she demands the shutdown of information about the FBI probe, her custody battle, any law enforcement activity and the passing on of documents, photographs or texts relating to her ‘suspect’ son.
She also wants ‘sensitive information’ redacted from public court records.
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A family photo of Anna (pictured lower right), with her stepmother, father, stepbrother (pictured left), stepsister and half-sister
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Kepner posted a TikTok video from on board the ship six months ago saying how much she wanted to return
The explosive new development comes less than 24 hours after an emotional celebration of life for Anna at a packed church her home home city – and attended by her ex boyfriend Josh Tew, who made startling allegations against the stepbrother.
Anna was sharing the cabin with her 14-year-old brother as well as the 16-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons. The two boys had bunk beds and Anna was in her own, according to a well-placed source.
Josh, who broke up with Anna six months ago, claimed the 16-year-old tried to climb on top of her against her will months before she died.
He also gave chilling details about the last moments of Anna’s life before she was discovered and the vessel returned to Miami a day later, where it was swarmed by FBI agents.
Heartbroken father Christopher insisted in a previous interview with the Daily Mail that investigators had shared barely any details with him.
‘We were there as a family. Everybody was questioned. Everybody came off that ship. I don't know who they are looking at or what their investigation is,' he said.
‘The FBI hasn't shared anything with me yet. I would imagine they're going to be in contact with me about it – but I know as little as everybody else.
‘I have no idea what is going on right now. We are just trying to sit still and wait for answers.'
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Anna's stepmother, Shauntel Hudson, has been locked in a custody battle with her ex, Thomas Hudson, over their children. On Tuesday, she filed a response acknowledging that ‘it is true that there is an open investigation' into her stepdaughter's death
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Friends and relatives are seen piling into Grove Church in Titusville, Florida for the memorial service on Thursday
Known by her nickname Anna Banana, the 18-year-old was set to graduate in May and had plans to join the military.
A gymnast and varsity cheerleader, she attended Temple Christian School in Titusville, where her Kia Forte remained parked up this week, covered in flowers and tributes from heartbroken pals.
She was a ‘bright, kind-hearted young woman whose presence brought warmth and energy into the classroom,' the school said in a touching Facebook post.
Christopher said his daughter's ultimate career goal was to join the local police department so she could protect her friends and family.
‘The whole family is lost for words. We miss her and love her more than anything,' he added.
Anna had been on previous cruises and had raved about her love of travel on TikTok.
One post showed her enjoying a holiday on the very same boat six months earlier. She danced about in a white dress and captioned the haunting clip: ‘I wanna go back.'
Mother Heather described her daughter in an interview with Fox 13 as being ‘always happy' as she recalled her daughter's love of horseback racing and cheerleading.
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Friends and family remembered Kepner for her bubbly personality
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Photos of the slain teenager adorned the walls of the Titusville, Florida church
‘She was a really good child,' the heartbroken mother said. ‘She never really complained about much. She never really cried that much as a baby, and as a teenager, she was the same. Just always happy.'
She added that Anna cherished becoming a big sister and had a gift for lifting other's spirits.
That was on full display as swaths of folk in Titusville packed The Grove church to pay tribute to the ‘bubbly' teenager.
The hour-long service included photos of Anna throughout her life flashed up on a screen while the pastor described them. None of her parents read a eulogy.
Former classmate Daisy Fletcher spoke poignantly to the Daily Mail before the celebration, emphasizing her friend's empathy for others.
Fighting back tears, she said: ‘Whenever someone was upset Anna put a lot of effort into making sure they felt really cared about, that she was really there for them.'
The student, also 18 and who now lives in Orlando, Florida, hinted though that Anna did have ‘issues', but would not go into detail.
‘Seeing her go through her own bouts, her own issues, it was heartbreaking,' Daisy said. ‘She was a very kind person and actually very sturdy.
‘Anna was so bright. Both smarts wise and also the way she interacted with people. She made them laugh a lot. She laughed a lot herself, very bubbly and such a good friend.
‘Anna felt pretty confident and she deserved the good that she had in life.'
Relatives, friends and strangers who just wanted to give support thronged the church in the community where the school cheerleader had brought such joy to countless other lives.
Carnival said in a statement: ‘Our focus is on supporting the family of our guest and cooperating with the FBI.'
A spokesman for the bureau added: ‘No further information is being released at this time.'