Federal agents continue to investigate the death of 18-year-old Anna Kepner aboard a Carnival cruise ship as family conflict intensifies around allegations involving her 16-year-old stepbrother.
Court filings, custody disputes, and shifting obituary details now surround the case as relatives search for answers.
As previously reported by The Dallas Express, federal investigators continue to examine the death of Kepner, who died earlier this month while traveling on the Carnival Horizon.
Authorities said the teen from Titusville, Florida, was found under a bed, wrapped in a blanket and covered by life vests, according to a security source briefed on the case.
Anna’s stepmother, Shauntel Kepner, entered a legal fight with her ex-husband, Thomas Hudson, after Anna died on November 7.
Hudson argued that Shauntel alienated their younger children from him and claimed that the teen stepsiblings gained access to alcohol in international waters. Shauntel’s attorney denied the allegation, according to Click Orlando.
Anna’s ex-boyfriend told Fox News Digital that he witnessed troubling behavior months earlier.
“When I was on FaceTime with her, and she was lying down, and her brother tried to go on top of her,” he said, according to Fox News. He reported the incident to Anna’s parents and said she often felt “uncomfortable” around her stepbrother.
Hudson claimed in court that “The [16-year-old]’s future has been put in jeopardy because of the choices made by [Shauntel].” Records show that the teen now stays with a third party.
Shauntel asked a judge to postpone a December hearing due to the federal investigation. Her attorney, Millicent Athanason, wrote, “The Respondent (Shauntel) has been advised through discussions with FBI investigators and her attorneys, that a criminal case may be initiated against one of the minor children of this instant action.”
Anna’s birth mother, Heather Wright, told WESH 2 that she learned of her daughter’s death through an online search. “I found out through Google. I ended up Googling it, because the only information I had was that my daughter was on a cruise,” she said.
Her step-grandfather, Christopher Donahue, told Fox News Digital that he also learned the news online. “All I know is that she went on that boat, and she never came back,” he said.
Family records, divorce filings, and claims from former spouses outline years of disputes involving allegations of abuse, custody disagreements, and conflicts over firearms.
Hundreds of mourners gathered at The Grove Church in Titusville on Thursday to honor Anna’s life through photos, memories, and a community tribute.