Federal agents continue to investigate the death of 18-year-old Anna Kepner aboard a Carnival cruise ship as the family’s conflict intensifies over allegations involving her 16-year-old brother.
Court appearances, custody disputes, and changing obituary details now surround the case as relatives search for answers.
As previously reported by The Dallas Express, federal investigators are continuing to look into the death of Kepner, who died earlier this month while traveling on the Carnival Horizon.
Authorities said the teenager from Titusville, Florida, was found under a bed, wrapped in a blanket and covered with life preservers, according to a security source briefed on the case.
Anna’s mother, Shauntel Kepner, entered into a legal battle with her ex-husband, Thomas Hudson, after Anna died on November 7th.
Hudson claimed that Shauntel alienated their younger children from him and claimed that the teenage siblings gained access to alcohol overseas. Shauntel’s lawyer denied the allegation, according to Click Orlando.
Anna’s ex-boyfriend told Fox News Digital that he witnessed disturbing behavior months earlier.
“When I was on FaceTime with her, and she was lying down, and her brother tried to go over her,” he said, according to Fox News. He reported the incident to Anna’s parents and said that she often felt “uncomfortable” around her brother.
Hudson claimed in court that “The [16-year-old]the future of has been put in danger because of the choices made by [Shauntel].” Records show that the young man now lives with a third party.
Shauntel asked a judge to postpone a December hearing because of 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 she learned of her daughter’s death through an online search. “I found out through Google. I ended up sending on Google, because the only information I had was that my daughter was on a cruise,” she said.
Her grandfather, Christopher Donahue, told Fox News Digital that she also learned about online news. “All I know is that she went on that boat, and she never came back,” he said.
Family records, divorce filings, and claims from ex-spouses describe 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 community tributes.