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The death of 18-year-old Titusville student Anna Kepner aboard the Carnival Horizon cruise ship is now the focus of a federal criminal investigation. Newly filed court documents, along with public statements from multiple family members, point to a rapidly escalating case involving a minor step-sibling, constitutional protections, and competing accounts of what happened on the ship.
Anna, a Temple Christian School student and straight A senior with plans to join the military, was found dead on November 9 during a family cruise. Federal agents from the FBI boarded the ship immediately upon its return to Miami. Until this week, investigators publicly released no details.
Court Filing Confirms FBI Criminal Case and Potential Charges Against Minor
In an emergency motion filed in the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit, attorneys for Shauntel Hudson, Anna’s stepmother, disclosed that the FBI is conducting a criminal investigation into the teen’s death. The filing states:
“Currently there is an investigation being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigations arising out of the sudden death of eighteen year old Anna Kepner, who was found deceased on November 9, 2025, on a Carnival Cruise.”
The filing goes on to say that Hudson cannot testify in an unrelated family court matter because doing so could be “prejudicial to her or her adolescent child in this pending criminal investigation.”
It then states:
“The Respondent 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.”
This sworn statement confirms that the FBI views Anna’s death as a potential crime and that investigators are focusing on a minor step-sibling who was on the cruise.
ABC News separately reviewed the same filing and confirmed that “one of her step-siblings may face charges.”
Grandmother Publicly Claims Anna Was Murdered
In a public Facebook comment responding to speculation online, Anna’s grandmother, Barbara Collins Kepner, wrote:
“My granddaughter was 18 years old no drugs or alcohol involved. She was murdered. Yes she was murdered. That is why the FBI was there.”
This is the first public allegation from a close family member claiming homicide. Law enforcement has not confirmed this.
Father Says FBI Questioned Everyone and Has Given Them No Answers
In comments previously provided to national media, Anna’s father, Christopher Kepner, said that every member of the family was questioned by federal agents. According to him:
“Everyone was questioned,” including his younger children, the stepmother, and the step-siblings.
He described the family’s emotional collapse following the death.
“I have had to shut the world out. I do not watch the TV anymore. We have literally had to stop doing anything to do with the internet. We are very private people. Our lives have been turned upside down.”
He said the FBI has not informed him of any findings.
“The FBI has not shared anything with me yet. 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.”
Relative Publishes Graphic Allegations on Social Media
In a detailed public post, Anna’s uncle, Martin Donohue, described what he believes happened on the ship. He claims Anna was beaten and killed by her stepmother’s son and hidden under a bed. He alleges that the child slept on that same bed afterward and told his mother the next morning that “no one could find Anna,” implying that he concealed her body intentionally.
Donohue claims that extended relatives were not immediately told the truth and that the family “knew who did it.” He calls on the public to share the information and says more details will come out by November 20.
Law enforcement has not confirmed any part of his account. However, his claims closely mirror the sworn court filing indicating a juvenile family member may face federal charges.
Independent Confirmation Regarding Stepson’s Whereabouts
The Space Coast Rocket has independently confirmed through a member of Anna’s extended family that the older stepson, Tim, is not at the family residence. According to the relative, he has not been seen at the home since returning from the cruise. It is unknown whether his absence is connected to the investigation, and federal authorities have not commented on his status, location, or whether he is involved in the case.
Stepmother Invoking Fifth Amendment Rights
The court document states that Hudson must invoke her Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination because any testimony in the family law matter could be used against her or her child in the federal inquiry.
This is generally seen when an individual is at risk of criminal exposure or when investigators are actively building a case involving members of the household.
Cause of Death Still Not Released
The Miami-Dade Medical Examiner confirmed Anna’s time of death but has not released the cause or manner. Carnival Cruise Line has directed all inquiries to the FBI.
A former FBI special agent noted this week that the bureau has jurisdiction over possible crimes in international waters and typically takes control when deaths occur under suspicious or unclear circumstances.
A Community Searching for Answers
Anna was known as a joyful, accomplished student with a close circle of friends and a bright path ahead. Her death has deeply shaken her classmates, teachers, and the Titusville community.
With:
• a confirmed FBI criminal investigation
• the possibility of charges against a minor
• a stepmother invoking constitutional protections
• family members alleging murder
• and the older stepson absent from the home
the case has entered a new, more urgent phase.
Authorities have not named a suspect, identified a person of interest, or given any timeline for when the investigation will conclude.
This remains a developing story.
