Nearly a month after 18-year-old cheerleader Anna Kepner was found dead aboard the Carnival Horizon cruise ship, a Florida judge has now stated publicly that Anna’s 16-year-old stepbrother is a “suspect” in her homicide. The revelation came Friday, Dec. 5, during a custody hearing involving Anna’s stepmother, Shauntel Hudson, and her ex-husband, Thomas Hudson.
Anna, who was sailing with her father, grandparents, stepmother, siblings and stepsiblings, was discovered asphyxiated under a bed on Nov. 7. Her death certificate lists her cause of death as “mechanical asphyxiation by other person(s)” and ruled the case a homicide.
Although authorities have not officially named a suspect, the teen boy — Anna’s stepbrother — became a focus of the FBI’s investigation shortly after the family returned from the cruise. Court filings related to the custody dispute confirmed that investigators consider him central to the case.
Judge statements in Friday’s hearing were the clearest acknowledgment yet. “The 16-year-old child is now a suspect of the death of the stepchild during the cruise,” the judge said from the bench.
The boy is currently living with a relative at an undisclosed location, known only to his parents and law enforcement. Shauntel Hudson testified that she and her husband, Anna’s father Christopher Kepner, sent him away “to remove any risk” to other children in the home. Legal documents confirm he is under the care of a third party with power of attorney, and cannot be moved without the consent of both parents.
During the hearing, Shauntel described the three teens — Anna, her stepbrother, and her 14-year-old half-brother — as extremely close. She said the trio shared a room on the cruise from Nov. 2 to Nov. 9. But Anna’s death on Nov. 7 has fractured the family. Thomas Hudson, the teen’s father, filed an emergency custody motion after learning Anna was found dead beneath the bed she shared with his son. He asked the judge to grant him custody of their youngest daughter, citing safety concerns.
The Kepner family has spoken openly about their shock. Anna’s father, Christopher, previously said he had never imagined such a possibility. “He was a normal kid,” he said. “I cannot say that he is responsible but I can’t decline.” He emphasized that his stepson was the only person in the room when Anna died. “The FBI has an ongoing investigation in which they will have to provide the evidence to say that he did do it or did not do this.”
Shauntel’s attorney, Millicent Athanason, strongly suggested during the hearing that criminal charges are likely. What remains unclear is whether the case would be prosecuted federally — given the death occurred at sea — or handed to state authorities. The FBI declined to comment.
For now, the teen remains hidden from public view, the investigation continues, and Anna’s grieving family waits for clarity about what happened inside that cruise cabin — and who will ultimately be held responsible.
