Chilling CCTV reveals Anna Kepner’s last hours before she died ‘inside cruise cabin she shared with suspect stepbrother’
Investigators are actively examining whether an altercation between Anna and her stepbrother occurred before her death
CHILLING new details in the death of an 18-year-old cheerleader aboard a cruise ship have been revealed after reports that surveillance footage captured the girl’s fateful last hours.
Anna Kepner was found dead under the bed in her cabin aboard the Carnival Horizon cruise ship on November 7.
Anna Kepner was found deceased under her bed on a cruise shipCredit: TikTok
The blended family of Christopher Kepner and Shauntel HudsonCredit: Facebook/Shauntel Kepner
Kepner, who was on six-day cruise with her father, stepmother, her 16-year-old stepbrother, and a younger sibling, was sharing a cabin with the minors, according to the Daily Mail.
Inside the compact cabin, the two minors reportedly shared bunk beds while Kepner had her own bed.
The night before she was found dead, Kepner told her family she wasn’t feeling well after dinner and returned to her cabin.
The FBI obtained footage from inside the vessel that showed Kepher walking as she headed back to her room, according to the outlet.
A short while later, the minors also reportedly returned to the cabin.
Footage reportedly captured the youngest sibling leaving the room and wandering the vessel, capturing photos.
The young child noticed Kepner was not in the room when they returned but assumed she was up late with other family members, the Daily Mail reported.
However, when the family gathered for breakfast on the morning of November 7, Kepner never showed.
Her father, Christopher, searched the ship for his daughter before returning to Kepner’s cabin to find the cleaning crew had just discovered the teen’s body stuffed under her bed, the outlet reported.
Legal documents revealed FBI investigators are looking at Kepner’s 16-year-old stepbrother in connection to her mysterious death.
It has been reported that investigators are actively examining whether an altercation between Kepner and her stepbrother occurred before her death.
Other possibilities, including a medical episode or overdose, have not been ruled out.
Kepner’s body was reportedly discovered wrapped in a blanket, stuffed under her bed and covered by life vests after her frantic family had spent the morning trying to find her.
The Miami Dade Medical Examiner’s Office said Kepner’s time of death was 11:17 am on November 7, but have not revealed a cause or manner of death.
The FBI has now advised Kepner’s stepmother, Shauntel Hudson, that one of her children may face criminal charges in relation to her step-daughter’s death.
Documents submitted to court by Shauntel as part of a request to delay a custody hearing revealed the surprising update in the investigation.
“Any testimony the respondent may give, either written or oral, could be prejudicial to her or her adolescent child in this pending criminal investigation,” the filing read.
In a second court filing, Kepner’s step-brother was identified by the initials T.H. and was said to be currently living with a relative at an undisclosed location.
The step-sibling’s father, Thomas Hudson, accused his ex-wife, Shauntel, of putting his son’s future in “jeopardy.”
“The respondent took the remaining minor children on a cruise with a stepchild of her paramour,’ the filing obtained by The U.S. Sun read.
“The sixteen-year-old child is now a suspect in the death of the stepchild during the cruise.”
Who was Anna Kepner?
Anna Kepner attended Temple Christian School as part of the graduating Class of 2026.
She has two full-siblings, a brother, 14, and a sister, nine.
Her father Christopher married her stepmother Shauntel, mother of two, in 2024.
The blended family relocated to Titusville.
Kepner was a high school senior and cheerleader who loved kids, dolphins, butterflies, arts and crafts, and doing puzzles with her Memaw.
She earned her boater’s license before she could drive, and she was PADI certified to dive alongside her family.
Kepner loved all kinds of music (except heavy metal) and had a soft spot for Shawn Mendes.
She planned to join the U.S. Navy after graduation and later become a K9 police officer.
A Georgia Bulldogs fan through and through, just like her family. Kepner dreamed of one day becoming a cheerleader for the Bulldogs.
Source: North Brevard Funeral Home
Shauntel had previously said the family would not comment further on her step-daughter’s death.
She shared a heartbreaking link to a poignant obituary ahead of a ceremony celebrating Kepner on November 20.
“This is something I never imagined I’d have to post,” Shantel said on Facebook.
Christopher said the family was confused about the cause of Kepner’s death.
“The FBI hasn’t shared anything with me yet,” he told the Daily Mail days after his daughter’s death.
Anna Kepner was only 18 and an aspiring professional cheerleader when she diedCredit: Instagram
“I would imagine they’re going to be in contact with me about it – but I know as little as everybody else.”
Kepner’s father also said that everybody who “came off that ship” had been “questioned.”
“I don’t know who they are looking at or what their investigation is,” he added.
Carnival Cruise Line said in a statement after Kepner’s death, “Our focus is on supporting the family of our guest and cooperating with the FBI.”
COMPLEX PROBE
The FBI’s probe into her passing is “very complex — it falls under what’s called special maritime jurisdiction laws that mandate this,” ex-special agent Nicole Parker told Fox News Digital.
“For example, if a cruise departs from Miami, that gives FBI Miami jurisdiction if it’s returning in or out of a U.S. cruise port.
“And if the alleged crime occurred in international waters, then that’s the FBI’s responsibility,” she added on November 11.
Parker, who has years of experience investigating maritime cases, said such cases often required complex coordination between agencies and cruise line officials.
“I can confirm that the FBI has responded to the scene,” a spokesperson told Fox.
“Because this is an ongoing matter, no further information is available at this time.”
The service did not say why it was investigating Kepner’s death or whether foul play was suspected, Fox added.
The family was on a six-day Caribbean cruise was the tragedy occurredCredit: Carnival Cruise Lines
