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ANNA KEPNER: Teen found dead on Carnival cruise ship *ARREST!* (5 Viewers)

The Kepner grandparents told ABC News that their family is close and did not distinguish between blood and step-siblings.
“It’s all family – it’s a blended family, yes, but that’s not how our family is,” Jeffrey Kepner said. “Our dynamic is we’re all just family.”


Been there, done that. It's rare that a family can pull this off. "Blood is blood", is what I learned when I went into a marriage with the same outlook.

www.theguardian.com

Family speaks out after stepbrother emerges as suspect in death of Florida teen on cruise

Anna Kepner, 18, from Titusville, was found dead of asphyxiation under a bed on a Carnival cruise ship
www.theguardian.com www.theguardian.com
 
GrandmaBear said:
Lol, no. It is confusing I know. I'm not having trouble with it but then I was early on following it all.

Just take the one that raised Anna out of the equation. This wife is recent, she did not raise her.

And these kids were not raised together. Does that help?

Anna DOES have a 14 year old brother who was on the cruise who the stepmom you are thinking of helped raise along with Anna, but he is not the suspect. He did share the room though too. He was out of the room when it happened.
Click to expand...
Ok so the suspect is the kid of the current wife. I think I got it now LOL. How long has this (3rd) wife been with Anna's father? ie how long have victim and suspect lived together in the same house?
 
Kimster said:
The Kepner grandparents told ABC News that their family is close and did not distinguish between blood and step-siblings.
“It’s all family – it’s a blended family, yes, but that’s not how our family is,” Jeffrey Kepner said. “Our dynamic is we’re all just family.”


Been there, done that. It's rare that a family can pull this off. "Blood is blood", is what I learned when I went into a marriage with the same outlook.

www.theguardian.com

Family speaks out after stepbrother emerges as suspect in death of Florida teen on cruise

Anna Kepner, 18, from Titusville, was found dead of asphyxiation under a bed on a Carnival cruise ship
www.theguardian.com www.theguardian.com
Click to expand...
I have four 1/2 siblings. And one full sibling. We were all raised together as one household, their mother had died. I didn't even know until I was probably 12 that they were halves. I never for one day in my life have thought of them as anything other than my sisters and brothers.

So I understand the concept of not differentiating but we were raised together, not thrown together as teenagers never having grown up together in a recent marriage.

Of course most decent people when marrying in such a situation try to treat the kids the same and be fair. And good grandparents try also to accept new ones and be fair. That's got nothing to do with this though and again, these kids were not raised together.

I think grandma is entirely naive as well in that link. He doesn't remember? She has lost both? Two peas in a pod?

Personally I think the family is trying to clean up the image that has been portrayed and keeps on coming.

And this blended family had not been together for that long either. Definitely not years upon years.

They were going to make a cruise a new family tradition. Sure, that's because it is a fairly new family.

I want to almost SCREAM that you do not put unrelated teen boys and girls in a room TOGETHER to spend days and nights. I mean DUH.
 
GrandmaBear said:
I don't think that I've heard that, his upset/memory problems but then been a bit behind last day or two. Can you tell me more?

I have wondered if mom let her talk to them without her. His being a minor changes things up some.
Click to expand...
It was in Belle's post. # 165.

On Monday, her grandmother Barbara told Good Morning America that her family were stunned that Anna's stepbrother, who has not been named, was accused.

'They were like brother and sister, he was a good student,' she said. 'He played soccer, and is a very quiet young man.'

Barbara said that he 'had demons in his past and was trying to deal with those', and revealed that he broke down when confronted by investigators.

'I heard him say in his own words that he does not remember what happened,' she said.

'During (his police interview) he was an emotional mess, he couldn't speak, he couldn't believe what happened.'
 
Tresir said:
Ok so the suspect is the kid of the current wife. I think I got it now LOL. How long has this (3rd) wife been with Anna's father? ie how long have victim and suspect lived together in the same house?
Click to expand...
You've got it lol. If I have it right, the 2nd marriage of the dad fell apart in 2023. Once the divorce was final he married this one within a year. So AT MOST two years and I believe I heard they were only together a year before marrying. But at most two years. And so these two were teens when the parents met/married.
 
Tresir said:
It was in Belle's post. # 165.

On Monday, her grandmother Barbara told Good Morning America that her family were stunned that Anna's stepbrother, who has not been named, was accused.

'They were like brother and sister, he was a good student,' she said. 'He played soccer, and is a very quiet young man.'

Barbara said that he 'had demons in his past and was trying to deal with those', and revealed that he broke down when confronted by investigators.

'I heard him say in his own words that he does not remember what happened,' she said.

'During (his police interview) he was an emotional mess, he couldn't speak, he couldn't believe what happened.'
Click to expand...
"Demons in his past" but was a good student... What does he "had" "demons" even mean?

Sounds like an excuse to me--he had demons, not that he himself was one.

I don't buy he doesn't remember either, of course he'd say that when caught.

I can believe though he was an emotional mess in the interview. Consequences, serious interrogation, I'm sure he didn't like it and was worried about the loss of his freedom.

What the heck is gma doing on on GMA? I'm sorry but make a statement and then go mourn your granddaughter.

I think she's way too fair to him.
 
GrandmaBear said:
"Demons in his past" but was a good student... What does he "had" "demons" even mean?

Sounds like an excuse to me--he had demons, not that he himself was one.

I don't buy he doesn't remember either, of course he'd say that when caught.

I can believe though he was an emotional mess in the interview. Consequences, serious interrogation, I'm sure he didn't like it and was worried about the loss of his freedom.

What the heck is gma doing on on GMA? I'm sorry but make a statement and then go mourn your granddaughter.

I think she's way too fair to him.
Click to expand...
I don't know what she means by demons. He obviously has had some issues. Saying he can't remember is a good way to not answer questions though, which should be his right anyway.
 
Guess Who said:
She never broke up with the step brother as far as I know of. I've never seen anything about them dating.
Click to expand...
15 yr. old ex bf. He says they broke up six months ago about (ex bf and her). I was clear about that in the post. In fact I said "to be clear" lol.
 
GrandmaBear said:
I have four 1/2 siblings. And one full sibling. We were all raised together as one household, their mother had died. I didn't even know until I was probably 12 that they were halves. I never for one day in my life have thought of them as anything other than my sisters and brothers.

So I understand the concept of not differentiating but we were raised together, not thrown together as teenagers never having grown up together in a recent marriage.

Of course most decent people when marrying in such a situation try to treat the kids the same and be fair. And good grandparents try also to accept new ones and be fair. That's got nothing to do with this though and again, these kids were not raised together.

I think grandma is entirely naive as well in that link. He doesn't remember? She has lost both? Two peas in a pod?

Personally I think the family is trying to clean up the image that has been portrayed and keeps on coming.

And this blended family had not been together for that long either. Definitely not years upon years.

They were going to make a cruise a new family tradition. Sure, that's because it is a fairly new family.

I want to almost SCREAM that you do not put unrelated teen boys and girls in a room TOGETHER to spend days and nights. I mean DUH.
Click to expand...
You dont even put related teen boys and girls together. I figured everyone knew that rule WTF !!!! Blended family my arse. I was one of 5 kids, 3 girls and 2 boys. This was in order G B G G B. So before that last youngest brother was born us three girls all shared a bedroom while eldest brother had his own frigging room. There was 10 years between my eldest sister and me (the youngest girl) so she was starting work at age 15 and still had to share a room with a 5 year old (me) and an 8 year old (my next oldest sister). She got married at 18 so didn't have to put up with it for long though. My parents never ever had mixed sexes sharing bedrooms.
 
Last edited:
Tresir said:
You dont even put related teen boys and girls together. I figured everyone knew that rule WTF !!!!
Click to expand...
that's true too. i've thought that but not mentioned it as I believe it is just a smart rule--but NEVER with stepchildren. And teen-aged to boot.
 
GrandmaBear said:
I have four 1/2 siblings. And one full sibling. We were all raised together as one household, their mother had died. I didn't even know until I was probably 12 that they were halves. I never for one day in my life have thought of them as anything other than my sisters and brothers.

So I understand the concept of not differentiating but we were raised together, not thrown together as teenagers never having grown up together in a recent marriage.

Of course most decent people when marrying in such a situation try to treat the kids the same and be fair. And good grandparents try also to accept new ones and be fair. That's got nothing to do with this though and again, these kids were not raised together.

I think grandma is entirely naive as well in that link. He doesn't remember? She has lost both? Two peas in a pod?

Personally I think the family is trying to clean up the image that has been portrayed and keeps on coming.

And this blended family had not been together for that long either. Definitely not years upon years.

They were going to make a cruise a new family tradition. Sure, that's because it is a fairly new family.

I want to almost SCREAM that you do not put unrelated teen boys and girls in a room TOGETHER to spend days and nights. I mean DUH.
Click to expand...
It definitely doesn't sound like things were nearly as fine as the picture they are tying to paint here. Not buying it.
 
GrandmaBear said:
"Demons in his past" but was a good student... What does he "had" "demons" even mean?

Sounds like an excuse to me--he had demons, not that he himself was one.

I don't buy he doesn't remember either, of course he'd say that when caught.

I can believe though he was an emotional mess in the interview. Consequences, serious interrogation, I'm sure he didn't like it and was worried about the loss of his freedom.

What the heck is gma doing on on GMA? I'm sorry but make a statement and then go mourn your granddaughter.

I think she's way too fair to him.
Click to expand...
Sounds as if they should have known not to allow this kid alone to not be supervised.
 
He has been identified as a suspect.

eu.usatoday.com

What happened to Anna Kepner? Stepbrother named suspect in cruise ship death.

Lawyers for the 16-year-old's mother said in court documents that he has been identified as a suspect in connection to Anna Kepner’s death.
eu.usatoday.com

USA TODAY
USA TODAY

most recent stories​


87445154007-1234389863.jpg


Show caption

The Carnival Horizon cruise ship is seen moored in the Port of Miami on Aug. 1, 2021. (Photo by Daniel SLIM / AFP) (Photo by DANIEL SLIM/AFP via Getty Images)

Daniel Slim/AFP via Getty Images​

What happened to Anna Kepner? Stepbrother named suspect in cruise ship death.​

Saleen Martin , Michelle Spitzer USA TODAY
5 hours ago
Authorities are looking into the stepbrother of an 18-year-old who was killed aboard a Carnival Cruise Line ship earlier this month, per court documents and family statements.
The victim, Anna Kepner, was traveling on the Carnival Horizon voyage when she died.
Online records from the Miami Dade Medical Examiner Department show that Kepner died around 11:17 a.m. on Nov. 7. When contacted on Nov. 21, the department said her cause and manner of death haven’t been determined, and her report is pending.
Her family told ABC News that she died from asphyxiation. USA TODAY has attempted to contact Kepner's family members but has not received a response.
According to court documents obtained by USA TODAY, Kepner’s stepmother Shauntel Hudson was previously married and shares a 16-year-old son with her ex-husband; the pair have an open custody case. In court documents filed on Nov. 17, Hudson’s lawyers identified a 16-year-old as a suspect in connection to Kepner’s death.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is investigating Kepner's death, according to a statement Carnival Cruise Line provided to USA TODAY. The Cruise line said it is fully cooperating with the FBI's investigation.
The FBI told USA TODAY on Nov. 21 that the FBI does not provide operational updates on its investigations “except in rare circumstances.”
"The sixteen year old child is now a suspect in the death of the step child during the cruise," wrote Hudson’s lawyers, adding in another document that the children involved in the custody case were on the cruise with their mother and Kepner.
The 16-year-old teenager identified as a suspect is staying with a family member of his mother in the Hernando County area, according to Florida Today, part of the USA TODAY network.
When contacted by email on Nov. 21, a lawyer representing Hudson did not immediately respond.
As the case remains under investigation, here's what we know so far.

What happened on the cruise ship that day?​

Kepner, 18, is from Titusville, about 50 miles east of Orlando. She was found dead aboard the Carnival Horizon cruise ship Nov. 7. She was on the ship with her father, stepmother, her grandparents, and stepsiblings, per Florida Today.
A crew member cleaning the cabin Kepner was staying in found her body under a bed on Nov. 7, Florida Today reported.
Her paternal grandmother, Barbara Kepner, told ABC News that the family's two younger girls stayed with their parents, while Anna and two other teens had a room together, including the stepbrother, now identified as a suspect in connection to her death.
"We had a larger room and we made it very clear that at any time if they weren't getting along, they didn't want to be together, we had an extra bed in our room that they could come to,” her grandmother told ABC News.

View |64 Photos
Passages 2025: Those we’ve lost through the year
Those we’ve lost through the year.
Based on security footage, the stepbrother was the only one seen entering and exiting the room Anna shared with him, the girl's grandmother told ABC News.
Earlier that day, Kepner's braces were bothering her and she wasn't feeling well, so she went back to her room for a bit, her grandmother told ABC News. She eventually came back down and spent time with family in the casino.
"She said, ‘Meemaw, I love you guys. I'll see you later,’" her grandmother recalled. "She'd pop in and out to check in with us. And we never saw her again after that.”
The next morning, her grandfather, Jeffrey Kepner, said he was buying bingo cards when he heard a medical alert over the ship's intercom. He heard his granddaughter's room number. According to ABC News, there were bruises on the girl's neck.

Grandmother says Anna Kepner and stepbrother were close, per ABC News report​

Kepner's grandmother told ABC News the teenager and her stepbrother were "just like brother and sister" and "two peas in a pod."
“I know that those two kids cared about each other in the right way,” the grandmother told ABC News. “I can't accuse him because I don't know what happened in that room."
The girl's grandmother said her stepbrother "does not remember what happened,” and she believes him.
“He was an emotional mess," Kepner's grandmother said. "He couldn't even speak. He couldn't believe what had happened."
Once the boat docked in Miami, the boy was hospitalized for psychiatric observation and then released to family members.

Family remembers ‘Anna Banana’ as a sweet, funny teenager​

Kepner was laid to rest on Thursday, Nov. 20 at The Grove Church in Titusville. Lovingly calling her “Anna Banana” and “sunshine,” Kepner’s family said in her obituary that she was bubbly, funny, and had no filter.
She loved doing her makeup, making TikTok videos, and spending time with her grandparents. She spent lots of time with her siblings, taking them to the park, or out for Halloween Horror Nights, her family wrote.
She was known to send sweet messages, reminding those around her that she loved them.
87445863007-usatsi-27561798.jpg

Friends bring bundles of balloons and flowers to place on the car of Anna Kepner, an 18-year-old Temple Christian School student who died aboard the … Show more
Malcolm Denemark/USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
She also loved music, her family said, adding that she liked all genres except heavy metal, and was a huge fan of Shawn Mendes.
She was set to graduate from Temple Christian School in 2026. She planned to join the U.S. Navy after graduation with hopes of becoming a K-9 police officer. She was also passionate about sports and was a Georgia Bulldogs fan, her family said. She’d often dream of becoming a cheerleader for the Bulldogs.
“The Kepner family asks for privacy and respect during this difficult time,” they wrote in her obituary. “And for everyone to remember Anna with laughter, color, sunshine, and love. Because that’s exactly how she lived her life … She danced in the light she left behind and it will never fade.”
Saleen Martin is a reporter on USA TODAY's NOW team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia – the 757. Email her at sdmartin@usatoday.com.
5 hours ago
 
Last edited:
Guess Who said:
and my post you replied to never mentioned the boyfriend. It was only about the step brother. Hence, the confusion.
Click to expand...
Yes, but i realized I was confused by yours and then clarified it and said "to be clear" which is the one you responded to, I went back up and checked.

I guess we can put it down to how confusing all the marriages are, the kids, and then add in the ex-boyfriend. And now the grandparents. I made sure I double or triple checked is this her bio grandma? Then it was like what is she doing defending him...?

We can't I guess just say he or she in this case especially where the teens are concerned. Or the stepmoms, etc. And so on.

A tree would be great if it keeps growing lol.

in the meantime, the "to be clear" who I mean which I did may be the way to go, yet you still thought I meant someone else.
 
Tresir said:
He has been identified as a suspect.

eu.usatoday.com

What happened to Anna Kepner? Stepbrother named suspect in cruise ship death.

Lawyers for the 16-year-old's mother said in court documents that he has been identified as a suspect in connection to Anna Kepner’s death.
eu.usatoday.com

USA TODAY
USA TODAY

most recent stories​


87445154007-1234389863.jpg


Show caption

The Carnival Horizon cruise ship is seen moored in the Port of Miami on Aug. 1, 2021. (Photo by Daniel SLIM / AFP) (Photo by DANIEL SLIM/AFP via Getty Images)

Daniel Slim/AFP via Getty Images​

What happened to Anna Kepner? Stepbrother named suspect in cruise ship death.​

Saleen Martin , Michelle Spitzer USA TODAY
5 hours ago
Authorities are looking into the stepbrother of an 18-year-old who was killed aboard a Carnival Cruise Line ship earlier this month, per court documents and family statements.
The victim, Anna Kepner, was traveling on the Carnival Horizon voyage when she died.
Online records from the Miami Dade Medical Examiner Department show that Kepner died around 11:17 a.m. on Nov. 7. When contacted on Nov. 21, the department said her cause and manner of death haven’t been determined, and her report is pending.
Her family told ABC News that she died from asphyxiation. USA TODAY has attempted to contact Kepner's family members but has not received a response.
According to court documents obtained by USA TODAY, Kepner’s stepmother Shauntel Hudson was previously married and shares a 16-year-old son with her ex-husband; the pair have an open custody case. In court documents filed on Nov. 17, Hudson’s lawyers identified a 16-year-old as a suspect in connection to Kepner’s death.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is investigating Kepner's death, according to a statement Carnival Cruise Line provided to USA TODAY. The Cruise line said it is fully cooperating with the FBI's investigation.
The FBI told USA TODAY on Nov. 21 that the FBI does not provide operational updates on its investigations “except in rare circumstances.”
"The sixteen year old child is now a suspect in the death of the step child during the cruise," wrote Hudson’s lawyers, adding in another document that the children involved in the custody case were on the cruise with their mother and Kepner.
The 16-year-old teenager identified as a suspect is staying with a family member of his mother in the Hernando County area, according to Florida Today, part of the USA TODAY network.
When contacted by email on Nov. 21, a lawyer representing Hudson did not immediately respond.
As the case remains under investigation, here's what we know so far.

What happened on the cruise ship that day?​

Kepner, 18, is from Titusville, about 50 miles east of Orlando. She was found dead aboard the Carnival Horizon cruise ship Nov. 7. She was on the ship with her father, stepmother, her grandparents, and stepsiblings, per Florida Today.
A crew member cleaning the cabin Kepner was staying in found her body under a bed on Nov. 7, Florida Today reported.
Her paternal grandmother, Barbara Kepner, told ABC News that the family's two younger girls stayed with their parents, while Anna and two other teens had a room together, including the stepbrother, now identified as a suspect in connection to her death.
"We had a larger room and we made it very clear that at any time if they weren't getting along, they didn't want to be together, we had an extra bed in our room that they could come to,” her grandmother told ABC News.

View |64 Photos
Passages 2025: Those we’ve lost through the year
Those we’ve lost through the year.
Based on security footage, the stepbrother was the only one seen entering and exiting the room Anna shared with him, the girl's grandmother told ABC News.
Earlier that day, Kepner's braces were bothering her and she wasn't feeling well, so she went back to her room for a bit, her grandmother told ABC News. She eventually came back down and spent time with family in the casino.
"She said, ‘Meemaw, I love you guys. I'll see you later,’" her grandmother recalled. "She'd pop in and out to check in with us. And we never saw her again after that.”
The next morning, her grandfather, Jeffrey Kepner, said he was buying bingo cards when he heard a medical alert over the ship's intercom. He heard his granddaughter's room number. According to ABC News, there were bruises on the girl's neck.

Grandmother says Anna Kepner and stepbrother were close, per ABC News report​

Kepner's grandmother told ABC News the teenager and her stepbrother were "just like brother and sister" and "two peas in a pod."
“I know that those two kids cared about each other in the right way,” the grandmother told ABC News. “I can't accuse him because I don't know what happened in that room."
The girl's grandmother said her stepbrother "does not remember what happened,” and she believes him.
“He was an emotional mess," Kepner's grandmother said. "He couldn't even speak. He couldn't believe what had happened."
Once the boat docked in Miami, the boy was hospitalized for psychiatric observation and then released to family members.

Family remembers ‘Anna Banana’ as a sweet, funny teenager​

Kepner was laid to rest on Thursday, Nov. 20 at The Grove Church in Titusville. Lovingly calling her “Anna Banana” and “sunshine,” Kepner’s family said in her obituary that she was bubbly, funny, and had no filter.
She loved doing her makeup, making TikTok videos, and spending time with her grandparents. She spent lots of time with her siblings, taking them to the park, or out for Halloween Horror Nights, her family wrote.
She was known to send sweet messages, reminding those around her that she loved them.
87445863007-usatsi-27561798.jpg

Friends bring bundles of balloons and flowers to place on the car of Anna Kepner, an 18-year-old Temple Christian School student who died aboard the … Show more
Malcolm Denemark/USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
She also loved music, her family said, adding that she liked all genres except heavy metal, and was a huge fan of Shawn Mendes.
She was set to graduate from Temple Christian School in 2026. She planned to join the U.S. Navy after graduation with hopes of becoming a K-9 police officer. She was also passionate about sports and was a Georgia Bulldogs fan, her family said. She’d often dream of becoming a cheerleader for the Bulldogs.
“The Kepner family asks for privacy and respect during this difficult time,” they wrote in her obituary. “And for everyone to remember Anna with laughter, color, sunshine, and love. Because that’s exactly how she lived her life … She danced in the light she left behind and it will never fade.”
Saleen Martin is a reporter on USA TODAY's NOW team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia – the 757. Email her at sdmartin@usatoday.com.
5 hours ago
Click to expand...
I don't believe she died at 11 something the morning she was found which it states.

However, it is interesting gma says she was having issues with her braces which probably caused her to leave dinner but that she did come back out later... I think for one she shares that to stop the speculation that maybe the stepbrother drugged her--I've seen it, just people speculating since all that was said was she was feeling sick at dinner and went back to her room, etc...

I'd have to look back at the Carnival rules @Kimster posted but I think casino was 21 wasn't it...? Gma said she popped in to see them, etc...

so she WAS up and about after going to the cabin not feeling well...

They maybe did appear to care about each other in the "right" way but it still does not mean the boy had no attraction to her or wasn't putting it on to make her feel safe, and so on... he clearly has the other side and again the ex-bf knew it/saw it... If of course that's all the truth...

I had three teens that were not raised together in my marriage. Attractive teens, all. Various ages a few year apart. They were good kids, all. And all caring. They also KNEW about lines not to be crossed. I saw a bit of mild flirting at times, teens do that. Mine were rarely together though, just at Christmas and so on. My girls were out of the home before long, living on their own. The never "lived" together. And if they were in the home, the rare time, not even sure there were any, maybe a couple, they had separate rooms to stay over, of course.

I feel I can overly identify here as I've been there and what you don't do and any responsible parent DOES. AND what kids taught right do. And don't do.

Something is wrong with him. Sexual urges aren't unusual in teen boys but you don't rape. The story from again the ex bf of the stepbrother getting on top of her is so wrong of an act. Obsessed with her he also said. Her worried about him and safety because he carried around a big knife. Allowing for news hyping things even, if even PART of that is true, he is a disturbed 16 year old...

News and vloggers are definitely running away with this one and so I try to not put full faith in all being said but even at the core of it, that kid has issues and never should have been sharing a room with her.

imho.
 
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