Indications are it may be a homicide.
Last edited by a moderator:
ANNA KEPNER: Teen found dead on Carnival cruise ship *ARREST!* (15 Viewers)
- Thread starter GrandmaBear
- Start date
GrandmaBear
Well-known member
I think the parents should be charged too and I don't take that lightly, would not say it in all cases. I mean the teen made his own choice too.
I'd have to go back and watch but I know she said she was asleep, not sure if she talked of her hub/Anna's dad at all. It was probably just questions to her and about her choices.
We know in hindsight as do they that Anna went back out, the 14 year old was out taking pics at some point and so on. Most definitely they weren't being supervised. Essentially all the teens could do whatever the he77 they wanted, with no parents to say no.
GrandmaBear
Well-known member
But under fed investigation of the US. The question seems to be if he will be charged federally or if the feds will tell Florida to take it over. And yes, they can charge him as an adult from what I understand just as some states have had even as low as 13 and 14 charged as adults (and maybe less in age).
This was between family members and they were all US citizens I am guessing plays into that too and likely helps big time. It's not like some guy from Italy murdered Anna or that they don't know what happened. It was all amongst US citizens. I haven't heard this said but it is a guess of mine that it makes it even stronger and gives them the right to both investigate and charge.
Tresir
Well-known member
At age sixteen you can legally go to sea and work on a ship so i think he will be classed as an adult.
seafarersrights.org
Minimum age - Seafarers Rights International
Under the Maritime Labour Convention 2006 (‘MLC’): A person must be 16 years old or above to work as a seafarer. A seafarer who is between 16 and 18 years of age can work on a ship but cannot do: Night work* (with some possible exceptions); or Work that puts the seafarer’s health or safety […]
seafarersrights.org
Tresir
Well-known member
I don't think that matters. She was murdered at sea outside of CONUS. I don't think it matters if they were both US citizens. It is where she was murdered that counts so they will need a TOD when it happened and he shoved her under the bunk. They were somewhere at sea between Mexico and US I believe.
GrandmaBear
Well-known member
Yeah. Not sure. All the news on this like Law and Crime, News Nation, Entin, etc. and retired whatever as guests are saying the FBI takes control because it was at sea, in international waters. I don't know that they are right as there are many crimes where it seems they don't. I honestly don't know but I know they were all US citizens and both vic and perp were. So that was my thought. Also, I think it can depend on what flag the ship flies, where they go out of, etc. and in this case the US is one of them. This ship I think left Miami and was returning to Miami? I know it was Florida for sure, and I think Miami.
Also where the cruise line is registered, etc.
I've heard varying thing but the consensus is that the FBI takes something like this but it is up to them whether they charge it federally or if they hand it to Florida.
I'm not claiming to know, it is just my thoughts in addition to what I've heard.
Guess Who
Well-known member
I linked earlier that in all cruise incidents FBI is called, at they are correct.
GrandmaBear
Well-known member
Okay. I know they usually are involved but wasn't sure they always have jurisdiction.
There is though maritime law too so not sure how and when that plays in. And the ship did have a FL base at least as one of its bases.
I've heard varying things or things that can change it too.
Beats me is what I'm saying lol.
Tresir
Well-known member
Recent article. This makes clear that the suspect is Thomas Hudson, the son of Shauntel and her ex husband, also called Thomas Hudson.
www.nbcmiami.com
Watch 24
2:15 / 7:
A Florida cheerleader was found asphyxiated under a bed on a Carnival Cruise ship inside a room she was sharing with her stepbrother, according to a new legal filing in a separate case.
Anna Kepner, 18, died on the Carnival Horizon cruise ship on Nov. 7 while on vacation with her family.
WATCH HERE
The cruise ship returned to PortMiami the next day, as was planned, Carnival said in a statement at the time, which added that the cruise line was assisting the FBI Miami with the investigation.
Kepner Family Photos
Kepner Family Photos
Anna Kepner
A document filed Tuesday in Brevard County, Florida, in a separate case relating to Kepner’s stepmother’s past marriage claims that the stepmother, Shauntel Hudson, took her two children on the cruise without the consent of their father, Thomas Hudson.
The document claims Shauntel Hudson failed to properly supervise her son, identified by the initials T.H., and allowed T.H. and Kepner, referred to as "her husband's 18-year-old daughter," to share a room together.
"The 18-year-old daughter was found asphyxiated under the bed in the room which she shared with TH," the document states. "The actions of the unsupervised TH are currently under investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation."
Nov 25
Nov 20
The FBI confirmed in a statement at the time that it had responded to the docked cruise ship in Miami and was leading the investigation into Kepner’s death but has released few other details.
Carnival has said it is cooperating with authorities in the investigation and that there is no further threat aboard the Carnival Horizon.
Another court document related to Shauntel Hudson's past marriage, filed last month, said the 16-year-old stepbrother was a suspect in Kepner's death.
1:49
Court documents revealed that Kepner and her father, as well as at least one of her biological siblings, a brother, were on the cruise, along with Kepner’s stepmother, her son (the suspect), and another of her minor children.
On Friday, Shauntel Hudson testified during a custody hearing in Viera, Florida, where she was asked if Kepner was given the option of staying in another room.
"All three of the kids were," she responded.
She also confirmed that the 16-year-old is a suspect in the death and is not coming back to their home.
"At this time no. Not with the FBI investigation," Hudson said.
0:27
Kepner, a high school senior from central Florida, was remembered in her obituary as a bubbly, outgoing and reliable teen who was always true to herself. She dreamed of becoming a cheerleader for the University of Georgia and “loved her siblings deeply,” the obituary said.
Teen found asphyxiated under bed on cruise ship, was sharing room with stepbrother: Filing
A Florida cheerleader was found asphyxiated under a bed on a Carnival Cruise ship inside a room she was sharing with her stepbrother, according to a new legal filing in a separate case.
www.nbcmiami.com
Watch 24
Teen found asphyxiated under bed on cruise ship, was sharing room with stepbrother
Anna Kepner, 18, died on the Carnival Horizon cruise ship on Nov. 7 while on vacation with her family.
By NBC6
Published December 5, 2025 • Updated on December 5, 2025 at 5:38 pm
02:15 / 7:
A Florida cheerleader was found asphyxiated under a bed on a Carnival Cruise ship inside a room she was sharing with her stepbrother, according to a new legal filing in a separate case.
Anna Kepner, 18, died on the Carnival Horizon cruise ship on Nov. 7 while on vacation with her family.
WATCH HEREThe cruise ship returned to PortMiami the next day, as was planned, Carnival said in a statement at the time, which added that the cruise line was assisting the FBI Miami with the investigation.
Kepner Family Photos
Kepner Family Photos
Anna Kepner
A document filed Tuesday in Brevard County, Florida, in a separate case relating to Kepner’s stepmother’s past marriage claims that the stepmother, Shauntel Hudson, took her two children on the cruise without the consent of their father, Thomas Hudson.
The document claims Shauntel Hudson failed to properly supervise her son, identified by the initials T.H., and allowed T.H. and Kepner, referred to as "her husband's 18-year-old daughter," to share a room together.
"The 18-year-old daughter was found asphyxiated under the bed in the room which she shared with TH," the document states. "The actions of the unsupervised TH are currently under investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation."
ANNA KEPNER DEATH
Nov 25
Nov 20
The Miami-Dade Medical Examiner’s Office hasn't provided Kepner's cause and manner of death, but said information related to her death is "part of an ongoing investigation or criminal proceeding."The FBI confirmed in a statement at the time that it had responded to the docked cruise ship in Miami and was leading the investigation into Kepner’s death but has released few other details.
Carnival has said it is cooperating with authorities in the investigation and that there is no further threat aboard the Carnival Horizon.
Another court document related to Shauntel Hudson's past marriage, filed last month, said the 16-year-old stepbrother was a suspect in Kepner's death.
1:49
Passenger who died on Carnival cruise ship identified
A passenger who died on board a Carnival Cruise Line ship was identified as 18-year-old Anna Kepner. NBC6's Amanda Plasencia reportsCourt documents revealed that Kepner and her father, as well as at least one of her biological siblings, a brother, were on the cruise, along with Kepner’s stepmother, her son (the suspect), and another of her minor children.
On Friday, Shauntel Hudson testified during a custody hearing in Viera, Florida, where she was asked if Kepner was given the option of staying in another room.
"All three of the kids were," she responded.
She also confirmed that the 16-year-old is a suspect in the death and is not coming back to their home.
"At this time no. Not with the FBI investigation," Hudson said.
0:27
Custody hearing held tied to Florida teen's cruise ship death
A custody hearing was being held on Friday that's linked to the death of an 18-year-old from Florida who was found dead on a cruise ship.Kepner, a high school senior from central Florida, was remembered in her obituary as a bubbly, outgoing and reliable teen who was always true to herself. She dreamed of becoming a cheerleader for the University of Georgia and “loved her siblings deeply,” the obituary said.
Last edited:
GrandmaBear
Well-known member
He IS her stepbrother, by marriage. Did not share a parent no, that is what a step is.
Totally unrelated, boy and girl, teens. Never should have been sharing a room, totally agree.
If anyone can prove that the parents had been warned about this 16-year-old teenager and the way he was treating Anna, then I agree that they should be charged for something.
Tresir
Well-known member
Ok so a stepbrother is unrelated but others may be halfbrother? If they share a parent? I am getting the terms mixed up.
GrandmaBear
Well-known member
A step is no shared parent, a half is one shared parent, a full or bio is both shared parents.
To keep it straight, just recall the half means half of the number of parents one has. I have no idea where the term "step" comes from lol. I have four half siiblings (two have passed), we all share the same father. We were all raised together though, it was not due to divorce. My dad's first wife died and then he married my mom and they had us two (I have one full sister).
Tresir
Well-known member
Ok thanks for that explanation. So the kids on the cruise were Anna (18) and her 9 year old brother, the 16 yo stepbrother (suspect) and the 2 younger halfbrother and halfsister sleeping with the parents. Is that correct?
GrandmaBear
Well-known member
No, both 9 year olds are girls. One of Anna's relation and one of the suspect's relation, siblings to each. The 14 year old brother was Anna's brother out on the ship taking pictures, who also shared the room. The two 9 year old girls shared a room with the "parents", one of each (meaning each parent was a blood relative to each). I'm trying to keep it concise with wording so as not to confuse.
Anna 18, the perp 16, and Anna's "real" brother 14 shared the room. Her and the 16 year old were steps, no parent shared. Two 9 year olds shared a stateroom or suite with the parents, one was Anna's "real" sister and one was her stepsister ("real" sister to the stepbrother) and "real" sister of Anna.
it gets confusing when getting into exes and there is an 18 year old too of the perp's that is a "real" brother.
To keep it simpler:
Anna's dad was on the cruise with his new wife. Dad had his kids with who were Anna 18, and son 14 (sharing the cabin with perp and Anna) and a daughter 9, sharing cabin with he and his new(er) wife. The wife had her son 16 (the perp, in Anna's room with 14 year old, Anna's real brother) and a 9 year old daughter of hers with (sharing a room or suite with the "parents" or stepparents of all/each).
So 18 year old Anna, 14 year old "real" brother sharing the room she was in and 9 year old girl with "parents" are her "real siblings".
16 year old perp and another 9 year old girl were the kids of the stepmom (to Anna). So one set of siblings of the "dad" were his, and one set of the mom were hers. Each set of kids are steps to the other set of kids. Each "parent" is a bio of their own set and a stepparent to the other set.
I tried to simplify it but probably made it harder lol.
Anna 18, her brother 14, and her sister 9, and their dad were on the cruise and are "real" siblings.
Perp 16, his sister 9, and their mom were on the cruise and are "real" siblings. Dad of first set and mom of second set I named just now are married. Makes the kids of both sets stepsiblings.
These last few sentences are the clearest/simplest explanation lol.
Tresir
Well-known member
Thanks. I will absorb and process.......
The more i think about, the more it just blows my mind.
GrandmaBear
Well-known member
Yeah, I probably made it more confusing. Just forget the exes and the grandparents. Each parent (married to each other) had kids on board. Mom had two and dad had three. Each parent's kids were not related at all to the other parent's kids. That's as simple as one can put it I think.
It's very messed up as to the decisions here imo. I've tried to give benefit of the doubt but it is just beyond a smart choice or even an understandable choice to put the teens in a room together.
Add in the lack of supervision and that he allegedly was obsessed for her and it is a recipe for disaster.
GrandmaBear
Well-known member
there have been several updates on this, most of them coming from the custody hearings and filings. i meant to update it sooner but never got around to it. for instance, the oldest son testified in a hearing that Shauntel and Chris put him in a choke hold in the back seat of a car. Just one of many things I no longer have the shows up on about it.
Here is a newer one though with text messages being sent when and just after this happened.
These people bother me to no end. It's all about saving the son/perp, nothing about Anna.
Here is a newer one though with text messages being sent when and just after this happened.
These people bother me to no end. It's all about saving the son/perp, nothing about Anna.
Tresir
Well-known member
Well isn't it going to be their fault for putting her in with a 16 year old male non blood relative? He is a child at 16 right?
So that is why they are backing him. It's their a*ses on the line - They were the adults and they screwed up.
Haven't had a chance to watch yet. Will get to it later.
So that is why they are backing him. It's their a*ses on the line - They were the adults and they screwed up.
Haven't had a chance to watch yet. Will get to it later.
Mel70
I miss you Oreo.
In murders they can charge a minor as an adult. In the US anyway.