A Caribbean cruise took a horrifying turn when 18-year-old cheerleader Anna Kepner was found lifeless, with her body stuffed underneath her bed.
The teenager was on a family vacation in the Caribbean when the unexpected discovery was made.
Reports revealed that one of Anna’s stepsiblings might be facing charges in connection with her passing.
18-year-old cheerleader Anna Kepner‘s body was found stuffed under a bed aboard a cruise ship
18-year-old Anna Kepner was a straight-A student, with dreams of joining the military someday.
The Titusville, Florida, high schooler was set to graduate from Temple Christian School in May.
But tragedy struck while she was in the middle of a family vacation with her father, Christopher Kepner, her stepmother, Shauntel Hudson, and her three stepsiblings aboard the Carnival Horizon cruise ship.
The ship was on its way back to Miami when her family last saw her alive.
The teenager met her family for dinner on the night of November 7, but she told them she wasn’t feeling too well and returned to her room.
The next day, her family raised the alarm when she didn’t show up for breakfast.
A frantic search unfolded for Anna.
The teenager was on the cruise trip with her father, stepmother, and stepsiblings
Eventually, a housekeeper found Anna unresponsive when she arrived to clean her room in the morning.
The teen was wrapped in a blanket, covered in life jackets, and stuffed under her bed.
Authorities listed her time of passing as 11:17 a.m., but the cause was not disclosed.
Investigators are currently analyzing the teenager’s cellphone records, reviewing surveillance footage from the ship, and interviewing passengers, crew members, and relatives.
As investigations began into the teen’s passing, reports revealed that one of Anna’s stepsiblings may face charges.
Anna’s stepmother, Shauntel Hudson, had recently married Christopher Kepner, but was still involved in legal matters with her ex-husband.
She had filed an emergency motion on Monday, November 17, in Brevard County asking to reschedule a hearing tied to her 2024 divorce from the ex.
The stepmother’s attorneys said Shauntel was told by the FBI that “a criminal case may be initiated” against one of her minor children.
“An extremely sensitive and severe circumstance has arisen wherein the Respondent/Mother will not be able to testify at the hearing at this time,” the filing said.
Anna’s stepmother, Shauntel Hudson, had recently married Christopher Kepner, but was still seemingly involved in legal matters with her ex-husband
A screenshot circulating online included a message seemingly written by a Facebook user named Martin Donohue, who claimed Anna was his niece.
The message accuses Shauntel’s son of allegedly taking the teen’s life and sleeping “on that bed like nothing happened.”
“I cannot stay silent about his matter any longer. The stepmom son [sic] killed her, stuffed her named beaten body in a sheet, and stuffed her under a bed and covered her with life jackets,” read the message in the screenshot.
An unverified message circulating online accused Shauntel’s son of sleeping on the same bed after allegedly stuffing the corpse underneath
“Then slept on that bed like nothing happened. He told his stepmom when no one could [find] Anna on the ship. So yes, they know who did this, and it sickens me that the father, Chris, remains silent about it,” the message continued.
Father Christopher, 41, claimed he had “no idea” what happened to his teenage daughter.
“Everybody was questioned. Everybody came off that ship. I don’t know who they are looking at or what their investigation is,” the father told the Daily Mail in an article published last week.
“The FBI hasn’t shared anything with me yet. I would imagine they’re going to be in contact with me about it – but I know as little as everybody else,” he added.
Anna’s family remembered her as a bubbly teenager, whom they lovingly called “Anna Banana.”
Shauntel requested the postponement of a hearing related to her divorce, saying her minor child may face charges
“When she walked into a room, she would light it up,” family members told ABC News. “If you were sad, she’d make you laugh. She would joke around and be the funniest little person in school.”
Not only was Anna a straight-A student, but she was also an athlete who began gymnastics at the age of two.
Her love for the water led her to earn her boater’s license and scuba certification, among other achievements.
The family said she had just finished taking the test to join the military and was already “talking to recruiters.”
“She had chosen her career path. She wanted to do something that would help her community,” the family said.
Anna was described as a bubbly, straight-A student who had dreams of joining the military
Calling her a people person, the family said, “She loved being around people. She had that type of energy that just drew you in with her smile and the way she carried herself. She was such an easy person to talk to.”
“She was the best child you could ever meet,” her family added. “We’ll always remember her for who she was.”
“The family did it,” some speculated online, while another claimed, “It’s obviously the stepbrother”
