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- Anna Kepner’s death on cruise ship ruled a homicide (abcnews.go.com)
Tragic Death on Carnival Cruise Ruled Homicide, Family Seeks Answers
The death of 18-year-old Anna Kepner aboard a Carnival cruise ship last month has officially been ruled a homicide, according to a recently released death certificate. The devastating news comes as the family of the Florida teenager grapples with her sudden loss and seeks clarity regarding the circumstances surrounding her death.
The death certificate, provided to ABC News by Kepner’s family, states that the cause of death was “mechanical asphyxia” and indicates that the teenager “was mechanically asphyxiated by other person(s).” The date of injury is listed as November 6th.
Anna Kepner was found deceased on the Carnival Horizon ship while on vacation with various family members, including her grandparents, father, stepmother, siblings, and stepsiblings. A security source briefed on the investigation revealed that she was discovered under a bed, wrapped in a blanket and covered by life vests.
While autopsy and toxicology reports have yet to be released, and neither the Miami-Dade medical examiner nor the FBI has commented on the recent developments, the Kepner family previously shared with ABC News that the FBI had indicated Anna likely died from asphyxiation, potentially caused by a “bar hold” – an arm across the neck.
A court filing in an unrelated family court matter has also noted that Kepner’s stepbrother, a minor, could potentially face charges in connection with her death, though no charges have been filed at this time.
Anna’s grandparents remember her as an independent and bright young woman who was on track to graduate high school in May and had aspirations of joining the Navy. “We were looking forward to seeing her grow,” grandfather Jeffrey Kepner shared with ABC News, reflecting on the promising future that was tragically cut short. The family continues to await further information and justice for Anna.
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- Anna Kepner’s death on cruise ship ruled a homicide (abcnews.go.com)