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- Texts after Anna Kepner’s mysterious cruise ship death show family scrambling to clamp down on info (foxnews.com)
New Details Emerge in Tragic Cruise Ship Death of Anna Kepner
Newly released court documents are shedding light on the family’s immediate response following the tragic death of 18-year-old Anna Kepner aboard a Carnival cruise ship last month. The documents, obtained by FOX 35 Orlando, reveal a series of text messages exchanged within a day of Anna’s body being discovered, highlighting the family’s efforts to manage public information and protect the identity of their 16-year-old son.
Anna Kepner was found deceased on November 7th in her cabin on the Carnival Horizon, which returned to Port Miami two days later. Federal authorities boarded the ship upon its arrival to begin collecting evidence.
Officials have stated that Anna died from mechanical asphyxia, a condition caused by a lack of oxygen. As of now, no suspect has been publicly named in the ongoing investigation.
The text messages, submitted as exhibits in an ongoing family court case, detail conversations between Anna’s stepmother, Shauntel Kepner, and her ex-husband, beginning the evening of November 8th. According to court records, these discussions primarily focused on controlling the narrative, limiting social media exposure, and addressing concerns related to the minor teen, rather than directly on the circumstances of Anna’s death. Court documents indicate the teen is under investigation in connection with Anna’s death, though he has not been charged.
In one urgent message sent on November 8th, Shauntel requested her ex-husband call her immediately, describing the situation as an emergency. She later declined his offer to pick up their daughter, explaining that the child had only been informed that her brother was emotionally struggling and undergoing hospital evaluation.
Further exchanges on November 9th show Shauntel recounting a brief conversation with her son while he was in a medical facility. She stated he repeatedly claimed to have no memory of the events, and a nurse allowed the short call for Shauntel to reassure him of his parents’ love.
The messages also reveal the family’s concerted efforts to prevent information from spreading on social media and to shield the teen from negative attention, with Shauntel emphasizing his minor status and the family’s desire to keep his name out of the media.
During a December 5th court appearance, Shauntel’s attorney stated that the teen’s father agreed to have him live with a relative after his hospital release, a decision made to eliminate any potential risk to other children in the home. Shauntel also testified that the teen, who takes medication for ADHD and insomnia, had not taken his insomnia medication for two nights during the cruise, including the night before Anna’s body was discovered.
Anna’s body was reportedly found under a bed in a cabin she was sharing with two siblings, including her 16-year-old stepbrother. While the FBI has not publicly identified a suspect or filed criminal charges, records from an ongoing family court dispute involving Anna’s father, Christopher Kepner, Shauntel Kepner, and Shauntel Kepner’s ex-husband, Thomas Hudson, suggest the teen is being investigated in connection with Anna’s death.
Additional messages referenced the possibility of charges being filed pending autopsy results, which the family reportedly planned to learn more about once available.
Former sheriff’s detective Jamie Copenhaver, who reviewed the messages, expressed concerns to FOX 35 Orlando. He noted that the exchanges appeared to prioritize managing public perception over addressing the loss of an 18-year-old family member. Copenhaver described the messages as resembling “damage control,” suggesting the family might know more than what has been publicly disclosed.
Despite these concerns, the court records also show both parents expressing emotional support for their son, assuring him he was not alone and that his family stood by him. In one exchange, Hudson told Shauntel he wanted their son to know “he isn’t just dead to everyone,” adding that “regardless of everything at the moment, he needs his parents,” and expressed a desire to speak with him as soon as possible.
Anna Kepner, a high school senior at Temple Christian School in Titusville, Florida, was preparing to graduate in the spring of 2026 and aspired to enlist in the U.S. Navy, according to her family.
The FBI has not released further details about the investigation, and the Miami-Dade Medical Examiner has not publicly released Anna’s autopsy or toxicology results. The investigation remains ongoing, and more than six weeks later, no individual has been publicly identified as a suspect.