Family in Turmoil as Death of Titusville Teen Anna Kepner on Cruise Ship Sparks Federal Investigation

Celebration of Anna’s Life set Thursday at 5 p.m. at The Grove Church in Titusville

BREVARD COUNTY • TITUSVILLE, FLORIDA — The mysterious death of 18-year-old cheerleader Anna Kepner aboard the cruise ship Carnival Horizon has taken a dramatic turn, new court filings show — and the investigation now extends beyond the tragic loss of the teenager.

Kepner, a senior at Temple Christian School in Titusville, was aboard the Carnival Horizon on a Caribbean cruise when she died. The ship returned to PortMiami on Nov. 8 after Kepner’s death was discovered.

According to publicly available records, the Miami-Dade County Medical Examiner listed her time of death at 11:17 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 7.

The cause and manner of death remain undetermined; the Federal Bureau of Investigation has taken charge of the investigation because the incident occurred in waters under U.S. jurisdiction.

A housekeeper found Kepner’s body under the bed in her stateroom, CBS News reported on Tuesday, Nov. 18, citing law enforcement sources.

In statements, cruise-line operator Carnival Cruise Line said it is “cooperating with the FBI” and focusing on supporting the family.

Friends and teachers remember Anna as a “bright, kind-hearted young woman” who lit up a room and had plans to join the U.S. military after graduation.

On Nov. 19, the teen’s step-mother, Shauntel Hudson, filed an emergency motion in Brevard County family court seeking to postpone a December custody/visitation hearing with her ex-husband, citing the ongoing criminal investigation.

In the filing, her attorney contended that testifying could expose either her or one of her minor children to self-incrimination.

The filing states, “A criminal case may be initiated against one of the minor children of this instant action.”

In related filings, the ex-husband, Thomas Hudson, alleged that their 16-year-old son is now considered a “suspect in the death of the stepchild during the cruise.”

Authorities have not publicly confirmed any suspect or charges, nor have they provided detailed timelines or locations for the death.

Because Anna’s death occurred aboard a cruise ship in international or near-international waters, prosecution falls under maritime and federal jurisdiction. Legal experts say that the FBI’s early involvement often signals that foul play is suspected or that the setting complicates the investigation.

Anna’s father, Christopher Kepner, has publicly expressed frustration and sorrow that the family has received virtually no updates from investigators. “I know as little as everybody else,” he told the press.

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BREVARD COUNTY • TITUSVILLE, FLORIDA — The FBI continues to investigate the death of 18-year-old Anna Kepner, a Titusville high school senior and varsity cheerleader, whose body was found aboard the Carnival Horizon cruise ship on Nov. 7.

Kepner, a senior at Temple Christian School in Titusville, had been on a six-day family cruise when she died under unknown circumstances in international waters in the Gulf of America.

Her father told The Daily Mail that authorities questioned the family after the ship returned to Miami, but he had not yet received updates from the FBI regarding the investigation.

In the days before her death, Kepner shared TikTok posts that hinted at personal heartbreak and resilience.

On Oct. 26, she posted a video with selfies and on-screen text describing her experiences with breakups, manipulation, and betrayal, writing that she would “always have a smile on my face and a kind heart.”

Her final post on Oct. 30 read, “You deserve to be happy, but if it ain’t with me then nvm.”

Friends and family remembered Kepner as a bright, determined young woman. She had earned straight A’s, obtained her boating license before she could drive a car, and planned to join the Navy after graduation with aspirations to become a police officer in a K-9 unit.

Her close friend, Gennavicia Guerrero, 18, told FOX 35 Orlando that Kepner was a positive influence who encouraged her peers to excel in school.

An obituary described her as someone who “filled the world with laughter, love, and light that reached everyone around her.”

Authorities have not released the cause or manner of death. Her remains were returned to shore in Miami on Nov. 9. The FBI continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding her death as the family, friends, and community seek answers.

A Celebration of Anna’s Life will be held on Thursday, November 20, 2025, at 5 p.m. at The Grove Church in Titusville. The family requests that no one wear black — casual attire is welcome, but please wear colors in honor of Anna’s bright and beautiful soul. Her favorite color was blue.

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