Anna Kepner — an 18-year-old high school cheerleader from Florida — died by asphyxiation, sources say, after someone placed an arm across her neck in what investigators are calling a “bar hold.” The shocking discovery came during a family cruise: her body was found concealed under a bed in her stateroom on the Carnival Horizon. The FBI is now investigating, and compelling new court filings identify her 16-year-old stepbrother as a suspect.
According to people familiar with the investigation, Anna’s body was found wrapped in a blanket and hidden beneath a pile of life vests. Housekeeping staff made the grim discovery after the ship returned to PortMiami on November 8. Preliminary reports say two bruises were found on the sides of her neck. Toxicology tests and a full autopsy are still pending, but initial findings suggest there was no sign of drugs, alcohol, or sexual assault.
Court documents in an unrelated custody dispute have brought in a new — and chilling — element. In filings from her stepmother, Shauntel Hudson, and ex-husband Thomas Hudson, Anna’s 16-year-old stepbrother (referred to by his initials “T.H.”) is named as a suspect. The parents have agreed to have T.H. live with a relative “to ensure safety” during the investigation.
But that’s not all. During a recent custody hearing, lawyers raised even more concerning details. According to the 16-year-old’s father’s attorney, the teen was briefly hospitalized after the cruise, though the reason is undisclosed. The attorney also floated the idea that T.H. might be called to testify about what happened — but acknowledged that the teen may invoke his Fifth Amendment right.
There’s also been talk from Anna’s ex-boyfriend, Joshua, who claims she had been uneasy around her stepbrother. He told media outlets that at one point she alleged the teen had made advances toward her, even during a FaceTime call while she slept. The ex’s father said Anna was afraid to speak up, believing she might not be believed or that retaliation could come.
On the night before she died, her younger biological brother reportedly heard yelling, slamming, and what sounded like chairs being thrown from inside the cabin. According to his account, her stepbrother shouted “shut the hell up,” which raised red flags in the family that something was very wrong.
Meanwhile, Anna’s stepmother, Shauntel Hudson, invoked the Fifth Amendment in a court filing tied to ongoing divorce and custody proceedings. She stated that testifying now “could be prejudicial to her or her child,” citing the FBI probe into her son.
Anna’s family and friends are now left grappling with an impossible mix of grief and suspicion. A private memorial was held in her hometown of Titusville, Florida — loved ones were asked to wear bright colors as a nod to her “bright and beautiful soul.” As the investigation continues, many are watching closely for justice — and answers — in this heartbreaking and deeply complex family tragedy.
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