The death of 18-year-old Anna Kepner has cast a shadow over what was intended to be a joyous family cruise aboard the Carnival Horizon. On November 8, dire circumstances led to Anna—a high school senior—to be found dead. Now her family and the Philadelphia community are left to mourn in shock over this tragic loss of life.
Instead, they found Anna’s decomposing body, concealed and wrapped in a blanket. It was stowed underneath life vests and tucked under a bed on the cruise ship. The Carnival Horizon is an enormous ship, coming in at 133,596 gross tons. Engineered to hold 3,960 passengers, it was the perfect setting to build these new traditions together for Anna’s new blended family. Sadly, it will instead be remembered for the tragic result that followed.
On the night Anna died, Anna was traveling with her father and her stepmother, Shauntel Hudson. Her stepbrother has since come to light as a prime suspect in the chilling case. The 16-year-old stepbrother was interrogated by authorities right after the attack and was placed under short-term psychiatric observation. His emotional condition is an ongoing concern to family, in particular, Shauntel Hudson. She has asked the court to postpone the divorce custody hearing because she fears one of her four minor children might soon be charged with a crime.
The Miami-Dade medical examiner is continuing to examine Anna’s death. In spite of all this, they have still not officially released the cause or manner of her death. Our family deserves answers about what happened to Anna. They can’t breathe for their grief right now, but they are grieving every moment.
“Knowing how Anna died helped us a little bit with our grief,” said her grandparents, Barbara and Jeffrey Kepner. They painted a beautiful picture of their family togetherness. They think it should make no difference if you are a biological third cousin or a step-brother.
“It’s all family – it’s a blended family, yes, but that’s not how our family is,” Jeffrey Kepner stated. He brought attention to the powerful connection felt between everyone in the family, explaining, “Our dynamic is we’re all just family.”
Barbara Kepner later described the emotional pain her grandson went through after Anna died. “He was an emotional mess. He was not even able to talk – he was in shock that this happened,” she described. As she told lawmakers, her grandson “can’t even remember what transpired.” She continued, “I think, to him, that is his truth.”
In remembering how close Anna was to her stepbrother, Barbara shared that they were inseparable. “I know that those two kids cared about each other in the right way,” she remarked.
The tragedy has profoundly impacted the family as they navigate their grief. Their experiences, especially amidst a time of crisis, highlight the complications that are frequently found within blended families.
The investigation continues, and the Kepner family is anxious to hear what answers come next. They pray that these answers will provide some peace to their tragic circumstance. Together, they are still heartbroken but working to make sure Anna’s legacy is a positive one.