Stepbrother Accused in Cruise Ship Death Claims Memory Loss

A 16-year-old boy is currently under investigation regarding the death of his stepsister aboard a Carnival cruise ship last month. According to text message exchanges between his parents, filed in a custody court case in Florida, the teenager has no recollection of the events surrounding her death.

The boy’s mother informed her ex-husband that he repeatedly stated he didn’t remember anything when questioned, as revealed in court documents obtained by local media in central Florida.

The tragic death of Anna Kepner has been ruled a homicide, drawing international attention and igniting intense speculation across social media platforms.

According to a copy of her death certificate obtained by ABC News, Kepner’s cause of death was classified as “mechanical asphyxia,” indicating that she was “mechanically asphyxiated by other person(s).” This condition occurs when an object or physical force obstructs a person’s ability to breathe.

Anna Kepner, an 18-year-old high school cheerleader from Florida’s Space Coast, was set to graduate next year. She was traveling on the Carnival Horizon ship with her father, grandparents, stepmother, and her stepmother’s two children, including the 16-year-old boy who is now a suspect in her death.

The circumstances surrounding Kepner’s death aboard the ship, which departed from Miami, remain unclear. The FBI and the medical examiner’s office in South Florida have refrained from disclosing any information about the case for several weeks.

Documents filed by the boy’s divorced parents in Brevard County, along Florida’s Space Coast, have identified the 16-year-old stepbrother as a suspect in Kepner’s death. This revelation marks the first clear indication that federal investigators are focusing on a member of the victim’s own blended family.

Shauntel Hudson, the boy’s mother and Kepner’s stepmother, has not responded to inquiries from the media, nor has Thomas Hudson, the boy’s father. Their youngest child currently resides with Shauntel Hudson, who has been accused by Thomas Hudson of violating time-sharing agreements. Following the cruise, the 16-year-old boy was placed with a relative of Shauntel Hudson.

In recent court documents, the ex-spouses discussed the viral nature of news regarding Kepner’s death on social media and expressed concerns about protecting their son from public scrutiny. Thomas Hudson emphasized his desire for his son to understand that he is loved, despite the tragic circumstances.

Photo: A disabled Carnival ship being towed in 2013.

Copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

A 16-year-old boy is currently under investigation regarding the death of his stepsister aboard a Carnival cruise ship last month. According to text message exchanges between his parents, filed in a custody court case in Florida, the teenager has no recollection of the events surrounding her death.

The boy’s mother informed her ex-husband that he repeatedly stated he didn’t remember anything when questioned, as revealed in court documents obtained by local media in central Florida.

The tragic death of Anna Kepner has been ruled a homicide, drawing international attention and igniting intense speculation across social media platforms.

According to a copy of her death certificate obtained by ABC News, Kepner’s cause of death was classified as “mechanical asphyxia,” indicating that she was “mechanically asphyxiated by other person(s).” This condition occurs when an object or physical force obstructs a person’s ability to breathe.

Anna Kepner, an 18-year-old high school cheerleader from Florida’s Space Coast, was set to graduate next year. She was traveling on the Carnival Horizon ship with her father, grandparents, stepmother, and her stepmother’s two children, including the 16-year-old boy who is now a suspect in her death.

The circumstances surrounding Kepner’s death aboard the ship, which departed from Miami, remain unclear. The FBI and the medical examiner’s office in South Florida have refrained from disclosing any information about the case for several weeks.

Documents filed by the boy’s divorced parents in Brevard County, along Florida’s Space Coast, have identified the 16-year-old stepbrother as a suspect in Kepner’s death. This revelation marks the first clear indication that federal investigators are focusing on a member of the victim’s own blended family.

Shauntel Hudson, the boy’s mother and Kepner’s stepmother, has not responded to inquiries from the media, nor has Thomas Hudson, the boy’s father. Their youngest child currently resides with Shauntel Hudson, who has been accused by Thomas Hudson of violating time-sharing agreements. Following the cruise, the 16-year-old boy was placed with a relative of Shauntel Hudson.

In recent court documents, the ex-spouses discussed the viral nature of news regarding Kepner’s death on social media and expressed concerns about protecting their son from public scrutiny. Thomas Hudson emphasized his desire for his son to understand that he is loved, despite the tragic circumstances.

Photo: A disabled Carnival ship being towed in 2013.

Copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.