A teenage stepbrother has been charged with homicide in connection with the death of 18-year-old Anna Kepner, who was found deceased in her cabin aboard a Carnival Cruise ship last November, according to court documents filed in a Florida family court proceeding.
The charge was disclosed in an emergency custody petition filed February 20 in divorce court by Thomas Hudson, who is seeking full custody of his nine-year-old daughter from his ex-wife, Shauntel Hudson. The petition states that the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida filed the homicide charge on February 3 against Anna Kepner’s teenage stepbrother, though the petition does not identify the accused by name.
Shauntel Hudson is currently married to Christopher Kepner, Anna’s father. The couple presently maintains primary custody of Thomas Hudson’s daughter, a circumstance he now seeks to change through the emergency petition. The court filing cites social media posts from the Kepner family as a source of information regarding the federal charge.
Anna Kepner was discovered dead in her cabin on November 7 aboard the Carnival Cruise Horizon during what was meant to be a family vacation. Video from the cruise, dated November 2, showed the young woman dancing with other passengers, appearing to enjoy the trip just days before her death.
The case has remained largely under wraps since November, with federal authorities conducting their investigation away from public scrutiny. The emergence of the homicide charge through a family court filing represents the first substantial development in the case to reach public knowledge.
Federal jurisdiction in the matter stems from the location of the alleged crime. Incidents occurring aboard cruise ships in international waters or involving U.S. citizens on foreign-flagged vessels typically fall under federal prosecution authority, particularly when serious crimes are involved.
The custody dispute that brought these charges to light underscores the rippling effects of the tragedy on the extended family. Thomas Hudson’s petition suggests concern about his daughter’s welfare while in the custody of her mother and stepfather, given the serious criminal charge now facing a member of that household.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida has not publicly commented on the case, following standard protocol for ongoing criminal investigations involving minors. Carnival Cruise Line has similarly maintained silence regarding the incident beyond confirming that a death occurred aboard one of its vessels in November.
As this case moves forward through the federal criminal justice system, questions remain about the circumstances surrounding Anna Kepner’s death and what evidence led prosecutors to file homicide charges. The young woman’s death, occurring during what should have been a celebratory family vacation, has now resulted in federal criminal proceedings that will likely unfold over the coming months.
The intertwining of criminal and family court proceedings highlights the complex legal landscape that often follows such tragedies, as families navigate both the pursuit of justice and the practical matters of protecting remaining children in their care.
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