MIAMI (FN) — A minor may face criminal charges in connection with the death of 18‑year‑old Anna Kepner aboard the Carnival Horizon cruise ship, according to a new filing in a Florida family court.
Kepner, a varsity cheerleader from Titusville, Florida, was found dead on Nov. 8 while the ship was sailing from Miami to the Caribbean. The vessel, which can carry more than 4,000 passengers, returned to Miami the same day, and the FBI immediately opened an investigation.
Court documents filed Monday revealed that one of Kepner’s step‑siblings could face charges. The filing stated the FBI is conducting an investigation “arising out of the sudden death of 18‑year‑old Anna Kepner.” The Miami‑Dade County Medical Examiner has not yet specified a cause or manner of death.
Shauntel Hudson, Kepner’s stepmother, who was also on the cruise with her children and Kepner’s father, requested a delay in her custody hearing because one of her minor children may face criminal charges. “The Respondent has been advised through discussions with FBI investigators and her attorneys, that a criminal case may be initiated against one of the minor children of this instant action,” the filing stated.
Hudson’s attorneys argued that any testimony she might give “could be prejudicial to her or her adolescent child in this pending criminal investigation.” The filing underscores the sensitive intersection of family court proceedings and a federal criminal probe.
The FBI declined to comment on the case, citing the ongoing investigation. The agency has jurisdiction over crimes committed aboard U.S.‑based cruise ships when they are in international waters, a legal framework that often draws international attention.
Carnival Cruise Line said in a statement, “Our focus is on supporting the family of our guest and cooperating with the FBI.” The company did not provide further details about the circumstances of Kepner’s death.
Kepner was a high school senior who dreamed of joining the Navy and later becoming a K‑9 police officer, according to family friends. Her sudden death during what was meant to be a family vacation has shocked her community. Her school held a vigil, with classmates remembering her as a spirited cheerleader who inspired others.
Crimes at sea are rare, according to cruise industry data, but when they occur they often raise complex jurisdictional questions. With cruise ships carrying millions of passengers from around the world each year, incidents like this draw global scrutiny and fuel debate about safety measures and investigative transparency.
For now, the investigation continues, with authorities awaiting autopsy results and weighing possible charges against a minor relative. The outcome is expected to shape the next phase of the case and determine how one family’s tragedy aboard a Caribbean cruise becomes part of a broader conversation about security and accountability at sea.
