FBI Looks Into Unfortunate Passing of Florida Cheerleader Anna Kepner During Carnival Cruise

 Federal authorities have disclosed additional information regarding the enigmatic passing of 18-year-old Anna Kepner, a cheerleader from Florida, whose remains were located on the Carnival Horizon earlier this month. Initial assessments suggest that Anna’s death was due to asphyxiation linked to a chokehold known as a “bar hold,” a type of strangulation that involves pressure applied to the neck by someone else's arm. Individuals connected to the investigation have indicated that two separate bruises were observed on Anna’s neck, which correspond with this type of injury. While toxicology tests have returned no indications of drugs, alcohol, or any signs of sexual assault, authorities are still awaiting the conclusive autopsy report from the Miami-Dade County Medical Examiner.

Anna was discovered on November 8 by a cabin steward, enveloped in a blanket and partially concealed under a bed, with life jackets draped over part of her form. She had been enjoying a six-day Caribbean cruise alongside her father, Christopher Kepner, her stepmother, Shauntel Hudson, and other relatives. The young girl had gone back to her cabin on November 6 after dinner, informing her family that she was feeling ill. Camera recordings later confirmed that Anna did not leave the cabin again, which led law enforcement to concentrate their investigation on the occurrences inside the room.

As the inquiry progresses, claims have emerged regarding Anna’s 16-year-old stepbrother, Timothy Hudson. An ex-boyfriend of Anna, Joshua Tew, asserted that Hudson displayed “obsessive and inappropriate” conduct towards Anna. He even claimed to have seen Hudson enter her room during a FaceTime call and allegedly position himself on top of Anna while she slept. Tew added that Anna frequently felt uneasy around Hudson and suspected he often possessed a knife. Nonetheless, these allegations have not been corroborated by law enforcement agencies.

Conflict within the family has also been highlighted in legal documents, with Anna’s stepmother alluding to a possible criminal case involving one of the underage children. During Anna’s funeral held in Orlando, relatives spoke about significant familial discord, with some individuals reportedly being asked not to attend the service. Anna’s biological mother, Heather Wright, emotionally recounted that she learned about her daughter’s passing online after being unable to get in touch with any family members.

Authorities have provided a timeline leading up to the discovery of Anna’s body, revealing that after returning alone to her cabin on November 6, Anna was later joined by her two brothers, one of whom briefly stepped out to take photographs. He came back believing Anna had gone somewhere else. By the following morning, she was reported as missing, and her remains were found during a welfare check. No individuals have been arrested, and the FBI is heading the inquiry since the situation transpired in international waters on a vessel flagged by the United States.

As the investigation proceeds, Anna’s friends, fellow students, and community members—who knew her through cheerleading, school, and church—are left grieving her heartbreaking loss while searching for clarity about the final moments of her existence.