Family Alleges Stepson's Involvement After Florida Cheerleader Found Dead on Carnival Cruise

Relatives of 18-year-old Anna Kepner say they suspect her 16-year-old stepbrother after she was found dead in her cabin aboard the Carnival Horizon on Nov. 7. The Miami-Dade medical examiner has not publicly released a cause of death, and family members say the FBI mentioned possible asphyxiation. Court filings in a custody dispute name the teen as a "suspect," but he has not been charged. Investigators have obtained ship surveillance footage and key-card records as part of an ongoing inquiry.

10:28 PM, 11/24/2025Society

Family Alleges Stepson's Involvement After Florida Cheerleader Found Dead on Carnival Cruise

Relatives of 18-year-old Florida cheerleader Anna Kepner say they suspect her 16-year-old stepbrother after she was found dead in her cabin aboard the Carnival Horizon on Nov. 7. Carnival crew members discovered her body at about 11:15 a.m., and the Miami-Dade County Medical Examiner's Office has not released an official cause or manner of death. Family members say the FBI indicated investigators were considering asphyxiation as a possibility, though no official determination has been made publicly.

Allegations and family concerns

Court documents filed during a contentious custody dispute identify the 16-year-old as a "suspect," according to family members. Relatives say Anna's former boyfriend described a previous FaceTime incident in which Anna fell asleep and the stepbrother allegedly entered the room and climbed onto her; the boyfriend says he confronted the teen and that Anna appeared uncomfortable around him.

"He was in a room with her," Anna's grandmother said in an interview. "He was the only one seen coming and going."

The family reports that Anna was found inside her cabin, and some relatives have said her body was discovered hidden under the bed. Investigators have recovered ship surveillance footage and key-card records as part of the probe.

Legal and investigative status

The 16-year-old has not been charged with any crime. Anna's stepmother, who is the teen's mother, has asked a judge in the ongoing custody case to impose a gag order, saying media coverage could prejudice the teen's right to a fair trial if charges are later filed. Court filings also indicate that Florida's Department of Children and Families has conducted related investigations in multiple counties.

Family members emphasize they want the legal process to run its course. "Whatever the law says," Anna's grandmother said when asked what justice would look like for the family.

Family statements and aftermath

Anna's biological mother, who moved to Oklahoma when Anna was 4, posted on social media saying leaving Florida was the worst decision she ever made and that she regretted being distant from her daughter. Relatives said some immediate family members first learned of Anna's death through news reports and that the biological mother was discouraged from attending a recent memorial.

This remains an active and sensitive investigation. Authorities have not announced arrests or formal charges, and official determinations about cause and manner of death are pending release by the medical examiner.