Florida Family Cruise Turns Tragic: Who Killed 18-Year-Old Anna Kepner?

Bright autumn sunlight filled the Port of Miami on Nov. 2 as 18-year-old Anna Kepner and eight relatives from Titusville, Florida, boarded the Carnival Horizon for a six-night Caribbean cruise. The trip reunited a large blended family that had vacationed together since Anna’s father, Christopher Kepner, remarried earlier in 2024.

Discovery and Investigation

Shortly before noon on Nov. 7, while the ship was returning to Miami, a housekeeper entered a stateroom and discovered Anna’s body hidden under a bed, wrapped in a blanket and covered with life preservers. According to the family, a medical examiner later determined the cause of death to be asphyxiation, possibly from what is sometimes described as a "bar hold"—an arm across the neck.

The FBI met the vessel at the Port of Miami on Nov. 8 and launched an investigation. Agents interviewed crew members and family aboard the ship, but as of the latest public updates no arrests have been announced and no person has been officially named by authorities as a suspect.

Tensions, Surveillance, and a Young Person of Interest

Suspicion in news reports and family accounts has focused on 16-year-old Timothy, Anna’s stepbrother, after surveillance footage and key-card log data reportedly placed him entering the teens’ cabin the night before Anna’s body was discovered. Timothy was described in court reports and media coverage as a person of interest; at an emergency custody hearing on Dec. 5 a judge referred to him as a suspect. Neither the judge’s remark nor media reporting constitutes a criminal finding.

Family members described a complicated household dynamic. The three teenagers on the cruise—Anna, Timothy and Connor—shared a balcony stateroom on Deck 8. Several relatives told reporters that Anna sometimes felt uncomfortable around Timothy. After Anna’s body was found, Timothy was taken to a hospital for psychiatric observation and subsequently released into the custody of a family member.

Family, Memorials and Unanswered Questions

Anna’s family and friends remember her as energetic and driven: a high school senior, cheerleader, certified scuba diver and licensed boater who had planned to join the U.S. Navy and pursue a career in law enforcement. A memorial service was held in Titusville on Nov. 20, where relatives spoke about her warmth and ambitions.

Investigators continue to examine what happened in the cabin the night before Anna was found: why she was hidden under the bed, who placed the life preservers over her, and the exact sequence of events in the hours leading up to her death. Anna’s father has said he is cooperating with investigators and wants the FBI to complete its work.

Note: This article reports on an active criminal investigation. Allegations reported in media accounts and court proceedings should not be construed as proof of guilt. The FBI and other authorities are continuing to investigate.