Aunt Says Anna Kepner Was 'Worried' About Stepbrother; Death Aboard Cruise Later Ruled Homicide

Anna Kepner, an 18-year-old from Florida who was found dead aboard the Carnival Horizon on Nov. 7, had reportedly told relatives she felt uneasy around her 16-year-old stepbrother, according to her maternal aunt, Krystal Wright.

Family Accounts Differ

Wright, who spoke to the Daily Mail, said the family dynamic had been strained long before the Caribbean vacation and that Anna "felt increasingly uncomfortable in her own home." Wright said Anna had been reluctant to join the six-day trip because "the boy was going," and that Anna shared a cabin with her stepbrother Timothy, 16, and her 14-year-old brother Connor during the cruise.

"She just… she wasn’t comfortable with the boy. She was worried about him," Wright said, describing Anna as "sweet-natured" and someone who tried to avoid conflict.

Other family members painted a different picture. Anna's grandparents previously told ABC News the cousins were "two peas in a pod," and Anna's stepmother, Shauntel Hudson, described Anna, Timothy and Connor as "the three amigos." Wright disputed that portrayal, saying friction had been ongoing and that Timothy "felt she was the one who had ruined his life," though she did not provide specifics about the alleged animosity.

Investigation and Official Findings

Housekeeping staff discovered Anna's body on Nov. 7. More than two weeks later, on Nov. 24, authorities officially ruled her death a homicide. A death certificate provided to ABC News by the family listed the cause as "mechanically asphyxiated by other person(s)." Relatives say the FBI indicated Anna may have died from a bar hold (an arm across the neck) and that she had two bruises on the side of her neck. The Miami-Dade Medical Examiner has been cited by multiple outlets as listing Anna's time of death as 11:17 a.m. on Nov. 7; full autopsy and toxicology reports have not been released publicly.

Carnival Cruise Line confirmed the FBI was investigating and said it was cooperating and supporting the family. Because the matter remains under law enforcement jurisdiction, the FBI's Miami public affairs office is handling official updates.

Court Hearing And Status Of The Stepbrother

On Dec. 5, during a custody proceeding, Anna's stepmother and father said they had sent Timothy to live with relatives "to remove any risk of any danger to any of the other children in the home." During that hearing, a Florida judge referred to Timothy as "a suspect" in Anna's killing. Investigators have not charged him and have not publicly designated him formally as a suspect.

Anna's father, Christopher Kepner, told People that Timothy "was the only one that was in the room," adding, "I can't say he is responsible — but I can't decline. I want him to face the consequences." Authorities have not filed criminal charges as of the publication of these reports.

What Is Known And What Is Not

Established facts reported by multiple outlets: Anna’s body was found Nov. 7 aboard the Carnival Horizon; her death was later ruled a homicide with mechanical asphyxiation listed as the cause; the FBI is investigating; the medical examiner recorded a time of death of 11:17 a.m. The identity of any person charged or the complete forensic findings have not been made public.

Note: This article summarizes publicly reported information from family interviews and media outlets. Law enforcement remains in charge of the investigation; updates should come from official sources as the case develops.