Key developments: Court documents show Shauntel Kepner waited about 32 hours to notify her ex-husband that 18-year-old stepdaughter Anna Kepner had been found dead aboard the Carnival Horizon. Filings describe Anna as "found asphyxiated under the bed," and identify the family's oldest minor child as a suspect. A 16-year-old is reportedly under FBI investigation and is staying with a relative while authorities review evidence; no charges had been filed as of the Dec. 5 hearing.
Mother Waited About 32 Hours To Tell Ex That Stepdaughter Died Aboard Cruise, Court Filings Say
Court TVShauntal Kepner and Thomas Hudson
Court filings in an ongoing custody dispute reveal that Shauntel Kepner waited roughly 32 hours to inform her ex-husband, Thomas Hudson, that her 18-year-old stepdaughter, Anna Kepner, had been found dead aboard the Carnival Horizon. The documents — obtained by PEOPLE and filed in family court — include a message Shauntel sent to Hudson on Nov. 8 asking him to call immediately, more than a day after a crew member reportedly discovered Anna's body in the cabin she shared with two younger brothers.
What The Filings Say
The filings state that Anna was "found asphyxiated under the bed," and identify the family's oldest minor child as a suspect in the death. Subsequent court documents and media reports indicate a 16-year-old son is the focus of the investigation and has been relocated to stay with a relative at an undisclosed location while authorities continue their probe.
Anna Kepner/InstagramAnna Kepner on a cruise in May 2025
Exchanges And Custody Proceedings
"I need you to call me asap it's an emergency," Shauntel wrote to Hudson on Nov. 8, entries show. In a separate exchange Hudson said he "kept my mouth shut when you told me that you can't jeopardize your marriage for helping [redacted] your son."
At a Dec. 5 custody hearing, Shauntel's attorney, Millicent Athanason, said Shauntel and her husband, Christopher Kepner (Anna's father), sent the teen to live with a relative "in order to remove any risk of any danger to any of the other children in the home." Shauntel testified that Anna, the 16-year-old, and a 14-year-old half-brother had shared a cabin on the cruise that ran from Nov. 2 to Nov. 9.
Investigations And Next Steps
As of the Dec. 5 hearing, neither state nor federal prosecutors had filed criminal charges. Athanason told the court the FBI was deciding whether to transfer evidence to state or local authorities; an FBI spokesperson declined to comment to PEOPLE. In court filings leading up to a Dec. 17 hearing that was continued, Hudson wrote that their son "is currently under investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation for a federal crime."
WSVNAnna's body being removed from the Carnival Horizon on Nov. 7
Documents obtained by PEOPLE indicate the teen is staying with a third party who holds power of attorney, and that he can only be relocated with consent from both parents; the teen's exact location is known only to Shauntel, Hudson and law enforcement, the filings say. Attorneys for Shauntel and Hudson did not respond to requests for comment.
Reporting And Context
The matter is being reported by PEOPLE, Court TV and local outlets including WSVN. Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding Anna Kepner's death; the filings and public statements reflect allegations and ongoing inquiries, and no determination of criminal guilt has been made in court.
