Family of Anna Kepner, the teenager who died on a Carnival cruise, reveals concerns about her stepbrother’s troubled behavior.

The family of Anna Kepner, an 18-year-old high school senior whose tragic death occurred aboard a Carnival cruise, is speaking out as investigations continue into the circumstances surrounding her passing. The young cheerleader’s body was discovered earlier this month concealed under a bed in a stateroom shared with her younger stepbrother and her biological brother.

According to statements from Anna’s paternal grandmother, Barbara Kepner, the circumstances of Anna’s death have been officially classified as homicide. A death certificate provided by the family reveals that she was mechanically asphyxiated by one or more individuals. While the autopsy and toxicology results are still pending, investigators have indicated that there are no apparent signs of sexual assault associated with the incident.

The incident reportedly took place in the Carnival Horizon stateroom, where Anna and her family were vacationing. The blended family, which consists of nine members including Anna’s father, her two siblings, her stepmother, and her stepmother’s two children, occupied three staterooms during the cruise.

Barbara Kepner described the stepbrother as being very much like a brother to Anna, stating that they had a close relationship. Despite expressing this bond, Barbara acknowledged her reservations, admitting she cannot definitively accuse him without knowledge of the details surrounding that fatal incident. She mentioned that the stepbrother was the only individual seen coming and going from the stateroom during the timeframe of Anna’s death, which has raised suspicions.

Witnessing the aftermath, Barbara referred to the stepbrother as an emotional wreck following Anna’s death. She participated in his interview with the FBI and recounted that he struggled to articulate his emotions, reportedly expressing a lack of memory regarding the events leading up to Anna’s tragic end.

While no formal charges have been filed against him as of yet, Barbara stated that she would support legal proceedings should the stepbrother be charged. She emphasizes that any legal outcomes should remain within the judicial system.

In a related development, Anna’s stepmother, Shauntel Hudson, has invoked her Fifth Amendment rights in an unrelated custody battle. Her legal counsel has requested a postponement of a custody hearing, indicating concerns that her testimony could negatively impact both herself and her minor child amidst the ongoing criminal investigation.

As the investigation unfolds, the family continues to await clarity and justice regarding Anna Kepner’s untimely death. Media News Source will provide updates as more information becomes available.