A 16-year-old boy under investigation for his stepsister’s death aboard a Carnival cruise ship last month reportedly claims he has no memory of the incident. Text messages between his divorced parents, revealed in a Florida custody case, indicate the teen repeatedly stated he couldn’t recall what happened.
Anna Kepner, 18, died from “mechanical asphyxia,” according to her death certificate, which classified her death as a homicide caused by physical force. Mechanical asphyxia refers to the prevention of breathing due to an object or pressure applied to the victim.
Kepner, a high school cheerleader from Florida’s Space Coast, was traveling on the Carnival Horizon ship with family members, including her father, grandparents, and her stepmother’s two children. The ship had departed from Miami and was the scene of the mysterious death that has caught international attention.
Federal authorities including the FBI and the South Florida medical examiner’s office have kept details of the investigation confidential for weeks. Court filings from Brevard County reveal the 16-year-old stepbrother is a suspect in the case, though no charges have been publicly announced.
The suspect’s parents, Shauntel and Thomas Hudson, are embroiled in a custody dispute for their youngest child. Shauntel Hudson, also Kepner’s stepmother, currently has custody of the family’s youngest child, while the boy under suspicion now lives with a relative connected to Shauntel.
Text exchanges between the ex-spouses discussed online speculation about Kepner’s death and efforts to shield their son from media attention. Thomas Hudson stressed the importance of reassuring his son that he is still loved despite the grave circumstances.
Legal representatives for both parents did not respond to requests for comment. The case remains under active investigation as authorities work to determine all facts surrounding the tragic death on the cruise ship.
Key facts about the case:
1. Victim: Anna Kepner, 18, died by mechanical asphyxia.
2. Suspect: 16-year-old stepsibling with reported memory loss.
3. Location: Carnival Horizon cruise ship departing from Miami.
4. Investigation: FBI and medical examiners involved with limited public disclosure.
5. Family dispute: Custody battle ongoing between the suspect’s parents.
The ongoing inquiry highlights the complexity of family dynamics and the challenge investigators face in resolving the case amid heightened public interest and social media speculation.
Read more at: abcnews.go.com
