FBI investigators are reportedly considering criminal charges against a minor stepsibling in connection with the shocking death of 18-year-old Florida cheerleader Anna Kepner, whose body was discovered under a bed aboard a Carnival cruise ship.
Story Snapshot
- Court filing reveals FBI may file criminal charges against Kepner’s minor stepsibling.
- Teen’s body found under bed in cruise cabin after family vacation turned deadly.
- FBI analyzing surveillance footage and keycard data to determine who entered victim’s room.
- Stepmother’s divorce hearing postponed due to potential criminal case against her child.
Cruise Ship Death Investigation Takes Disturbing Turn
Anna Kepner was found dead aboard the Carnival Horizon on November 8, 2025, as the ship returned to Miami from a Caribbean family vacation. The 18-year-old high school cheerleader had been traveling with her father, stepmother Shauntel Hudson, and three stepsiblings when tragedy struck.
A housekeeper discovered Kepner’s body concealed under the bed in her stateroom, immediately raising suspicions about the circumstances surrounding her death.
Stepsibling of Florida cheerleader found dead on Carnival cruise being eyed by feds: court docs https://t.co/2sRTzAGKBN pic.twitter.com/DYTtcmNCyK
— New York Post (@nypost) November 19, 2025
Court Filing Exposes FBI’s Criminal Focus
The investigation took a dramatic turn when Hudson’s attorneys filed an emergency motion in her ongoing divorce case, seeking to postpone a scheduled hearing. The court document reveals that FBI investigators informed Hudson that “a criminal case may be initiated” against one of her minor children.
The filing describes “an extremely sensitive and severe circumstance” that prevents Hudson from testifying, suggesting the gravity of the potential charges being considered against her child.
Family Vacation Becomes Criminal Investigation
Kepner had reportedly felt unwell the night before her death and retired to her room early. When she failed to appear for breakfast the following morning, family members launched a frantic search throughout the ship.
The FBI now has jurisdiction over the case because Kepner was a U.S. citizen and her death occurred in international waters, with the Miami FBI office leading the investigation in coordination with Carnival security personnel.
Evidence Collection Points to Foul Play
Federal investigators are methodically examining multiple forms of evidence to piece together what happened in Kepner’s final hours. Law enforcement sources confirm they are reviewing surveillance video from throughout the ship and analyzing electronic swipe card data that could reveal who accessed the teen’s cabin.
Additionally, investigators are examining Kepner’s cellphone records and conducting extensive interviews with passengers, crew members, and family members who were aboard the vessel during the fatal voyage.
Carnival Cruise Line has issued a statement confirming full cooperation with the federal investigation.
The company emphasized that the FBI has assured them there is no ongoing safety threat to passengers aboard the ship’s current voyage, though the revelation of potential criminal charges against a family member has cast this tragic incident in an entirely new light.
