Anna Kepner's family in 'turmoil' awaiting charges in her Carnival cruise death

Jami Ganz, New York Daily News on Nov 29, 2025

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The family of Anna Kepner is baffled that no one has yet to be charged in the high school senior’s murder aboard a Carnival cruise ship, even though her stepbrother is reportedly under investigation.

Kepner’s aunt, Krystal Wright, told Fox 35 Orlando this week that the family is in “turmoil” as they’re “just sitting here waiting” for what’s next in the devastating case, which was officially ruled a homicide this week.

Wright said the family only learned from recent filings for an unrelated custody battle that the stepbrother is considered a suspect. In an emergency motion filed by the boy’s father, the 16-year-old was referred to as “a suspect in the death of the stepchild during the cruise.”

Still, no arrests have been made and no charges have been filed.

“We don’t understand why, if the boy is a suspect, why has he not been charged yet? What’s happening there?” Wright said.

The case has entered its third week since the body of Kepner, 18, was found on Nov. 7 or 8 “concealed under the bed” in the stateroom she shared with her younger brother and stepbrother, her paternal grandparents told ABC News.

While official autopsy and toxicology results are pending, a death certificate issued earlier this week stated Kepner was killed by asphyxiation after possibly being choked by a bar hold.

Wright said she believes her niece would have tried to fight back: “I know Anna fought. I know she fought for her life, so it’s rough.”

Kepner’s grandmother, Barbara Kepner, who was on the cruise with several other members of the family, told ABC News the cheerleader and stepbrother got along well and were like “two peas in a pod.” However, she claimed the boy had “demons … in his past” and was “trying to deal with those.”

Although Barbara admitted the “summation” of evidence would indicate the stepbrother “did something,” she believed him when he said “he does not remember what happened.”

In the wake of Kepner’s death, the boy “was an emotional mess. He couldn’t even speak. He couldn’t believe what had happened,” she said.

According to Barbara, the stepbrother was hospitalized for psychiatric observation after the boat docked in Miami, and was later released to a family member.