Home / Crime and Justice / Cruise Death Case: Gag Order Denied by Judge
Cruise Death Case: Gag Order Denied by Judge
27 Nov, 2025
Summary
- Judge denied motion for gag order in cruise death case.
- New details about Anna Kepner's homicide emerged.
- Stepbrother identified as suspect by FBI.
A Brevard County judge has rejected a request for a gag order in a family court case, allowing previously undisclosed information about a cruise ship death to surface. The victim, Anna Kepner of Titusville, died while on a family trip originating from Miami.
Investigations have classified Kepner's death as a homicide. Documents from an unrelated family court proceeding revealed that the Federal Bureau of Investigation has identified the victim's stepbrother as a suspect in the case. This information was reportedly shared with Kepner's family members.
The motion for a gag order was filed by Kepner's stepmother, who sought to prevent other family members from discussing the case and to restrict media access. The judge deemed the request 'facially insufficient,' thus denying the imposed restrictions and allowing the details to be made public.
