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FBI Silent as Teen's Cruise Death Case Unfolds in Family Court
5 Dec
Summary
- FBI investigation into teen's cruise death faces unusual family dynamics.
- Victim's father and stepmother involved in related custody hearing.
- 16-year-old stepbrother identified as suspect in court filings.
A month into the federal investigation of 18-year-old Anna Kepner's death on a cruise ship, the FBI remains tight-lipped. Legal experts posit this silence is due to the sensitive nature of the case, involving relatives of both the victim and the suspect living under the same roof. This unusual family dynamic requires extreme caution from investigators, according to defense attorney Donna Rotunno.
The situation is further complicated by an ongoing custody hearing involving Anna's father, Christopher Kepner, and her stepmother, Shauntel Hudson. Court documents, accessible due to open court proceedings, have surfaced as critical evidence. These filings explicitly identify Anna's 16-year-old stepbrother, who shared a cabin with her on the Carnival Horizon, as a suspect in her death.
Investigators are reportedly still working to determine the exact cause of death, ruled as mechanical asphyxia, which could be accidental or intentional. Meanwhile, Anna's father, Christopher Kepner, was unreachable after being subpoenaed for the custody hearing, adding another layer of intrigue to the case. The 16-year-old suspect is unlikely to testify, as legal counsel would advise invoking his Fifth Amendment rights.
