The death of a Florida teenager on a Carnival cruise ship has been ruled a homicide, the latest development in a case that has drawn international attention and sparked intense speculation on social media.
Anna Kepner’s cause of death was “mechanical asphyxia,” according to a copy of her death certificate obtained by ABC News, which said the 18-year-old “was mechanically asphyxiated by other person(s).”
Mechanical asphyxia is when an object or physical force stops someone from breathing, according to Stephen Nelson, a chief medical examiner in Central Florida who is not involved in the case.
“In some way, shape or form, your airway has been cut off,” said Nelson, a former chair of Florida’s Medical Examiners Commission.
A family vacation that ended in tragedy
A high school cheerleader from Florida’s Space Coast who was set to graduate next year, Kepner had been traveling on the Carnival Horizon ship with her father, stepmother, her stepmother’s two children and her grandparents.
The night before she was found dead, Kepner had spent time with her grandparents in the ship’s casino, her grandmother Barbara Kepner told ABC News.
“She said, ‘Meemaw, I love you guys. I’ll see you later’,” Barbara recalled. “We never saw her again after that.”
The next morning, a medical alert blared out over the ship’s broadcast system, directing first responders to the room Kepner was sharing with two other teens, including a younger stepbrother.
A room attendant found Kepner’s body “concealed under the bed,” according to her grandmother.
“I just screamed. I couldn’t stop screaming,” Barbara Kepner said.
Teenager’s stepbrother identified as a suspect
Kepner’s death aboard the ship that sailed from Miami has remained shrouded in mystery with the FBI and medical examiner’s office in South Florida refusing to disclose any information about the case for weeks.
The teen’s 16-year-old stepbrother has been identified as a suspect in her death, according to court documents filed by his parents. This disclosure offers the clearest public indication that federal investigators are scrutinizing a member of the victim’s own blended family.
As of Tuesday, a final autopsy report had not been released, and the Miami-Dade County Medical Examiner’s Office has not responded to recent messages left by the AP.
A ‘highly suspicious’ death
Nelson said he considers Kepner’s death “highly, highly suspicious” and said the reports that her body was concealed support the homicide finding.
Kepner’s family has been told that preliminary information indicates there were no signs of sexual assault and that there did not appear to be drugs or alcohol in Anna’s system.
Nelson, who has not been briefed on the case, noted that asphyxia can arise in various contexts, including drowning, strangulation, and hanging.
The challenges of a floating crime scene
Determining who has authority in a criminal investigation aboard a cruise ship can be complicated, as these vessels are registered in one country, yet traverse many others.
FBI Special Agent Matt Parker highlighted the unique challenges, emphasizing the urgency of securing a scene before the ship departs for its next destination.
Preserving evidence integrity proves complicated, with access issues frequently arising until the ship arrives in port.
Crimes on cruise ships
Under the Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act, cruise ships operating out of U.S. ports must report serious crimes to the FBI. In 2023, the FBI received 180 reports of alleged criminal activity on cruises, with no suspicious deaths reported.
“They’re almost like small cities,” stated attorney David Edelstein, underlining that any crime conceivable in a city could potentially occur onboard a cruise ship.
As the investigation into Anna Kepner's tragic death unfolds, the complexities of maritime law and jurisdiction remain at the forefront of this harrowing case.
