Stepmother and family under scrutiny in Anna Kepner’s cruise ship death

The stepmother of a Florida cheerleader who died mysteriously aboard a cruise ship has filed an emergency motion for a postponement of trial in a case with her ex-husband, claiming she cannot testify in the criminal investigation of her stepdaughter’s death because it could implicate her or one of her minor children.

In an emergency motion filed in Brevard County, Shauntel Kepner, formerly Shauntel Hudson, asks the judge to postpone a December hearing due to the FBI investigation into the death of Anna Kepner, who was found dead aboard the Carnival cruise ship Nov. 7.

“Through discussions with FBI investigators and attorneys, the Defendant has been advised that a criminal case may be filed against one of the minor children of this immediate case,” Shauntel’s attorney, Millicent Athanason, wrote to a Brevard County judge.

THE REPORT REVEALS THAT IT WAS FOUND HIDDEN UNDER THE BED

Authorities obtained surveillance video from the cruise ship that showed Kepner with a “suspect” and the FBI was reviewing hours of additional footage from the cruise before his death, a law enforcement source told Fox News Digital on Wednesday.

In an emergency plea filed Monday, Shauntel’s ex-husband, Thomas Hudson, revealed that the couple’s oldest child, 18, had moved in with her after an alleged “violent argument” between him, Shauntel, and the late cheerleader’s father, Christopher Kepner.

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Moreover, Hudson’s file alleges that their second son, 16, “is now a suspect in the death of his stepchild during the trip.”

” [16-year-old]His future is in danger because of the choices he made [Shauntel]According to Hudson’s file.

It is unclear where the teenager is now. He was released from custody and is staying with an unnamed third party, according to the application.

FORMER AGENT SAYS FBI IS INVESTIGATING MARITIME MYSTERY’S CARNIVAL CRUISE SHIP DEATH, WHICH COULD BE ‘VERY COMPLEX’

Anna Kepner was identified by her family as the deceased passenger on the Carnival Horizon. (Instagram/Anna Kepner)

Hudson accuses his ex-wife of alienating him from his two youngest children and argues that her lack of involvement in their lives has a negative impact on them.

In a separate response, Shauntel’s attorney denied that their oldest child was involved in a violent fight and refused to allow time-sharing with Hudson under the terms of the custody plan.

Neither Shauntel nor Athanason responded to requests for comment. In the motion, the lawyer stated that his client had the right not to blame himself, and argued that testifying in the divorce case “could harm him or his teenage child” in the criminal investigation.

“An extremely sensitive and serious situation has arisen in which the Defendant/Mother is unable to testify at this time at trial,” Athanason wrote.

In a video she published a few days before she died under unknown circumstances, Anna Kepner wrote that she would endure after a difficult breakup. (@fl.anna18/TikTok)

“There is currently an investigation being carried out by the police. [FBI] resulting from sudden death [18-year-old] Anna Kepner,” the application continues. “Ms. The deceased Anna Kepner is the daughter of the Defendant’s girlfriend, and the Defendant and the minor children of this instant case were together on the cruise ship.”

The filing is part of a dispute arising from Shauntel’s divorce from ex-husband Thomas Hudson.

Authorities have said little about the incident.

The FBI’s Miami office is investigating the matter. The coroner’s office in Miami-Dade County is conducting the autopsy, but as of Wednesday morning, no cause or manner of death had been determined.

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The Daily Mail reported Tuesday, citing two unnamed sources, that Kepner’s remains were found wrapped in a blanket and covered with life jackets under the bed in his cabin aboard the Carnival Horizon cruise ship.

Carnival said in a statement that it was cooperating with the FBI. The FBI did not respond to a request for comment.