Anna Kepner federal homicide investigation silent after one month
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
As the federal investigation into the death of 18-year-old Anna Kepner approaches a month with no updates, a defense attorney says there may be a reason for the silence: Investigators are looking into a rare situation in which relatives of the victim and relatives of the potential perpetrator lived under the same roof.
Criminal defense attorney and Fox News Contributor Donna Rotunno said the lack of information could be a sign of extreme caution.
“It’s weird that we haven’t heard anything,” Rotunno told Fox News Digital. “But I think there’s a reason for that. When you’re dealing with essentially a single family, authorities have to be careful about what they put in there. You don’t want to give away clues about what’s going on when your victim’s family and your perpetrator’s family are in the same house.”
At 9 a.m. Friday, Kepner’s father and stepmother, Christopher Kepner and Shauntel Hudson, are expected to be at the Moore Justice Center in Brevard County, Florida, for a custody hearing, along with Hudson’s ex-husband Timothy Hudson.
Anna Kepner was identified by her family as the deceased passenger on the Carnival Horizon. (Instagram/Anna Kepner)
Father of DIED CARNIVAL RIDE teen evades subpoena in related custody case
Rotunno said the dynamic is highly unusual and could lead to the tight-lipped stance of federal officials. He added that investigators may also be wrestling with the details of the cause of death, which was ruled as mechanical asphyxia.
“They may not know if they can prove what happened yet,” Rotunno said. “It could be argued that mechanical asphyxia was accidental or something that went too far. Researchers may still be trying to figure out what the evidence supports.”
Anna Kepner, her father, stepmother and several siblings in a family photo. (Shauntel Kepner/Facebook)
A family court custody hearing Friday morning may provide an update on the case. Rotunno said it may seem unusual for the public to learn important details through family court, but legally access is easy.
“Family courts, like criminal courts, are open to the public,” he said. “So, as unusual as it may seem, the courts are easily accessible. And the only place we see developments at the moment are these files.”
18-year-old Anna Kepner was found dead on the Carnival cruise ship on November 7 while vacationing with her family. (Anna Kepner/Instagram)
CRUISE SHIP DEATH MYSTERY: Cheerleader’s LATEST POSTS HINT THE BREAK OF THE HEART AND RESISTANCE AS FATHER BREAKS THE SILENCE
Court records regarding the ongoing custody battle between Shauntel Hudson and Thomas Hudson have emerged as important documents of the case. The applications state that Anna was a “suspect” in the death of her 16-year-old stepbrother, who shared a cabin with her on Carnival Horizon. Federal authorities did not name or charge the teen.
“The sixteen-year-old boy is now a suspect in the stepchild’s death during the trip,” the file states.
Thomas Hudson also claims his ex-wife’s choices put the 16-year-old’s future in “jeopardy.”
Christopher Kepner (center, wearing red hat) arrives at a memorial service for his daughter Anna Kepner on Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025, at Grove Church in Titusville, Florida. The 18-year-old cheerleader was reportedly found dead under a bed at the Carnival Cruise on November 7th. (Mark Sims for Fox News Digital)
Anna’s father Christopher was subpoenaed ahead of today’s hearing. But Christopher was unreachable after being ordered to testify, according to an affidavit filed by the process server ahead of a hearing in the contentious custody battle scheduled for Friday.
Process host Leslie V. Kinsey wrote that Kepner’s SUV was running in the driveway and the Titusville home’s lights were on, but no one responded to repeated knocks or the doorbell.
CLICK TO DOWNLOAD FOX NEWS APPLICATION
When asked if Anna’s 16-year-old half-brother would be called to the stand, Rotunno said it was extremely unlikely.
“Any lawyer would advise him to keep quiet,” he said. “If you’re the subject of a criminal investigation, you shouldn’t testify anywhere. I think a judge would say ‘there’s no way’ you’re going to put him on the stand.”
He said a judge would be obligated to warn the teen about his Fifth Amendment rights and could even appoint a public defender to advise him.
