FBI Investigates Mechanical Asphyxiation Death of Teen on Carnival Cruise
MIAMI – The FBI is investigating the death of 16-year-old Anna Kepner, whose body was discovered on the Carnival Horizon cruise ship earlier this month. According to a death certificate obtained by ABC News, Kepner “was mechanically asphyxiated by other person(s).” No suspects have been named, and no charges have been filed in the ongoing investigation.
the family was on a cruise vacation that included Kepner’s father, a biological sibling, a brother, her stepmother, her stepmother’s children, and her grandparents. the discovery has left her family devastated and seeking answers. The Miami Dade Medical Examiners office has declined to provide further details,citing the active nature of the investigation.
Kepner’s body was found under a bed, wrapped in a blanket and covered by life vests, ABC News reported. Her grandparents, Barbara and Jeffrey Kepner, spoke to ABC News about the tragedy, recalling a happy family vacation. “We were all having a great time,” Barbara Kepner said. “I couldn’t fathom why anyone would wanna hurt my baby.”
The kepners described a close-knit, blended family, stating there were “no such thing as steps.” Jeffrey Kepner emphasized, “Our dynamic is we’re all just family.” They said Anna Kepner and her step-siblings had a positive relationship.
The last time Barbara Kepner saw her granddaughter alive, Anna had complained about discomfort from her braces. despite this,she dressed up and joined the family in the cruise casino,telling her grandmother,”Meemaw,I love you guys,I’ll see you later.” Barbara Kepner stated, “And we never saw her again after that.”
Anna Kepner was expected to graduate high school in May and had plans to join the US Navy. Her grandfather Jeffrey Kepner said, “We were looking forward to seeing her grow.” He added, “The cruise itself wasn’t what made me excited. It was the fact that I was gonna get to spend another week with my youngest son and his family and all the grandkids.”
Carnival cruise line has stated it is fully cooperating with the FBI investigation. Barbara Kepner acknowledged the death certificate provides some clarity, saying, “I now know how she died. it helps a little bit, but it’s not going to bring Anna back.”
