The father of 18-year-old cheerleader Anna Kepner has spoken publicly about his daughter’s tragic death on a Carnival Cruise and has commented on his 16-year-old stepson’s potential involvement.
In an unrelated custody case, court documents suggest the stepson might be under investigation regarding Anna’s death.
Christopher Kepner, 41, last spent time with his daughter on the night of November 6, when the family dined together aboard the Carnival Horizon.
The next day, Anna’s body was tragically found by a housekeeper, hidden under a bed.
The death certificate indicates that Anna was “mechanically asphyxiated by other person(s)”, prompting authorities to initiate a murder investigation.
Christopher’s wife, Anna’s stepmother, stated in separate court documents that her son might be under criminal investigation related to the death.
However, the FBI has not publicly identified any suspects or persons of interest.
In an interview with PEOPLE, Christopher neither confirmed nor denied any details about his stepson’s role but remarked: “I do not stand behind what my stepson has done.”
He expressed his desire for accountability, stating: “I want him to face the consequences … I will be fighting to make sure that does happen.”
When asked if he thought his stepson was responsible for Anna’s death, Christopher said, “I cannot say that he is responsible, but I can’t decline. He was the only one that was in the room and the FBI has an ongoing investigation in which they will have to provide the evidence to say that he did do it or did not do this.”
“He was a normal kid,” Christopher continued. “And I would’ve never thought that any of this would’ve happened.”
Anna’s grandmother Barbara Kepner shared similar thoughts with ABC News about the close relationship between Anna and her stepbrother before the incident.
“They were just like brother and sister,” Barbara mentioned to ABC News, noting they were “two peas in a pod.”
Anna, who was looking forward to her future as a college cheerleader or serving in the military, was sharing a cabin on the cruise with her stepbrother and another stepsibling at the time of her passing.
Her 16-year-old stepbrother reportedly consumed alcohol once the ship reached international waters, as per an attorney involved in separate custody proceedings. He was hospitalized when the ship arrived in Miami.
On November 18, in Brevard County, Florida, court documents filed during custody proceedings related to stepmother Shauntel Hudson’s previous marriage, revealed her request to pause the process, as she had been informed that one of her children was involved in the investigation.
Hudson ‘has been advised through discussion with FBI investigators and her attorneys, that a criminal case may be initiated against one of the minor children of this instant action’, the documents state.
The filings mentioned Hudson’s inability to testify at the time due to the ‘extremely sensitive and severe circumstance’ surrounding Kepner’s sudden death.
Further documents submitted the following day identified Hudson’s teenage son with initials as the child under investigation related to the incident.
“There is an open investigation regarding [Kepner’s] death… and T.H. is a suspect regarding this death which occurred recently on a cruise ship,” the filing from stepmother Hudson notes.
No charges have been filed yet.