Investigators have ruled the death of 18-year-old Anna Kepner, a Florida resident, as a homicide. Her body was discovered on November 6 aboard the Carnival Horizon cruise ship, which was traveling from Miami to the Caribbean. The announcement comes after a death certificate indicated that Kepner died from "mechanical asphyxia" caused by another person.

Kepner's family reported her death on November 8. According to the death certificate, she was found wrapped in a blanket and concealed under life vests in her stateroom. Sources revealed that there were bruises on her neck, suggesting she may have been choked. Investigators noted that there were no drugs or alcohol in her system, and no signs of sexual assault were found.

The primary suspect in the case is believed to be her 16-year-old stepbrother. In a court filing, her stepmother, Shauntel Hudson, requested a delay in a child custody hearing, citing the potential for charges against her son. No formal charges have been filed at this time.

Kepner, a cheerleader from Titusville, was on the cruise with her family, including her grandparents, father, stepmother, and siblings. She was in her final year of high school and had aspirations of joining the U.S. Navy after graduation. Her grandfather, Jeffrey Kepner, expressed his sorrow, stating, "We were looking forward to seeing her grow."

The family had been enjoying their vacation before the tragedy occurred. Kepner's grandmother, Barbara Kepner, expressed disbelief over the incident, saying, "I couldn’t fathom why anyone would wanna hurt my baby." She noted that Anna and her stepbrother had a close relationship, adding, "I know that those two kids cared about each other in the right way. I can’t accuse him because I don’t know what happened in that room."

Carnival Cruise Line has confirmed the incident and stated that they are cooperating with the FBI, which is handling the investigation. The cruise line emphasized their focus on supporting the family during this difficult time. The formal autopsy and toxicology reports have yet to be released, and the investigation is ongoing.