Stepbrother could be charged in Anna Kepner’s Carnival cruise death: lawyer

MELBOURNE, Fla. — Anna Kepner’s stepmother’s lawyer admitted her 16-year-old stepson could soon face charges at the state or federal level in connection with the death of the 18-year-old cheerleader on a Carnival cruise ship last month.

“We’re not sure what the FBI is going to do,” said Millicent Athanason, Shontell Kepner’s attorney. “Whether he’s going to be charged at the federal level or whether they’re going to extradite him to the state.”

the FBI office in Miami He is leading the investigation and has not publicly identified any suspects or announced any charges.

These statements came during Emergency custody hearing There is an ongoing feud between Anna’s stepmother and her ex-husband, Thomas Hudson. In court filings, both parents have named their 16-year-old son, Anna’s half-brother, as a suspect in her death and the subject of a case. FBI investigation.

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Anna Kepner has been identified by her family as the passenger who died on the Carnival Horizon ship. (Instagram/Anna Kepner)

Shontelle testified that after the cheerleader’s death, she and Anna’s father, Chris Kepner, had safety concerns in allowing her 16-year-old son to stay with their other children. He was therefore placed in the care of a relative of Shontelle during the course of the investigation.

Anna is found dead under the bed in her cabin On the cruise boat. She shared a room with her 14-year-old brother and 16-year-old half-brother. The cause and manner of her death were reportedly homicide by mechanical asphyxiation.

(LR) Chris Kepner, Shontelle Kepner and Jeffrey Kepner arrive at court in Melbourne, Florida, Friday, December 5, 2025. (MS to Fox News Digital.)

“They are also waiting for some test results,” Athanasson told the court. “They’ve done a bunch of psychological testing and psychological testing, so they’re also waiting to hear about that. And so they don’t know at this time how long that child will be at her relative’s home.”

The FBI declined to comment on Athanasson’s statements.

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Anna Kepner, her father, stepmother, and several siblings in a family photo. (Shontel Kepner/Facebook)

So was the 16-year-old, Shontel said Diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder After she separated from her father. He was also taking medication to help with nighttime insomnia, which she said he left off for two days on the cruise.

The hearing began shortly after 9 a.m. Friday. Shontell tried and failed to postpone it, citing… Fifth Amendment Concerns.

Despite the circumstances, Shontel testified that Anna, her 14-year-old biological brother and her 16-year-old stepson had a relationship like “three friends” and were “best friends.” She said they were all in the same room during the cruise on the travel agent’s advice.

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Shontelle Kepner loads groceries into a local Publix supermarket in Titusville, Fla., on Thanksgiving Eve, Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2025. Her stepdaughter, Anna Kepner, was found dead on a Carnival cruise on Nov. 7. (SM to Fox News Digital)

Shontelle’s eldest son, 18-year-old Andrew Hudson, lives with his father. He followed his mother to the witness stand and told the court he had few interactions with his siblings due to the bitter split between his parents.

As revealed by A Violent incident It’s about himself, Shontelle, and Chris Kepner that happened before he started living with his father full time.

“They came and picked me up from school and took me to Titusville,” he testified.

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Christopher Kepner (center, red hat) arrives at a memorial service for his daughter, Anna Kepner, at the Grove Church in Titusville, Florida, Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025. The 18-year-old cheerleader was found dead under a bed during a Carnival ride on Nov. 7. (Mark Sims for Fox News Digital)

He said his mother asked for his phone, so she took it and turned it off. An argument broke out. He did not want to go with them to Titusville and preferred to stay with his father in Hernando County.

He added that he tried to get out of the car, but his mother and stepfather prevented him.

““I was placed in a chokehold and placed on the bench.”

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Anna Kepner’s family said she dreamed of joining the army. (Instagram/Anna Kepner)

During questioning, he denied Shontell’s lawyer’s assertions that he had tried to jump out of the car while it was moving.

He added: “The vehicle was not moving.” He also denied that the reason he wanted to stay in Hernando County was because of his girlfriend.

He had visited Kepner’s home regularly before that, where he said he was allowed to drink alcohol as a teenager.

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A still image shows 18-year-old Anna Kepner’s cryptic TikTok post, posted eight days before she was found dead on a cruise ship. (@fl.anna18/TikTok)

Next on the stand was Thomas Hudson, Shontell’s ex-husband, who called for an emergency hearing, arguing that his 9-year-old daughter might be in danger under his ex-wife’s supervision after Anna died during the cruise.

Hudson, who was wearing a black golf shirt, said Chris Kepner intervened in a child custody exchange, physically preventing him from picking up his younger daughter before Thanksgiving when she refused to get out of the car.

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“Based on that evidence presented today, I do not find that there is an emergency and that [the younger daughter] Judge Michelle Pruitt Studstill ruled at the end of the hearing that she was at any imminent risk of harm. “I understand there may be some issues of contempt.”

A contempt hearing is scheduled for December 17.