The grandmother of a deceased woman, found aboard a Carnival cruise, shared that the victim’s stepbrother claimed he “couldn’t recall what happened” before being identified as a suspect by the authorities.

Anna Kepner, aged 18, was discovered lifeless in her cabin on November 7. Her body was wrapped in a blanket and surrounded by life vests during a family trip in the Caribbean.

Authorities quickly identified Anna’s 16-year-old stepbrother as a suspect in the murder investigation, revealing that her death was due to asphyxiation. The method used was a bar hold, where pressure is applied to the neck using an arm.

On Monday, Anna’s grandmother, Barbara, expressed her family’s shock regarding the accusations against the stepbrother during an interview on Good Morning America.

“They were like siblings,” Barbara noted. “He was a diligent student, played soccer, and was usually very reserved.”

Barbara further disclosed that the boy struggled with personal issues in the past and broke down emotionally when interrogated by the police.

‘I heard him say in his own words that he does not remember what happened,’ she said. 

‘During (his police interview) he was an emotional mess, he couldn’t speak, he couldn’t believe what happened.’ 

Barbara Kepner, the grandmother of Anna Kepner, 18, who was found dead on a Carnival cruise ship, said the victim’s stepbrother was an ’emotional mess’ when he faced an interrogation from cops

Anna Kepner, 18, had been on a six-day Caribbean getaway with her dad, stepmom, siblings and step-siblings when she was declared dead in the international waters between Mexico and Florida

The stricken grandmother said her family are bewildered over what occurred in Anna’s cabin. 

‘(Her stepbrother) was in the room with her, he was the only one seen coming and going,’ she continued. 

‘I cant accuse him because I don’t know what happened in that room, but the summation would be that he did something.’ 

Anna had been on a six-day Caribbean getaway with her family when she was discovered dead while mega-liner Carnival Horizon was in international waters between Mexico and Florida. 

The Daily Mail was the first to report her 16-year-old stepbrother was under investigation and a ‘suspect’ over the death of the teen from Titusville, Florida. 

Anna was sharing the cabin with her 14-year-old brother as well as the 16-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons. The two boys had bunk beds and Anna was in her own, according to a well-placed source.

At a memorial service for Anna, her ex boyfriend Josh Tew made startling allegations against her stepbrother.  

Josh, who broke up with Anna six months ago, claimed the 16-year-old tried to climb on top of her against her will months before she died.

He also gave chilling details about the last moments of Anna’s life before she was discovered and the vessel returned to Miami a day later, where it was swarmed by FBI agents.

Kepner posted a TikTok video from on board the ship six months ago saying how much she wanted to return

A family photo of Anna (pictured lower right), with her stepmother, father, stepbrother (pictured left), stepsister and half-sister

Heartbroken father Christopher insisted in a previous interview with the Daily Mail that investigators had shared barely any details with him.

‘We were there as a family. Everybody was questioned. Everybody came off that ship. I don’t know who they are looking at or what their investigation is,’ he said.

‘The FBI hasn’t shared anything with me yet. I would imagine they’re going to be in contact with me about it – but I know as little as everybody else.

‘I have no idea what is going on right now. We are just trying to sit still and wait for answers.’

In a filing obtained by the Mail during the ongoing investigation, it was disclosed that Anna’s stepmom Shauntel Hudson, 36, was locked in a custody battle with ex Thomas which is now enmeshed in the tragedy. 

In a motion to Brevard County Court in Florida, her attorney writes: ‘An extremely sensitive and severe circumstance has arisen wherein there is an investigation being conducted by Federal Bureau of Investigations, (FBI) arising out of the suspected murder of the Respondent/Mother’s stepdaughter. 

‘The minor child, TH, is currently the subject of the active FBI criminal investigation. There is good cause for the need to protect the privacy, sensitivity, and well-being of not only the minor child, TH, but the other individual family members as well.’ 

Shauntel’s new plea is part of her motion just filed to seal the divorce case and stop any further information about her family and many circumstances surrounding Anna’s death becoming publicly available.

She also wants ‘all proceedings be closed to the press in the event criminal charges are filed against the minor child, his right to a fair trial may be tarnished’.

The stepmom’s motion adds she is ‘requesting that the court close the proceedings in order to protect the interests of the minor child and the family’.

Anna’s stepmother, Shauntel Hudson, has been locked in a custody battle with her ex, Thomas Hudson, over their children. On Tuesday, she filed a response acknowledging that ‘it is true that there is an open investigation’ into her stepdaughter’s death 

Shauntel also criticizes her ex Thomas in the motion, saying he may have ‘impeded the active criminal investigation’ with ‘confidential’ comments she understands he has made.

The motion calls for a Non-Dissemination Order, preventing ‘both parties’ from discussing or giving out information – and to seal the case ‘where the court documents are not available to the public’.

Specifically, she demands the shutdown of information about the FBI probe, her custody battle, any law enforcement activity and the passing on of documents, photographs or texts relating to her ‘suspect’ son.

She also wants ‘sensitive information’ redacted from public court records.

Known by her nickname Anna Banana, the 18-year-old was set to graduate in May and had plans to join the military 

Known by her nickname Anna Banana, the 18-year-old was set to graduate in May and had plans to join the military.

A gymnast and varsity cheerleader, she attended Temple Christian School in Titusville, where her Kia Forte remained parked up this week, covered in flowers and tributes from heartbroken pals.

She was a ‘bright, kind-hearted young woman whose presence brought warmth and energy into the classroom,’ the school said in a touching Facebook post.

Christopher said his daughter’s ultimate career goal was to join the local police department so she could protect her friends and family.

‘The whole family is lost for words. We miss her and love her more than anything,’ he added.