The tragic and enigmatic death of 18-year-old Anna Kepner, who passed away aboard the Carnival Horizon cruise ship, has been confirmed as a homicide due to “mechanical asphyxiation,” as detailed in a recent report.
Kepner’s lifeless body was discovered on the vessel on November 7, around 11:15 a.m. The term “mechanical asphyxia” refers to a situation where an external force prevents the body’s natural breathing process, either by restricting the chest or abdomen from expanding, explained Dr. Priya Banerjee, a forensic pathologist with board certification.
The young woman was identified by her family as the deceased passenger, and her untimely passing has left many in shock. Her identity was confirmed through social media, with her family sharing their grief over her loss.
While the Miami-Dade Medical Examiner’s Office has refrained from making any statements due to the ongoing investigation, the circumstances surrounding Kepner’s death have been classified as a homicide. According to ABC News, which obtained a copy of the death certificate from Kepner’s family, it was determined that she was “mechanically asphyxiated by other person(s).” This revelation adds a chilling layer to the investigation, as authorities continue to seek justice for the young woman.
The Miami-Dade Medical Examiner’s Office declined to comment, citing the ongoing investigation.
The teen’s death was ruled a homicide, and she was “mechanically asphyxiated by other person(s)”, ABC News reported late Monday afternoon, citing a copy of Kepner’s death certificate reportedly supplied by her family.
Although her time of death is listed at 11:17 a.m. on Nov. 7, the report says she suffered her fatal injury on Nov. 6, the last night she was publicly seen alive.
Anna Kepner, 18, was found dead aboard a Carnival cruise ship on Nov. 7, during a vacation with her family. (Anna Kepner/Instagram)
Mechanical asphyxiation isn’t always a homicide, said Dr. Michael Baden, the former chief medical examiner of New York City, but it can be, and it remains up to prosecutors to decide how the case should be charged, if they file charges at all.
The FBI is handling the investigation and has not publicly named any suspects as of Monday evening, although Anna’s 16-year-old stepbrother has been identified as a potential “suspect” by his own parents in court filings amid an ongoing custody dispute. No charges have been filed.
Anna Kepner’s family said she had dreams of joining the military. (Instagram/Anna Kepner)
Kepner was found dead under the bed in her cabin, wrapped in a blanket and covered in life jackets in a room she shared with the stepbrother.
Both of his parents and their attorneys have not responded to multiple requests for comment from Fox News Digital.
Kepner was a high school varsity cheerleader who planned to join the Navy after graduation and ultimately wanted to become a K-9 police officer.
