A judge in Florida has identified Anna Kepner’s teenage stepbrother as a suspect in her tragic death.
During a custody hearing on Friday, Brevard Judge Michelle Studstill revealed that the 16-year-old stepbrother is being considered a suspect, according to a report by People Magazine.
Seeking urgent custody of his 9-year-old daughter, Thomas Hudson has raised concerns about the child’s safety. Currently, she resides in Titusville with her mother, Shauntel Hudson.
Thomas Hudson claimed that his ex-wife did not adequately supervise their children while on a cruise ship. He pointed out that the 16-year-old was sharing a cabin with 18-year-old Kepner, as reported by Florida Today.
He further asserted that his young daughter faced immediate risk, but Judge Studstill, after hearing testimonies from both sides, did not concur with this assessment.
“I’m hearing nothing to validate that the child is in imminent danger at this time,” remarked Studstill.
Studstill acknowledged that the 9-year-old wanted to meet her brother for Thanksgiving, and that Thomas Hudson had agreed to it, with supervision.
The teen suspect is not currently living in his mother’s home and is scheduled for a psychiatric evaluation, the court heard.
He won’t be coming back home anytime soon, Shauntel Hudson told the judge.
“At this time, no. Not with the FBI investigation…as of right now, he’s not coming back to the home,” she said.
As CrimeOnline previously reported, Anna died by asphyxiation after someone held an arm across her neck, known as a bar hold or choke hold.
A room steward reportedly discovered Anna’s body at around 11 a.m. while cleaning a cabin aboard the Carnival Horizon. The ship then detoured and stopped at Port Miami on November 8.
Anna Kepner died on November 7, according to the Miami-Dade County Medical Examiner. The vessel was in Cuba at the time, on the northwest coast.
The FBI, currently investigating the case, has not yet named a suspect in the case.
Meanwhile, the family is scheduled to appear for another court hearing on December 7.
Check back for updates.
[Feature Photo: Anna Kepner/Instagram]
