The father of a Florida teenager who tragically passed away on a Carnival cruise ship was nowhere to be found when authorities attempted to serve him a subpoena, just days before a critical custody hearing.
Christopher Kepner, the father of 18-year-old Anna Kepner, who was discovered deceased in her cabin on November 7, had been on a family trip with Anna, her stepmother, grandparents, and some siblings.
According to a process server’s sworn affidavit filed prior to the upcoming custody hearing on Friday, Christopher Kepner could not be located after being ordered to testify at a December 5 hearing in Brevard County.
Anna Kepner, 18, was discovered dead on a Carnival cruise on November 7 while on vacation with her family. (Anna Kepner/Instagram)
Process server Michael D. Schotte reported that Kepner’s SUV was idling in the driveway and lights were visibly on inside the Titusville residence, yet nobody answered the door despite persistent knocking and ringing of the doorbell.
Schotte also noted that a “No Trespassing” sign was prominently displayed on the property and a Ring doorbell camera was installed near the entrance. After announcing his purpose several times, he eventually placed the subpoena on the SUV’s windshield at 10:29 a.m.
When Schotte returned, the SUV had left and the subpoena he placed on its windshield was gone.
Read the verified return of non-service:
While the bureau hasn’t publicly identified anyone as a suspect, and no criminal charges have been filed, the feud in family court between Christopher’s wife, Shauntel Kepner, and her ex-husband, Thomas Hudson, has revealed that their 16-year-old son is being investigated by the FBI in connection with Anna’s death.
The teenager had been traveling on the cruise ship with family members when she died. Anna shared a room with her two stepsiblings on the ship.
Anna Kepner, her father, stepmother and several siblings in a family photo. (Shauntel Kepner/Facebook)
After Anna’s death, Hudson asked the judge for custody of the daughter he shares with Shauntel, arguing in part that her parenting has directly put their 16-year-old son’s future “in jeopardy.”
“The Petitioner has not been allowed input into the children’s lives and his lack of involvement has negatively impacted the children,” Hudson wrote to the judge on Nov. 17.
Christopher Kepner has not responded to Fox News Digital’s attempts to reach him.
