The investigation into the tragic demise of 18-year-old Anna Kepner has reached nearly a month with little to no new developments, leaving many wondering about the silence from federal authorities. According to a defense lawyer, the unusual circumstances of the case may be contributing to this quiet approach: the victim and the alleged perpetrator share family ties under the same roof.
Donna Rotunno, a criminal defense attorney and Fox News Contributor, suggests that the absence of public information might indicate a careful strategy. She explains, “It’s peculiar that we haven’t received any updates,” she shared with Fox News Digital. “However, there could be a justifiable reason for this. When the victim’s and perpetrator’s families are essentially one, authorities must tread carefully to avoid prematurely revealing crucial aspects of the investigation.”
On Friday at 9 a.m., Anna Kepner’s father, Christopher Kepner, and her stepmother, Shauntel Hudson, are scheduled to appear at the Moore Justice Center in Brevard County, Florida, for a custody hearing. They will be joined by Hudson’s former spouse, Timothy Hudson.
Anna Kepner was identified by her family as the passenger who tragically died on the Carnival Horizon cruise ship. (Instagram/Anna Kepner)
Rotunno points out that the situation is highly atypical, potentially influencing the federal authorities’ decision to remain silent. She also notes that investigators might be working through the complexities surrounding the cause of death, officially identified as mechanical asphyxia.
Rotunno said the dynamic is highly unusual and may be driving the tight-lipped posture of federal authorities. She added that investigators may also be grappling with the specifics of the cause of death, ruled as mechanical asphyxia.
“They may not know if they can prove what happened yet,” Rotunno said. “Mechanical asphyxia could be argued as accidental or something that went too far. Investigators may still be sorting out what the evidence supports.”
Anna Kepner, her father, stepmother and several siblings in a family photo. (Shauntel Kepner/Facebook)
Friday morning’s family-court custody hearing may offer an update on the case. Rotunno said it may seem unusual that the public is learning key details through family court, but legally, the access is straightforward.
“Family courts, just like criminal courts, are open to the public,” she said. “So while it feels unusual, the courts are simply accessible. And right now, those filings are the only place we’re seeing developments.”
Anna Kepner, 18, was found dead aboard a Carnival cruise ship on Nov. 7, during a vacation with her family. (Anna Kepner/Instagram)
Court records from an ongoing custody battle between Shauntel Hudson and Thomas Hudson have surfaced as key documents in the case. The filings identify Anna’s 16-year-old stepbrother, who shared a cabin with her aboard the Carnival Horizon, as a “suspect” in her death. Federal authorities have not named or charged the teen.
“The sixteen-year-old child is now a suspect in the death of the stepchild during the cruise,” the filing states.
Thomas Hudson further alleges that his ex-wife’s choices have put the 16-year-old’s future “in jeopardy.”
Christopher Kepner (center, red hat) arrives to 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 reportedly found dead under a bed on a Carnival Cruise on Nov. 7. (Mark Sims for Fox News Digital)
Anna’s father, Christopher, was subpoenaed ahead of today’s hearing. However, according to a process server’s sworn statement filed ahead of a hearing scheduled for Friday in a contentious custody battle, Christopher was unreachable after he was ordered to testify.
Process server Leslie V. Kinsey wrote that Kepner’s SUV sat running in the driveway and the lights inside the Titusville home were on, but no one responded to repeated knocks or the doorbell.
When asked whether Anna’s 16-year-old stepbrother might be called to the stand, Rotunno said it’s extremely unlikely.
“Any lawyer would advise him to remain silent,” she said. “If you’re the subject of a criminal investigation, you shouldn’t be giving statements anywhere. I think a judge would say ‘no way’ to putting him on the stand.”
A judge, she said, would be obligated to warn the teen of his Fifth Amendment rights and may even appoint a public defender to advise him.
