New details have emerged about Anna Kepner, found dead aboard the Carnival Horizon after a family cruise in early November. Federal investigators continue to probe the case, but family members have shared new information about what may have happened inside the cabin the night she died.
“Two peas in a pod”
Anna’s grandparents, Barbara and Jeffrey Kepner, who were on the cruise when Anna died, spoke with ABC News. According to the grandparents, authorities told the family that the stepbrother was “the only one seen going in and the only one seen going out” of Anna’s cabin, based on ship security footage.
Barbara said that her step-grandson told her, “he does not remember what happened.” he continued, “I believe, to him, that is his truth.” She also described his emotional state: “He was an emotional mess. He couldn’t even speak. He couldn’t believe what had happened.”
Jeffrey said, “We were looking forward to seeing her grow.” Barbara told ABC News, “I couldn’t fathom why anyone would wanna hurt my baby.” She described her granddaughter and her 16-year-old stepbrother as close: “They were just like brother and sister.” She added, “Two peas in a pod.”
At the same time, Barbara confirmed reports that Anna said she felt unwell the night she died. “She must have felt better, because she got dressed up. And she came down, we were playing in the casino,” she recalled. “And she sat down … and she said, ‘Meemaw, I love you guys, I’ll see you later.’ She’d pop in and out to check in with us. And we never saw her again after that.”
After the ship returned to Miami, Barbara said the stepbrother was hospitalized “for psychiatric observation” and later released to a family member
What her 14 yo brother heard the night Anna died
As for Anna’s younger brother, Joshua Tew, Anna’s ex, told Inside Edition that the brother described hearing a fight in the cabin. According to Tew, Connor Kepner, Anna’s brother, said he heard the stepbrother yelling, “shut the hell up.” He also “heard … banging around … including what the brother believes were chairs being thrown.”
Tew also said he witnessed Anna’s stepbrother, identified as T.H., enter Anna’s room and try and get on top of her during a late-night FaceTime call after Anna fell asleep, and that Anna expressed concern about her stepbrother’s behavior.
Kepner, an 18-year-old from Florida, was found dead wrapped in a blanket under a bed aboard the Carnival Horizon cruise ship in early November 2025. The FBI is investigating, and court filings related to a separate custody situation identify her 16-year-old stepbrother as a suspect.
Preliminary reports suggest Anna died from asphyxiation, possibly due to a “bar hold” on the neck. Preliminary reports also found no sign of sexual assault or drugs or alcohol in Kepner’s system. No criminal charges have been publicly announced; final autopsy and toxicology results are still pending.
Published: Nov 24, 2025 03:30 pm