Step-Sibling May Be Charged in Carnival Cruise Death

A step-sibling of 18-year-old cheerleader Anna Kepner, who was found dead earlier this month on the Carnival Horizon cruise ship, could face criminal charges, according to court documents cited by ABC News.

The documents are part of an emergency filing related to the divorce of Kepner’s stepmother, Shauntel Hudson, CBS News reports. Hudson, who was traveling on the cruise with Kepner, Kepner’s father, and her own children, referenced the potential legal action against one of her minor children in a request to postpone a custody hearing.

“An extremely sensitive and severe circumstance has arisen wherein the Respondent/Mother will not be able to testify at the hearing at this time,” the filing states.

Hudson said she had been informed by the FBI and her attorneys that a criminal case may be opened. She argued that any testimony she provides could prejudice her or her child in the ongoing investigation. The FBI confirmed it is investigating the case but declined further comment.

The Miami-Dade medical examiner has not yet released the cause or manner of Kepner’s death, and few details have been made public. Kepner was reported dead on Nov. 8 while the Carnival Horizon was traveling from Miami to the Caribbean. According to family accounts, she told them the night before that she wasn’t feeling well and returned to her room, but did not appear for breakfast the following morning. Her body was later discovered by a housekeeper under a bed in her stateroom. The ship returned to Miami the same day.

Original Source