New allegations have emerged in the death of Anna Kepner, an 18-year-old Florida cheerleader found dead on a Carnival cruise ship, with her ex-boyfriend revealing that her younger brother heard screaming and commotion from her cabin the night before she died.
Anna Kepner was discovered dead on November 8, 2025, aboard the Carnival Horizon during a family cruise to the Caribbean. Her body was found wrapped in a blanket and concealed under a bed in the stateroom she shared with her 14-year-old brother and 16-year-old stepbrother. The alarming discovery was made by a maid, triggering an immediate FBI investigation into the circumstances surrounding her untimely death.
According to Joshua Westin, Kepner’s ex-boyfriend, her 14-year-old brother Connor witnessed disturbing events the night before her death. Connor reported hearing “yelling” and “chairs being thrown” inside the locked cabin where Kepner was alone with her stepbrother. Westin, who described Anna as his “first love,” shared these details with Inside Edition, stating that the stepbrother was heard shouting at her in a harmful manner, including commands like “shut the hell up.” The commotion suggested a violent altercation, raising questions about her final moments.
The cause of death was determined to be asphyxiation from a “bar hold,” where an arm was pressed across her neck, resulting in two bruises on her throat. Sources close to the investigation, as reported by ABC News, confirmed there were no signs of sexual assault, and no drugs or alcohol were detected in her system. These findings have been corroborated by multiple outlets, including the New York Post and TMZ, underscoring the violent nature of the incident.
Kepner had long felt unsafe around her stepbrother, with Westin alleging that he sexually harassed her, but she feared reporting it due to concerns for her safety. Her ex-boyfriend’s father, Steven Westin, claimed the stepbrother had an obsessive infatuation with Anna and was once caught climbing on top of her while she slept. The family dynamics were complex, with Kepner’s stepmother, Shauntel Hudson, accusing her ex-husband of abuse in court filings that also identified the stepbrother as a suspect in the death.
Anna Kepner was a devout Christian baptized in May and set to graduate from Temple Christian School in Titusville, Florida, in the spring. She had ambitious plans to join the U.S. Navy after graduation and eventually pursue a career as a K9 police officer. Her obituary painted a picture of a vibrant young woman who “loved the sun, the water, and radiated light to others,” known for her unfiltered charm and spontaneous acts of kindness that brightened the lives of those around her.
Her funeral was held on November 20, 2025, but it was marred by family conflict, as her mother was reportedly barred from attending due to long-standing tensions but managed to sneak in wearing a wig. The FBI’s investigation remains active, with the stepbrother under intense scrutiny as authorities work to unravel the full story. As the case progresses, it highlights broader issues of domestic safety and the devastating impact of unresolved family strife on young lives.
The ongoing probe aims to bring clarity and justice for Anna Kepner, whose dreams were cut short in a tragedy that has captured national attention and sparked conversations about cruise ship safety and adolescent welfare.
