Anna Kepner, 18, a Florida cheerleader, was found dead aboard the Carnival Horizon in November. Authorities say she was strangled with a “bar hold” and later found hidden under a bed in the cabin she shared with her 16-year-old stepbrother.
Her stepbrother has now been formally charged in connection with her death, according to court documents, which are part of a custody dispute between his father, Thomas Hudson, and Anna’s mother, Shauntel Kepner. The boy had been expelled from the household after the incident and remains under federal supervision.
Witnesses report that Anna fought for her life, while her younger biological brother heard shouting and chaos from the cabin. Tragically, he slept just feet away from her body before it was discovered. Anna had planned to graduate high school and join the Navy; she was last seen at a family dinner on Nov. 6 and died the following day in international waters.