A minor may face charges in connection with the death of Anna Kepner according to a court filing obtained by ABC News. The report states that one of Anna’s step-siblings may be charged with a crime and that her stepmother, Shauntel Hudson, has been in contact with the FBI.
Mrs. Hudson was on the Carnival Horizon with Anna, her children, and Anna’s father when Anna died on November 7th. On November 17, Mrs. Hudson’s lawyer requested a delay in a custody hearing per a recent court filing.
The filing reads: “The Respondent has been advised through discussions with FBI investigators and her attorneys, that a criminal case may be initiated against one of the minor children of this instant action. Any testimony the Respondent may give, either written or oral, could be prejudicial to her or her adolescent child in this pending criminal investigation, therefore the Respondent cannot be compelled to testify.”
In simpler terms, Mrs. Hudson’s lawyer argues she was told by the FBI that one of her children may face charges and therefore cannot be forced to testify as it could be used against her child. The FBI has been actively investigating Anna’s death and has released limited information.
The FBI unsurprisingly declined to comment on the story.
This story comes as an earlier report from The Daily Mail stated that Anna’s body was found by a maid under her cabin bed wrapped in a blanket according to anonymous sources. The FBI and Carnival did not verify or comment on the tabloid’s report.
These developments raise further questions around Anna’s death. Cruise Law News will continue to monitor this story and update readers as new information is released.
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Image credit: Carnival Horizon – Wikipedia
November 19, 2025 Update:
Anna Kepner’s 16 year-old stepbrother is reportedly the “step-sibling” involved in her death, according to numerous sources in the media.