The recent death of Florida cheerleader Anna Kepner, discovered under a bed in a cruise ship cabin, has been ruled a homicide. Reports indicate that she, only 18 years old, was “mechanically asphyxiated by another person” on November 6 while on the Carnival Horizon with her family.
As the investigation unfolds, federal authorities are reportedly looking into her 16-year-old stepbrother as a potential suspect. This case has attracted significant national attention, especially following revelations suggesting that Kepner may have been strangled by him.
The official autopsy and toxicology reports are still pending. Kepner was on a cruise with various family members, including her grandparents, father, stepmother, and siblings, at the time of her demise. Her body, wrapped in a blanket and covered with a life jacket, was discovered under the bed on November 7.
Witness accounts suggest unsettling events leading up to her death, with her 14-year-old brother reporting that he heard “screaming” and “the sound of chairs being thrown” while the three siblings were in their shared stateroom. Disturbingly, he unknowingly slept just a few feet away from where her body was hidden.
The morning after her death, the family realized she was missing, and subsequently, a staff member found her body while cleaning the room. Kepner’s ex-boyfriend, Joshua Westin, claimed that prior to her death, she expressed feelings of not being safe around her brother-in-law. He further accused the brother-in-law of inappropriate behavior and a concerning fixation on her. Westin’s father noted that the brother-in-law often carried a large knife.
Kepner, a devout Christian who was baptized in May, had planned to graduate from Temple Christian School in Titusville, Florida, and dreamed of joining the U.S. Navy to become a K9 police officer. In their obituary, her grieving family described her as a “beautiful person” with a big heart who always made an effort to uplift others.
Tragically, Kepner’s biological mother learned of her daughter’s passing through the news. She criticized her ex-husband for not informing her, stating that he even prevented her from attending Kepner’s memorial service under threats of arrest if she returned to Florida.
