Grandma of woman, 18, found dead under bed on Carnival cruise ship shares disturbing new details about stepbrother, 16, linked to her murder

The grandmother of a woman who was found dead on a Carnival cruise ship said the victim’s stepbrother told cops he ‘didn’t remember what happened’ before he was named as a suspect. 

Anna Kepner, 18, was discovered in her cabin on November 7, wrapped in a blanket and covered with life vests during a Caribbean getaway with her blended family. 

Anna’s 16-year-old stepbrother was identified as a suspect in her ongoing murder investigation soon after, with authorities saying that Anna’s cause of death was determined to be asphyxiation via a bar hold – meaning an arm was pressed across her neck.

On Monday, her grandmother Barbara told Good Morning America that her family were stunned that Anna’s stepbrother, who has not been named, was accused. 

‘They were like brother and sister, he was a good student,’ she said. ‘He played soccer, and is a very quiet young man.’ 

Barbara said that he ‘had demons in his past and was trying to deal with those’, and revealed that he broke down when confronted by investigators. 

‘I heard him say in his own words that he does not remember what happened,’ she said. 

‘During (his police interview) he was an emotional mess, he couldn’t speak, he couldn’t believe what happened.’ 

The stricken grandmother said her family are bewildered over what occurred in Anna’s cabin. 

‘(Her stepbrother) was in the room with her, he was the only one seen coming and going,’ she continued. 

‘I cant accuse him because I don’t know what happened in that room, but the summation would be that he did something.’ 

Anna had been on a six-day Caribbean getaway with her family when she was discovered dead while mega-liner Carnival Horizon was in international waters between Mexico and Florida. 

The Daily Mail was the first to report her 16-year-old stepbrother was under investigation and a ‘suspect’ over the death of the teen from Titusville, Florida. 

Anna was sharing the cabin with her 14-year-old brother as well as the 16-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons. The two boys had bunk beds and Anna was in her own, according to a well-placed source.

At a memorial service for Anna, her ex boyfriend Josh Tew made startling allegations against her stepbrother.  

Josh, who broke up with Anna six months ago, claimed the 16-year-old tried to climb on top of her against her will months before she died.

He also gave chilling details about the last moments of Anna’s life before she was discovered and the vessel returned to Miami a day later, where it was swarmed by FBI agents.

Heartbroken father Christopher insisted in a previous interview with the Daily Mail that investigators had shared barely any details with him.

‘We were there as a family. Everybody was questioned. Everybody came off that ship. I don’t know who they are looking at or what their investigation is,’ he said.

‘The FBI hasn’t shared anything with me yet. I would imagine they’re going to be in contact with me about it – but I know as little as everybody else.

‘I have no idea what is going on right now. We are just trying to sit still and wait for answers.’

In a filing obtained by the Mail during the ongoing investigation, it was disclosed that Anna’s stepmom Shauntel Hudson, 36, was locked in a custody battle with ex Thomas which is now enmeshed in the tragedy. 

In a motion to Brevard County Court in Florida, her attorney writes: ‘An extremely sensitive and severe circumstance has arisen wherein there is an investigation being conducted by Federal Bureau of Investigations, (FBI) arising out of the suspected murder of the Respondent/Mother’s stepdaughter. 

‘The minor child, TH, is currently the subject of the active FBI criminal investigation. There is good cause for the need to protect the privacy, sensitivity, and well-being of not only the minor child, TH, but the other individual family members as well.’ 

Shauntel’s new plea is part of her motion just filed to seal the divorce case and stop any further information about her family and many circumstances surrounding Anna’s death becoming publicly available.

She also wants ‘all proceedings be closed to the press in the event criminal charges are filed against the minor child, his right to a fair trial may be tarnished’.

The stepmom’s motion adds she is ‘requesting that the court close the proceedings in order to protect the interests of the minor child and the family’.

Shauntel also criticizes her ex Thomas in the motion, saying he may have ‘impeded the active criminal investigation’ with ‘confidential’ comments she understands he has made.

The motion calls for a Non-Dissemination Order, preventing ‘both parties’ from discussing or giving out information – and to seal the case ‘where the court documents are not available to the public’.

Specifically, she demands the shutdown of information about the FBI probe, her custody battle, any law enforcement activity and the passing on of documents, photographs or texts relating to her ‘suspect’ son.

She also wants ‘sensitive information’ redacted from public court records.

Known by her nickname Anna Banana, the 18-year-old was set to graduate in May and had plans to join the military.

A gymnast and varsity cheerleader, she attended Temple Christian School in Titusville, where her Kia Forte remained parked up this week, covered in flowers and tributes from heartbroken pals.

She was a ‘bright, kind-hearted young woman whose presence brought warmth and energy into the classroom,’ the school said in a touching Facebook post.

Christopher said his daughter’s ultimate career goal was to join the local police department so she could protect her friends and family.

‘The whole family is lost for words. We miss her and love her more than anything,’ he added.