Anna Kepner, an 18-year-old from Florida, has been cremated following her death aboard the Carnival Horizon cruise ship. A death certificate obtained by Fox News confirms her passing, though specific details about the cause and manner of death remain undisclosed. The FBI is investigating the case, which the family has declared a homicide involving mechanical asphyxiation. The Miami-Dade Medical Examiner’s Office has not provided further details, citing ongoing inquiries.
According to the FBI, the investigation into Kep, the teen, has been ruled a homicide. Her family revealed this in an interview with ABC News, stating the cause of death is mechanical asphyxiation. Dr. Priya Banerjee, a board-certified forensic pathologist, explained that mechanical asphyxia indicates an external factor hindering breathing, such as difficulty expanding the chest or belly.
The FBI has not publicly identified any suspects, and no criminal charges have been announced. Family members have disclosed that the victim was found under her bed, wrapped in a blanket and encased in life jackets in a cabin shared with her stepbrother. The time of death has been officially recorded as 11:17 a.m. on November 7, a day prior to the cruise liner’s return to Miami’s port.
Family members have been pointing fingers, as the case involves the stepbrother, who is reportedly under the FBI’s investigation due to a previous custody battle between his parents. The FBI has not provided further information on the case, declining requests for comment. The situation raises questions about safety and accountability within the cruise industry, prompting calls for additional oversight and transparency in such cases.