The tragic death of 18-year-old Anna Kepner aboard the Carnival Horizon cruise ship has left her family in turmoil and has drawn significant attention to the circumstances surrounding her homicide. Heather Wright, Anna’s estranged mother, has publicly expressed her devastation, describing her emotional state as ‘not okay’ following the incident. The FBI is investigating the case, which has drawn attention due to the family’s complex dynamics and ongoing legal disputes. Kepner, who was found dead in her cabin shared with her stepbrother, had been on a family vacation with her father, stepmother, and other relatives. The case remains under investigation, with no suspects identified or arrests made yet.
Wright, who moved to Oklahoma after splitting from Anna’s father, Christopher Kepner, when their daughter was 4, said she tried to maintain a connection with Anna despite the estrangement. She revealed that she was left out of her daughter’s online obituary, which was later edited to include her name and remove references to other relatives. The estranged mother faced additional challenges when she was told not to attend her daughter’s memorial service, with her ex-husband, Christopher Kepner, threatening to have her arrested over unpaid child support. Wright, however, insisted that she attended the service discreetly, choosing not to be seen to avoid scrutiny.
The FBI investigation is ongoing, with court filings from Shauntel Kepner, 16-year-old stepbrother of Anna, who is described as a suspect in the case, and her ex-husband, Thomas Hudson, referencing the bureau’s involvement in custody disputes. Despite the lack of public charges, the situation remains tense and unresolved, with both parents, Shauntel and Hudson, engaged in a complex legal battle. The exact details of Anna’s death continue to be under scrutiny, with the official ruling of mechanical asphyxiation as a homicide, though no arrests have been made yet.
Anna’s death has further intensified family tensions and highlighted the personal and legal complexities surrounding her case. As the FBI continues its investigation, the family’s situation remains a focal point of public and media attention, with no definitive resolution in sight. Wright’s account of her grief underscores the deep personal impact of the tragedy, while the legal and familial disputes continue to complicate the search for answers.