Over three months ago, a cruise ship tragedy unfolded as Anna Kepner, an 18-year-old cheerleader, was discovered deceased beneath a bed on the Carnival Horizon vessel during a family vacation in November of last year. Following this incident, Anna’s stepbrother, aged 16, who shared the room with her, faced investigation and appeared in court on February 6. Despite these developments, uncertainties persist regarding any formal accusations against the stepbrother in connection with Anna’s untimely demise. Even Anna’s biological mother, Heather Wright, expressed struggles in obtaining information regarding the ongoing investigation.
In her pursuit for answers, Heather Wright posted a video erroneously suggesting legal charges against Anna’s stepbrother, only to retract the statement later, acknowledging being misinformed. She remains unaware of any charges filed against the stepbrother, with his February 6 hearing being conducted privately. Heather Wright believes the case involving the stepbrother is under juvenile court jurisdiction but lamented the lack of communication regarding the proceedings.
Heather Wright emphasized her ongoing struggle to access information regarding her daughter’s demise and the ensuing investigation, remarking on her prevailing state of unawareness from her location in Oklahoma. Despite the challenges, she expressed optimism for future revelations. A law enforcement source disclosed that the stepbrother, escorted by US Marshals, attended a closed-door hearing at the US District Court for the Southern District of Florida on February 6, accompanied by a public defender.
Should prosecutors opt for juvenile proceedings, court records will remain confidential, and all hearings will continue to be held privately. The stepbrother’s father, Thomas Hudson, was present in court during the proceedings, while Anna’s stepmother Shauntel and her husband Christopher, Anna’s father, issued a statement post-hearing. The statement conveyed disappointment over the stepbrother’s release, expressing the family’s enduring pain, grief, and outrage, and underscoring the need for full accountability in the tragic event.
At Reach and across our entities we and our partners use information collected through cookies and other identifiers from your device to improve experience on our site, analyse how it is used and to show personalised advertising. You can opt out of the sale or sharing of your data, at any time clicking the “Do Not Sell or Share my Data” button at the bottom of the webpage. Please note that your preferences are browser specific. Use of our website and any of our services represents your acceptance of the use of cookies and consent to the practices described in our Privacy Notice and Terms and Conditions.
