Eighteen-year-old high school senior and cheerleader Anna Kepner’s death aboard the cruise ship Carnival Horizon has rocked her family and raised serious questions. A key voice now is her grandmother, Barbara Kepner, who described Anna and her 16-year-old stepbrother as “two peas in a pod,” insisting the siblings had a close, affectionate bond.

This tragic case — under federal investigation by FBI — remains unresolved. As details continue to emerge, the family’s grief, confusion, and plea for answers intensify. Below is what is publicly known so far.

What Happened: From Family Vacation to Tragedy

On November 2, 2025, Anna boarded the Carnival Horizon for a six-night Western Caribbean cruise. The trip included her father, stepmother, her siblings and stepsiblings — including the 16-year-old stepbrother — plus grandparents.

According to the family, on the night of November 6 Anna said she felt unwell and returned to her cabin earlier than others. That same evening, she visited her grandparents briefly, telling them she loved them — the last time anyone saw her alive.

The following morning, a housekeeper discovered Anna’s body hidden under a bed in the cabin she shared. She was wrapped in a blanket and covered with life jackets.

A death certificate shared with the family identified the cause as “mechanical asphyxiation by other person(s).” In other words: her death is considered a homicide.

Investigation Underway — Stepbrother Named in Court Filings

The 16-year-old stepbrother, who shared the cabin with Anna, is under investigation. Court documents filed amid a separate child-custody dispute indicate he may face criminal charges linked to her death.

According to the grandparents, the boy was the only person seen entering or leaving the cabin on surveillance footage, per ship security records.

After Anna’s body was found, the stepbrother was reportedly hospitalized for psychiatric observation. Family members described him as emotionally devastated.

However — as of now — no formal charges have been brought. The investigation is ongoing, and authorities, including the FBI, have withheld further details.

Grandmother’s Words: “Two Peas in a Pod”

In interviews following the tragedy, Barbara Kepner repeatedly emphasized the closeness between Anna and her stepbrother. She said they were inseparable — “like brother and sister,” “two peas in a pod.”

Despite the ongoing investigation and court documents pointing at the stepbrother as a suspect, Barbara added she cannot accuse him — because she doesn’t know what happened in that cabin. “I can’t accuse him because I don’t know what happened in that room,” she said.

She described the moment he was questioned: “He was an emotional mess. He couldn’t even speak. He couldn’t believe what had happened.” When authorities asked, the boy allegedly responded that he “does not remember what happened.”

Barbara and other family members said the phone, room-key swipes, and security footage suggest that the stepbrother was the only one entering or leaving the cabin — which has heightened suspicion and frustration among the family.

What Is Publicly Known — and What Remains Unclear

According to the family, investigators have told them there were no signs of sexual assault, and toxicology tests showed no drugs or alcohol in Anna’s system.

Still, a full autopsy and toxicology report have not been released, and the official status of the investigation remains undisclosed.

Complications arise because the cruise occurred in international waters — adding complexity to jurisdiction, evidence collection, and legal process.

To date, no arrests have been made, and the family is left with grief, doubt, and many unanswered questions — longing for closure and justice.

Family’s Despair and Hope for Justice

For the grandparents and the wider family, the loss is indescribable. They say they’ve lost not just one child, but two — the granddaughter and the boy they hoped would heal with time.

Barbara Kepner admitted that knowing the death certificate calls Anna’s death a homicide brings “a little bit” of relief — but it won’t bring Anna back. “It’s not going to bring Anna back,” she said.

As the investigation continues, the family and many in public wait — hoping that the truth will come to light, and justice will be served.