😱 SHOCKING COURTROOM BOMBSHELL: Anna Kepner’s older stepbrother takes the stand in explosive custody battle – tearfully recalling a terrifying CHOKEHOLD incident where he was allegedly restrained and nearly blacked out by Anna’s dad and stepmom… just months before the cruise ship nightmare! 💔🔥

As the FBI circles Anna’s 16-year-old younger stepbrother for her brutal strangling death, this chilling testimony paints a picture of a volatile blended family exploding with hidden rage and abuse allegations. Was this the powder keg that led to murder at sea? The details are disturbing… 🔪🌊

You won’t believe what else came out in court – click to read the full jaw-dropping revelations rocking the investigation! 👇

Tensions boiled over in a Brevard County courtroom Wednesday as new testimony in a bitter child custody dispute shed fresh light on alleged household volatility in the blended family of slain Florida teen Anna Kepner – whose November death aboard a Carnival cruise ship has been ruled a homicide, with her 16-year-old stepbrother remaining the focus of an FBI investigation.

The hearing, part of an ongoing battle between Anna’s stepmother Shauntel Hudson Kepner and her ex-husband Thomas Hudson, featured dramatic accounts from the couple’s 18-year-old son, Andrew Hudson, who took the stand to describe a disturbing incident from April 2024. Andrew testified that he was placed in a chokehold and physically restrained inside a vehicle by Shauntel and Anna’s father, Christopher Kepner, during a contentious move to Titusville. He claimed the restraint was so severe that he briefly lost consciousness.

Thomas Hudson, the biological father seeking emergency custody modifications for their younger daughter, also testified, raising concerns about the safety of children under Shauntel’s supervision in light of Anna’s death. He accused Christopher Kepner of interfering with custody exchanges and highlighted long-standing conflicts, including claims that Shauntel withheld visitation for over a year and took the children on the fateful cruise without his consent.

The proceedings, which ran from 2:24 p.m. to 3:38 p.m., were cut short due to lengthy opening statements, limiting testimony primarily to Thomas and Andrew Hudson. Subpoenas issued earlier by Shauntel’s attorneys had called witnesses from the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) and Temple Christian School – where Anna and the siblings were enrolled until recently withdrawn amid media scrutiny – but time constraints prevented their appearances. The hearing is set to continue at a later date.

Shauntel Kepner, accompanied by Christopher and Anna’s grandfather Jeffrey Kepner, attended but did not testify extensively. Attorneys on both sides declined comment outside the courthouse, citing ongoing proceedings.

The custody fight has become inextricably linked to the federal homicide probe into 18-year-old Anna Kepner’s death. On November 7, while the Carnival Horizon was off the coast of Cuba, a steward discovered her body concealed under a bed in the cabin she shared with her 14-year-old biological brother and 16-year-old stepbrother. The Miami-Dade Medical Examiner ruled the cause as mechanical asphyxia – consistent with strangulation – and the manner a homicide by another person.

Court filings from both Shauntel and Christopher have repeatedly referred to the 16-year-old – Thomas Hudson’s son from his marriage to Shauntel – as a “suspect” under FBI scrutiny. His attorney has noted uncertainty over potential state or federal charges. Immediately after the ship docked in Miami on November 9, the teen was hospitalized for psychiatric evaluation, then released to live with a maternal relative at an undisclosed location known only to parents and law enforcement.

Shauntel’s legal team has argued the relocation was to “remove any risk of danger to the other children in the home.” In prior hearings, she described Anna, the 16-year-old, and the 14-year-old as “the three amigos” and “best friends” who chose to share a cabin on the cruise.

However, contrasting accounts have emerged. Anna’s aunt, Krystal Wright, has publicly claimed her niece felt uncomfortable around the stepbrother, alleging ongoing issues. Anna’s ex-boyfriend has told media outlets he witnessed inappropriate behavior, including an incident where the stepbrother allegedly attempted to climb on top of Anna during a FaceTime call months before her death.

Grandparents Barbara and Jeffrey Kepner, who were also on the cruise, have defended the family dynamic, telling reporters the teens were “two peas in a pod.” They recounted the stepbrother appearing emotionally distraught afterward, claiming he “does not remember what happened” – a statement Barbara said she believes as his truth. Surveillance footage reportedly shows him as the only person entering and exiting the cabin around the time of death.

No charges have been filed in Anna’s case, and the FBI has provided no public updates, citing the active investigation. Toxicology results and full autopsy details remain pending.

The intertwined cases highlight strains in the blended Kepner-Hudson household. Anna, a straight-A cheerleader at Temple Christian School with aspirations to join the military, was remembered by friends as bubbly and kind. Her death has drawn widespread attention, with online speculation intensifying amid leaked family photos and cruise videos showing her dancing joyfully at a deck party days earlier.

Thomas Hudson’s emergency motions argue Anna’s death raises broader safety concerns, while Shauntel’s side pushes for privacy, previously seeking to seal proceedings to protect the minor potentially facing charges.

As the custody battle resumes, potential testimony from school officials, DCF investigators, and possibly even Anna’s father Christopher – previously subpoenaed – could reveal more about pre-cruise dynamics. Attorneys have floated calling the 16-year-old himself, though his involvement remains sensitive given the criminal probe.

Carnival Cruise Line continues to cooperate with authorities, stating passenger safety is paramount. The Horizon has returned to service, recently aiding hurricane relief efforts.

Anna’s biological mother, Heather Wright, has spoken of exclusion from family events, including the funeral, amid longstanding tensions. Tributes continue to pour in for the teen, whose life was cut short on what was meant to be a celebratory family tradition.

The case serves as a stark reminder of how private family fractures can erupt into public tragedy, leaving investigators to untangle motive, opportunity, and truth in confined quarters at sea.

With subpoenas signaling progress in the federal probe and courtroom revelations exposing alleged abuse claims, pressure mounts for answers in a saga blending grief, accusation, and unresolved mystery.