Judge Now Says Anna Kepner’s 16-Year-Old Stepbrother Is ‘a Suspect’ in Her Cruise Ship Death

A Florida judge has stated in open court that the 16-year-old stepbrother of Anna Kepner is considered a suspect in the 16-year-old’s killing — nearly a month after the beloved cheerleader was found dead aboard a Carnival Horizon cruise in the Caribbean.

The Brevard County, Fla., judge made the remark on Friday, Dec. 5, during a custody-related hearing involving Anna’s stepmother, Shauntel Hudson, and her ex-husband, Thomas Hudson.

“The 16-year-old child is now a suspect of the death of the stepchild during the cruise,” the judge said.

Anna was found dead under a bed on Nov. 7 while traveling on the Carnival Horizon with her father, grandparents, stepmother, siblings and stepsiblings.

According to her death certificate, she died from “mechanical asphyxiation by other person(s),” and her death has been ruled a homicide.

Authorities have not publicly named any suspect. However, court records from the ongoing custody case indicate that the Hudsons’ 16-year-old son — Anna’s stepbrother — became the focus of a criminal investigation soon after her death.

As scrutiny around the teen stepbrother has intensified, Anna’s family has spoken openly about their disbelief.

“He was a normal kid,” Anna’s father, Christopher Kepner, said in an earlier interview about his stepson. “And I would’ve never thought that any of this would’ve happened.”

Anna’s grandparents shared similar reactions in an interview with ABC News, with her grandmother Barbara Kepner saying the two teens had once seemed like “two peas in a pod.”

When asked directly if he believes the stepbrother killed Anna, Christopher replied, “I cannot say that he is responsible but I can’t decline.”

Christopher noted that his stepson was the only other person in the room at the time and said federal investigators are still working the case. “The FBI has an ongoing investigation in which they will have to provide the evidence to say that he did do it or did not do this,” he said.

“I want him to face the consequences,” Christopher added. “I will be fighting to make sure that does happen.”