Anna Kepner, the 18-year-old who was found dead on a Caribbean cruise ship earlier this month, died from asphyxiation, according to ABC News, citing sources close to the investigation.
Kepner was discovered beneath a bed on a Carnival cruise on Nov. 8. Investigators have preliminarily determined that her death resulted from asphyxiation caused by a bar hold — or an arm pressed across her neck — the outlet reported.
Officials say Kepner’s body showed no signs of sexual assault, and early findings indicate no drugs or alcohol in her system. Full autopsy and toxicology results have not yet been released.
When reached on Friday, the Miami-Dade Medical Examiner Department declined to comment on the cause or manner of death, noting that the investigation is still ongoing. The FBI also did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Kepner, a high-school cheerleader from Titusville, Florida, had been traveling with her father, stepmother, and two step-siblings, according to previous reporting from CBS News.
