Anna Kepner the Teenager Who Died Aboard a Carnival Cruise Ship

Teen Remembered for ‘Pure Energy’ After Death on Carnival Cruise Ship

Anna Kepner — who was found dead on a Carnival cruise ship on Nov. 8 — will be remembered for her adventurous spirit, bright smile and “endless energy.”

On Nov. 9, one day after the Carnival Horizon ship returned to port following a passenger’s death onboard, Kepner’s relatives identified her as the deceased in an interview with ABC News. A Carnival Cruise Line spokesperson said the case is being investigated by the FBI.

“Since this is an ongoing matter under the jurisdiction of law enforcement, it is up to the FBI’s Miami public affairs office to provide further details,” the statement noted. “Our focus is on supporting the family of our guest.”

Reflecting on her life, Kepner’s loved ones described her to ABC News as a “people person.”

“She loved being around people,” they said. “She had that type of energy that just drew you in with her smile.”

From her childhood in Florida to the plans she was making for her future, here’s what is known about Anna Kepner, the teenager who died aboard a Carnival cruise ship.

She Grew Up in Central Florida

Kepner was born on June 13, 2007, to Christopher Kepner and Heather Wright, according to her obituary. ABC News reported that she grew up in Titusville, Fla., a town roughly 40 miles from Orlando.

Kepner’s parents were not married at the time of her death. Her father’s wife, Shauntel Kepner, is listed in the obituary as the late teenager’s stepmother.

She Was a Cheerleader with Dreams of Serving in the Military

Kepner attended Titusville High School, where she was a member of the varsity cheer team, and later Astronaut High School before enrolling at Temple Christian School, her obituary states. A high school senior, she was expected to graduate in 2026.

A devoted Georgia Bulldogs fan, Kepner hoped to become a cheerleader for the University of Georgia. She also planned to join the U.S. Navy and eventually work as a K9 police officer, according to her obituary.

“She had just finished taking the test to join the military,” her family told ABC News. “She was already talking to recruiters and had chosen her career path. She wanted to do something that would help her community.”

Her Family Called Her ‘Pure Energy’

In her obituary, Kepner is remembered as “pure energy” — “bubbly, funny, outgoing, and completely herself.”

“She never had a filter, and that was part of her charm,” the tribute reads. “Whether she was practicing new makeup looks (even if she had nowhere to go), making TikToks in front of the mirror, or blasting a perfectly curated playlist on the boat, Anna lived every day with her whole heart. She loved the sun, the water, boat days, island days, and beach days, anything that let her soak in the light she so easily radiated to others.”

The teenager loved “all kinds of music” — except heavy metal — and had a special affection for “Stitches” singer Shawn Mendes. She also loved children, dolphins, butterflies, arts and crafts, and doing puzzles with her Memaw.

Her relatives told ABC News that “if you were sad, she’d make you laugh.”

“She would joke around and be the funniest little person in school,” they added.

She Was One of Eight Siblings

Kepner was a sister to seven siblings: Andrew, Tim, Alex, Connor, Cody, Kylie and Brooke. Some of them are her stepsiblings from her father’s second marriage.

“She loved her siblings deeply and made sure they always felt it whether it be taking them to the park, Halloween Horror Nights, or just out for fun, because that’s who she was: thoughtful, nurturing, and always thinking of others,” her obituary notes.

She Died While on a Caribbean Cruise with Her Family

On Nov. 8, Kepner was found dead while traveling on the Carnival Horizon cruise from Miami to the Caribbean, ABC News reported.

Nearly 10 days later, CBS News shared that a housekeeper discovered her body under the bed in her stateroom, citing law enforcement sources.

According to the outlet, she had been traveling with her father, his wife and three of her stepsiblings. The night before she was found, she had returned to her room after telling them she was not feeling well.

The investigation remains ongoing, with law enforcement and the FBI reviewing surveillance video, electronic swipe card data and interviewing others who were on the ship at the time of the family’s trip.

On Nov. 19, NBC News reported that one of Kepner’s stepsiblings is being scrutinized by federal agents in connection with her death. The detail emerged from a court filing in a separate case involving her stepmother’s former marriage. According to NBC News, the document stated that the alleged suspect in Kepner’s death has the initials T.H.