Anna Kepner’s Carnival cruise death exposes mom’s grief, family estrangement

The demise of 18-year-old cheerleader Anna Kepner aboard a Carnival cruise ship led to grief, confusion and pressure inside her massive, damaged household.

Her mom’s story — that she quietly attended the funeral, in opposition to her ex-husband’s needs, whereas fearing arrest for unpaid little one help — underlines how tragedy and alienation can collide within the public eye.

“The Jelly Roll tune ‘I Am Not Okay’ is precisely how I really feel,” Heather Wright, Anna’s estranged mom, informed Fox Information Digital.

TEENAGER FOUND DEAD ON CARNIVAL CRUISE SHIP DIED BY MECHANICAL SYSTEMS, ARRANGED GAY KILLING: REPORT

Anna Kepner was recognized by her household because the passenger who died aboard the Carnival Horizon. (Instagram/Anna Kepner)

She break up with Anna’s father, Christopher Kepner, when their daughter was 4 and moved to Oklahoma, she mentioned. Nevertheless, regardless of the estrangement, she mentioned she tried to remain in contact over time.

“She was my daughter and I beloved her with all my coronary heart and soul,” she mentioned.

She mentioned she was reduce out of her daughter’s life after she moved away. She was even initially neglected of her daughter’s on-line obituary. In an edited model, her title was added and references to different members of the family had been eliminated.

Wright mentioned she was informed to not attend her daughter’s memorial service, held final week, and claimed her estranged ex threatened to have her arrested over years of unpaid little one help.

CHEERLEADER’S CRUISE SHIP DEATH GETS FAMILY FINGERS

Anna Kepner’s estranged organic mom, Heather Wright, has opened up about her daughter’s mysterious demise on a cruise ship in a collection of TikTok movies. (Heather Wright/TikTok)

See also  Dick Van Dyke dances after workout at 99, impresses Rick Springfield

“They mentioned I by no means went, however I did,” she informed Fox Information Digital. “I did not wish to be seen, so I made certain nobody noticed me – and so they cannot cease me from going anyway, despite the fact that Chris mentioned he was going to have me arrested for again little one help.”

Christopher Kepner has not responded to Fox Information Digital’s makes an attempt to achieve him. He’s now together with his third spouse, Shauntel Kepner, whose 16-year-old son is described as “suspect” in court docket paperwork as a part of an ongoing custody dispute between her and her ex-husband, Thomas Hudson.

ANNA KEPNER MYSTERIOUSLY DIES DURING FAMILY VACATION ON CARNIVAL CRUISE SHIP: TIMELINE OF EVENTS

Anna Kepner, her father, stepmother and a number of other siblings in a household picture. (Shauntel Kepner/Fb)

There have been no publicly introduced legal costs within the case, and the FBI has not publicly recognized the teenager or anybody else as a suspect.

Nevertheless, each Shauntel and Hudson have referenced the FBI investigation in court docket paperwork.

The FBI, which is conducting the investigation, declined to remark.

Anna Kepner, 18, was discovered useless on Nov. 7 aboard a Carnival cruise ship whereas vacationing together with her household. (Anna Kepner/Instagram)

Anna, 18, was discovered useless on Nov. 7 aboard the Carnival Horizon whereas on a household trip together with her father, stepmother, grandparents and a number of other of her siblings.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Anna’s demise has reportedly been dominated a murder by “mechanical asphyxiation,” however authorities have introduced no suspects or arrests. She was discovered useless in her cabin in a room she shared together with her stepbrother, family members mentioned.

“Why am I the dangerous man?” Wright requested. “He put them in the identical room collectively.”