Father wants stepson punished in cheerleader’s Carnival cruise death

The daddy of an 18-year-old cheerleader discovered useless aboard a Carnival cruise ship says his stepson must be punished if investigators decide he performed a task in her dying.

Christopher Kepner stated his 16-year-old stepson at all times appeared like “a standard child” and remains to be in shock over his daughter’s homicide.

Anna, 18, was discovered useless on Nov. 7 aboard the Carnival Horizon whereas on a household trip together with her father, stepmother, grandparents and several other siblings. She was found wrapped in a blanket and lined in life jackets in a room she shared together with her stepbrother.

“I would like him to face the results… I’ll battle to make it possible for occurs,” Kepner stated told People.

CHEERLEADER’S CRUISE SHIP DEATH GETS FAMILY FINGERS

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

“I do not help what my stepson did,” he stated. Kepner didn’t instantly say that his stepson was accountable for Anna’s dying.

“I can not say he is accountable, however I can not deny it,” he added.

Anna’s dying has reportedly been dominated a murder by “mechanical asphyxiation,” however authorities have introduced no suspects or arrests. She was discovered within the cabin she shared together with her stepbrother, relations stated.

Mechanical asphyxiation signifies that an exterior drive hinders respiratory, Dr. Priya Banerjee, a board-certified forensic pathologist, beforehand informed Fox Information Digital.

Dr. Michael Baden, New York Metropolis’s former chief medical expert, stated mechanical asphyxiation will not be at all times homicide, regardless that it may be, and that it will likely be as much as prosecutors to find out any prices.

Anna Kepner’s household stated she dreamed of becoming a member of the navy. (Instagram/Anna Kepner)

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The FBI is main the investigation and has not publicly named any suspects.

Anna’s stepbrother was recognized in court docket filings by his personal dad and mom as a possible “suspect” amid an unrelated custody dispute. No prices have been filed.

“He was the one one within the room, and the FBI has an ongoing investigation the place they’ll have to offer the proof to say he did or did not do it,” Kepner informed the outlet. “And I by no means thought all this may occur.”

Christopher Kepner (middle, pink hat) arrives at a memorial service for his daughter Anna Kepner at Grove Church in Titusville, Florida on November 20, 2025. (Mark Sims for Fox Information Digital)

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“Proper now, my finest plan of action is to let the FBI do what they’re doing. They’ve the proof they want. In the event that they make the arrest, we’ll see the justice aspect of the difficulty,” he stated.

Kepner was a varsity cheerleader in highschool who deliberate to affix the Navy after commencement and ultimately needed to turn into a Okay-9 police officer.