(This version updates with information about court hearing today. Corrects spelling of judge’s name.)
An Oklahoma woman who said her daughter was the teen who died aboard a Carnival cruise ship earlier this month said she didn’t find out about her daughter’s death until days after it happened.
“My beautiful baby girl was found dead Friday and I just found out last night,” Heather Wright posted on TikTok Nov. 11. “Her dad and step mom didn’t even try to contact me so I’m gonna give that to God and let him sort it out along with who ever did this to my baby girl.”
Anna Marie Kepner, an 18-year-old high school senior from Titusville, was found dead aboard the Carnival Horizon cruise ship Nov. 7. She had been cruising with her father, stepmother and stepsiblings aboard the ship, which departed from Miami.
The FBI launched an investigation and according to Nov. 17 court filings by Kepner’s stepmother, Shauntel Hudson, one of Kepner’s stepsiblings may be implicated in her death.
“(Hudson) has been advised through discussions with FBI investigators and her attorneys, that a criminal case may be initiated against one of the minor children of this instant action,” court documents read, citing an “extremely sensitive,” circumstance.
The FBI has not commented and no charges have been filed.
Court hearing references FBI investigation
The stepsibling’s parents appeared in a virtual emergency hearing before Brevard County Circuit Judge Michelle Studstill on Nov. 20. The boy’s father was joined by his attorney, Scott Smith, who acknowledged his client’s son was involved in the case that is getting “national news.”
“Apparently there’s an FBI investigation ongoing that the mother took the two younger children on a cruise and that the older child who is approximately 16 years of age is a suspect in the death of the stepchild, an 18 year old daughter that was in the same room, staying in the same room on the cruise ship so we’re very concerned with those circumstances,” Smith said during the hearing.
He added that the 16-year-old is staying with a maternal relative in the Hernando County area.
How did Anna Marie Kepner die?
It’s not clear yet how the Temple Christian School student and cheerleader died.
Her body was found under a bed by an employee cleaning the cabin. An autopsy was performed and preliminary results could be released in the coming days.
“ANNA MARIE I MISS YOU SO MUCH YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW SHATTERED I AM OVER THIS… PLEASE FORGIVE ME FOR NOT BEING THERE IM SO SORRY,” read the TikTok post by Wright, whose account is Justmom1984.
In a phone interview with FOX 13, Wright said she hadn’t seen her daughter regularly in recent years, but recalled her as an “extremely happy child” who always tried to make others smile.
Anna Marie Kepner’s funeral held among death investigation
Kepner’s funeral was held the evening of Nov. 20 at The Grove Church in Titusville, where she was a member of the youth group.
Those wishing to send flowers to Kepner’s family or plant a tree in her memory are able to do so through the North Brevard Funeral Home website.
Spitzer is a Trending Reporter. She can be reached at MSpitzer@Floridatoday.com.
This article originally appeared on Florida Today: “Please forgive me for not being there,” posts woman claiming to be Anna Kepner’s mom
Reporting by Michelle Spitzer, Florida Today / Florida Today
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