Credit: Anna Kepner/Instagram
Haunting Final Post Of Teenager Found Dead On Cruise Ship
The haunting final post of a teenager who was found dead on a Carnival cruise ship has been shared.
Anna Kepner was just months away from graduating high school in Titusville, Florida, when a family holiday turned into a thing of nightmares.
The 18-year-old had been sharing a stateroom on the Carnival Horizon cruise ship, with her half brother, 14, and her step-brother, who was 16 at the time, as it traveled back to Miami from the Caribbean on November 8, last year.
Anna’s family have recalled seeing her cheerfully spending time in the ship’s casino on the evening of November 6, before turning to the cabin she shared with her brothers, but little did they know, that would be the last time they saw her alive.
Anna’s body found in cabin by father
On the morning of November 8, just before the ship docked into Miami, Anna’s dad made a horrifying and devastating discovery, when he found her lifeless body hidden under a bed in her cabin.
Christopher Kepner has recalled the moment he found his daughter wrapped in blanket, surrounded by life vests, and the moment he knew she was dead.
“I checked her pulse. I pulled her out from under the bed. I knew my daughter was dead long before the medical examiner got there,” he told the Daily Mail.
Investigations into the teen’s death reported she had died from mechanical asphyxiation, which means she was deprived of oxygen, likely caused by strangulation or suffocation. Her death has been ruled as a homicide.
Anna’s step-brother charged with her murder
According to authorities, Anna’s step-brother was found to be ‘extremely emotional’ when her body was recovered, with him claiming he had no memory of anything that happened the night before.
Now, the US Department of Justice has announced that the step-brother, known only as T.H. has been charged with first-degree murder and aggravated sexual abuse charges. He has plead not guilty to both charges.
Prosecutors allege the teen ‘sexually assaulted and intentionally killed’ Anna and despite initially facing charges as a juvenile, due to the serious nature of the alleged crimes, he will now be tried as an adult.
Anna’s dad Christopher and his wife Shauntel, who is the step-brother’s mom, have cut ties with T.H., who has been released by police into the care of another family member.
“He’s still saying that he can’t remember and that’s about it. He hasn’t apologized. He hasn’t shown any remorse for anything,” he said.
Christopher has also expressed that the family is ‘deeply troubled that, despite the seriousness of the charges, he has not been taken into custody.’
The whole ordeal has come as a huge shock to the whole family, with Anna’s grandparents insisting she and her step-brother had a great relationship, as they did with the rest of the extended family too.
Barbara Kepner told ABC News, via BBC: “We were all having a great time. I couldn’t fathom why anyone would wanna hurt my baby.”
She said of their happy relationship, there was ‘no such thing as steps,’ adding: “It’s all family. It’s a blended family, yes, but that’s not how our family is. Our dynamic is we’re all just family.”
Anna’s final social media post revealed
The final social media post shared by Anna prior to her death has been revealed and it’s pretty haunting.
On October 30, the 18-year-old had shared a bathroom mirror selfie, with text written across the screen that read: “You deserve to be happy, but if it ain’t with me, then nvm.”
In the caption, Anna added: “Haha I’m not kidding,” with the hashtags ‘#comeherebae’ and ‘#funny’.
She had been planning to join the military after graduating from high school this year.
Anna’s family said in a statement: “She had just finished taking the test to join the military. She was already talking to recruiters and had chosen her career path. She wanted to do something that would help her community.”
Related Article: Haunting Final Text Of Woman Stranded On Remote Island After Cruise Ship Left Without Her
Related Article: Doctor Reveals Disturbing Reason Why You Shouldn’t Go On A Cruise ‘Anytime Soon’
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