The carefree escape of a Caribbean cruise turned into a waking nightmare for one Florida family earlier this month with the tragic death of 18-year-old Anna Kepner. Anna, a beloved high school cheerleader with a “joyful, outgoing” spirit, was found deceased in her cabin aboard the Carnival Horizon, and the disturbing details that have emerged since point to an unthinkable act of violence—and an alleged suspect much closer than anyone could imagine.
The high school senior, affectionately known as “Anna Banana,” was on a family vacation with her father, stepmother, and step-siblings when she was reported missing. The search ended tragically on November 8th, when a cabin steward made a horrific discovery: Anna’s body, wrapped in a blanket and hidden under a bed in the stateroom she had shared. Preliminary reports from a source close to the investigation have indicated that her death was caused by asphyxiation from a “bar hold,” which involves an arm being pressed against the neck. Investigators also noted two bruises on the side of her neck, though they found no signs of drugs, alcohol, or sexual assault in her system.
While federal authorities—specifically the FBI, which has jurisdiction because the death occurred in international waters—have made no official arrests, court documents and insider statements have put the spotlight firmly on one individual: Anna’s 16-year-old stepbrother, Timothy Hudson. In filings related to his parents’ separate custody dispute, both his mother and father acknowledged that the minor, identified as “T.H.,” is under FBI investigation as a suspect in Anna’s death. This shocking development has rocked the community and painted a dark picture of the family dynamic preceding the cruise.
Statements from Anna’s former boyfriend, Joshua Tew, have further fueled the speculation and offered a glimpse into a deeply unsettling relationship between the step-siblings. Tew alleges that Timothy was “obsessed” with Anna and repeatedly tried to pursue her romantically, despite their family connection. Most chillingly, Tew claims he once witnessed Timothy climb on top of Anna while she was asleep during a video call. Other friends and family have also recounted feeling uneasy around Timothy, noting that he reportedly carried a knife regularly, which made Anna feel uncomfortable and even fearful.
The night before Anna’s body was found, a younger sibling reportedly heard “yelling and a commotion” coming from the cabin she was sharing, believing Anna was locked inside alone with Timothy. The sibling allegedly assumed the situation wasn’t serious and later went to sleep, operating under the mistaken belief that Anna had simply left the room. This reported detail underscores the chaotic and potentially volatile atmosphere that may have been brewing on the ship, hidden behind the façade of a family vacation.
Following the return of the Carnival Horizon to PortMiami, court testimony revealed that Timothy Hudson was immediately transported to a hospital for an undisclosed reason, and his parents have since agreed that he should temporarily reside with a relative. In a particularly heartbreaking layer to this complex story, Anna’s biological mother, Heather Wright, shared via a self-recorded social media video that she was completely blindsided by the tragedy, learning of her daughter’s death not from a family member or authorities, but by a simple Google search.
Anna, a dedicated athlete who attended Temple Christian School and dreamed of cheering for the Georgia Bulldogs, is being remembered as a “thoughtful, nurturing” soul who “lived every day with her whole heart.” As the FBI continues its active investigation, analyzing surveillance video, electronic key card data, and cell phone records, the full story of what truly happened inside that cabin remains a mystery, but the preliminary details already paint a devastating portrait of a young life violently cut short amid a troubled family backdrop.
