(NewsNation) — The grandparents of Anna Kepner, the 18-year-old from Florida who died on a cruise ship, are speaking out for the first time since her stepbrother was named a suspect in her death.
Barbara and Jeffrey Kepner spoke with ABC News about the developments in the investigation of Kepner’s death aboard a Carnival Horizon cruise ship earlier this month. Barbara told reporters she could not stop screaming when Anna’s body was discovered during their family trip.
“We were all having a great time,” she said. “I couldn’t fathom why anyone would want to hurt my baby.”
Kepner was a cheerleader at Temple Christian School and was set to graduate in May. Her grandparents said she was hoping to join the U.S. Navy.
“We were looking forward to seeing her grow,” Jeffrey Kepner said. “The cruise itself wasn’t what made me excited. It was the fact that I was gonna get to spend another week with my youngest son and his family and all the grandkids.”
A cause of death has not been announced by authorities, but the Kepner family said the FBI told them that Anna died from asphyxiation. A recent court filing also showed Kepner’s stepmother filed an emergency motion asking for a delay in an unrelated custody hearing.
The document states that the FBI is conducting an investigation arising out of the 18-year-old’s sudden death and says Hudson was informed that one of her children could face criminal charges, according to reports.