TITUSVILLE, Fla. (WFLA) — Newly released court documents reveal new details about a family’s response to the death of 18-year-old Anna Kepner, who was killed while aboard a cruise ship last month.
Kepner’s body was found underneath a bed on the ship on Nov. 7. Her cause of death was determined to be asphyxiation and was ruled a homicide.
The documents, obtained by WESH, were filed as part of a child custody dispute between Kepner’s stepmother, Shauntell Hudson Kepner, and her ex-husband, Thomas Hudson.
They share custody of Kepner’s 16-year-old stepbrother, who was aboard the cruise at the time of her death.
After Kepner was found dead, Shauntell Hudson Kepner and Thomas Hudson discussed how they were going to tell their two other children about the incident.
On Nov. 9, she texted him to say she spoke with their son for less than two minutes and he repeatedly insisted that he could not remember anything about what happened, WESH reported. Hudson said he wanted the boy to know that he was still loved, regardless of the circumstances.
Kepner’s stepbrother, who is under investigation in connection with her death, is currently staying with another relative, documents stated.
No charges have been filed in connection to Kepner’s death, which remains under investigation.