Grandmother of Florida teen killed found dead stuffed under bed on Carnival cruise says step brother had complicated past and that the family is shocked that he is named as possible suspect in her death.
Will a 16 year old Florida boy be facing charges in the death of his 18 year old step sister?
The grandmother of a Florida cheerleader found dead on a Carnival cruise ship earlier this month said the victim’s stepbrother told cops he ‘didn’t remember what happened’ before he was named as a suspect.
Anna Kepner, 18, was discovered in her cabin on November 7, wrapped in a blanket and covered with life vests, stuffed under a bed during a Caribbean getaway ith her blended family.
Anna Kepner grandmother, Barbara says slain cheerleader and step brother were like ‘brother and sister’
Anna’s 16-year-old stepbrother, since identified as Timothy ‘Tim’ Hudson on social media, was identified as a suspect in her ongoing murder investigation soon after, with authorities saying that Anna’s cause of death was determined to be asphyxiation via a bar hold – meaning an arm was pressed across her neck.
On Monday, her grandmother, Barbara Kepner, appearing on Good Morning America said that her family were stunned that Anna’s stepbrother was accused.
‘They were like brother and sister, he was a good student,’ she said. ‘He played soccer, and is a very quiet young man.’
Barbara who along with husband, Anna’s grandfather, Jeffrey Kepner who had traveled with the extended family on the Carnival Horizon earlier this month, said that the 16-year-old ‘had demons in his past and was trying to deal with those.’
The grandmother further revealed Anna’s stepbrother breaking down when confronted by investigators after Anna’s body was found, ABC News reported.
‘I heard him say in his own words that he does not remember what happened,’ the grandparent told the outlet.
Anna Kepner’s Stepbrother said:
He does not remember what happened…
The Grand Parents of Anna Kepner speak out.
Also included below is information from Anna’s former boyfriend. #AnnaKepner#cruiseship#Florida pic.twitter.com/dyUQ25yh3M
— Jennifer Coffindaffer (@CoffindafferFBI) November 24, 2025
Anna Kepner grandmother dumbfounded by Florida cheerleader’s death
‘During (his police interview) he was an emotional mess, he couldn’t speak, he couldn’t believe what happened.’
The grandmother said her family are bewildered over what occurred in Anna’s cabin.
‘(Her stepbrother) was in the room with her, he was the only one seen coming and going,’ she continued.
‘I cant accuse him because I don’t know what happened in that room, but the summation would be that he did something.’
‘We were all having a great time,’ Barbara Kepner told GoodMorning America. ‘I couldn’t fathom why anyone would wanna hurt my baby.’
Barbara said she last saw Anna alive the previous night at dinner, after she told her she ‘didn’t feel well.’ Anna would be found dead the following late morning by a maid cleaning the cabin room the cheerleader had shared with her 14 year old brother and 16 year old step-brother.
Twisted family affair with fateful Caribbean getaway consequences
Asked what justice looks like for the family, the grandmother replied that it’s ‘whatever the law says.’
‘I’m not gonna look for anything more or anything less, and that’s for the courts to decide,’ the grandmother added.
Anna had been on a six-day Caribbean getaway with her family when she was discovered dead while mega-liner Carnival Horizon was in international waters between Mexico and Florida.
A separate family law court matter involving Anna’s stepmother, Shauntel Hudson, 36, and her ex husband, Thomas Hudson led to the stepmom revealing that her son, Tim Hudson was now being considered as a possible ‘suspect’ over the death of the teen from Titusville, Florida.
Anna was sharing the cabin with her 14-year-old brother as well as the 16-year-old. The two boys had bunk beds and Anna was in her own, according to a source.
At a memorial service for Anna, her ex boyfriend Josh Tew alleged complicity against her stepbrother.
Josh, who broke up with Anna six months ago, claimed the 16-year-old tried to climb on top of her against her will months before she died.
He also gave chilling details about the last moments of Anna’s life before she was discovered and the vessel returned to Miami a day later, including the 14 year old brother telling him he heard a ‘ruckus’ between Anna and the 16 step brother, including screaming and the sounds of furniture being moved before the teen was found dead.
Known by her nickname Anna Banana, Anna Kepner, 18, was set to graduate in May and had plans to join the military.
A gymnast and varsity cheerleader, she attended Temple Christian School in Titusville, where her Kia Forte remained parked up this week, covered in flowers and tributes from heartbroken pals.
She was a ‘bright, kind-hearted young woman whose presence brought warmth and energy into the classroom,’ the school said in a Facebook post.
As of November 24, no criminal charges have been filed in the case, with the FBI stating it has not comments to make public in the immediate. But would they in the days ahead…?
