TITUSVILLE, Fla. – Anna Kepner’s stepmother sought to have court records sealed in a child custody case involving Kepner’s younger stepbrother, who is under investigation for her “suspected murder” on a Carnival cruise ship, according to court documents.
However, on Wednesday, the judge overseeing the custody case denied Shauntel Kepner’s request to seal the records and prevent the parties from sharing information, offering no further explanation for the decision.
[VIDEO: Court hearing: Stepbrother ‘suspect’ hospitalized after Anna Kepner’s death on cruise ship]
The decision comes as Christopher Kepner, Anna Kepner’s father, was subpoenaed by Shauntel Hudson’s ex-husband, Thomas Hudson, whose attorney had indicated plans to call Christopher Kepner as a witness at a child custody hearing scheduled for Dec. 5.
Anna Kepner, 18, was found dead Nov. 7 aboard a Carnival cruise ship, one day before it was scheduled to return to PortMiami. CBS News has reported that her body was discovered by a housekeeper underneath the bed in her stateroom.
According to court documents filed by his parents, the 16-year-old stepbrother of Anna Kepner has been identified as a suspect in her death.
The Titusville teen’s death has drawn international attention and remains shrouded in uncertainty. Neither the FBI nor Carnival has said publicly how Kepner died, whether a crime occurred, or what led agents to focus on the teen.
[VIDEO: Grandparents share details on Anna Kepner’s death]
In an interview with ABC News, Kepner’s paternal grandparents said they were told by the FBI that their granddaughter died of asphyxiation and showed no signs of sexual assault, drug use, or alcohol use.