BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. – As authorities investigate the death of 18-year-old Anna Kepner on a Carnival cruise ship last month, the Titusville teen’s stepmother appeared in court Friday in a separate matter.
Shauntel Kepner, who is married to Anna Kepner’s biological father Christopher Kepner, is in a dispute with her ex-husband over the custody of their two minor children, a 9-year-old girl and 16-year-old boy.
That 16-year-old boy is a “suspect” in the murder of his stepsister Nov. 7 on the Carnival Horizon, according to his family.
The FBI has not confirmed the stepbrother is a suspect in Anna Kepner’s death, nor has the agency disclosed details about its investigation.
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According to family members, a cabin steward found the teen’s body under the bed of her stateroom.
Anna Kepner died from asphyxiation, the family said they were told by investigators. There is no indication the teen had been sexually assaulted, they noted.
Under questioning from her ex-husband’s attorney about the cruise, Shauntel Kepner testified that she shared a stateroom with her biological nine-year-old daughter, her husband Christopher Kepner, and Christopher Kepner’s biological nine-year-old daughter.
Anna Kepner shared a different stateroom with her 14-year-old brother and 16-year-old stepbrother, Shauntel Kepner said.
“Where was their room in relation to your room?” the ex-husband’s attorney asked.
“Right across the hall,” Shauntel Kepner replied. “You walked out my door, and theirs was right in front of it.”
Shauntel Kepner later explained that the three teens had voluntarily chosen to share a room rather than join their grandparents in a different room a few decks above.
“They wanted to stay together,” Shauntel Kepner testified. “The three of them, like the Three Amigos, are best friends.”
Shauntel Kepner said she last saw the three teens as she headed to bed around 7:30 p.m. the night before Anna Kepner’s body was found.
“With the teenagers across the hall, did you ever go in and check on them?” the ex-husband’s attorney asked.
“I had went to sleep,” replied Shauntel Kepner.
Shauntel Kepner said her 16-year-old son is currently living with a relative, in part to ensure the safety of his siblings and stepsiblings, while her 9-year-old daughter continues to reside with her.
Thomas Hudson, the children’s father, had asked a judge to address the placement of his son while also giving him additional parenting time with his daughter.
In an emergency motion seeking court intervention, Hudson referenced his son’s status as a “suspect” in Anna Kepner’s death.
“The sixteen-year-old’s future has been put in jeopardy because of the choices made by (his mother),” Hudson wrote. “The youngest child is at immediate risk of abuse, abandonment, or neglect in the care of (her mother).”
[WATCH BELOW: Stepbrother ‘suspect’ hospitalized after Anna Kepner’s death on cruise ship]
Shauntel Kepner denies the allegations made by her ex-husband and has asked a judge to reject his requests.
At the conclusion of Friday’s court hearing, the judge determined the former couple’s nine-year-old daughter was not in any immediate danger and did not alter their existing custody arrangement.
Christopher Kepner, who has been married to Shauntel Kepner for less than year, was subpoenaed to testify at Friday’s court hearing but was ultimately not called to the witness stand.
He declined to speak with reporters after the court hearing.
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