Anna Kepner's Divorced Parents Speak Out About the Suspected Killer and Who They Believe Is Responsible for Her Death

A family already marked by distance is now facing a loss too heavy for any of them to carry alone. In the wake of the sudden death of the Florida cheerleader, the people closest to her are navigating a storm of grief, confusion, and long-standing silence they can no longer avoid.

Authorities are still sorting through the circumstances surrounding the death of 18-year-old Anna Kepner. In the meantime, her parents, Christopher Kepner and Heather Wright, have begun sharing conflicting accounts of what they believe happened on the ship and who may ultimately be responsible.

Anna was found dead under a bed aboard the Carnival Horizon on November 7, 2025, one day after dining with her family, according to her father in an interview with People. The teen's death certificate, obtained by the outlet, lists the cause as "mechanically asphyxiated by other person(s)." The FBI is investigating.

Estranged Mother Says She Was Barred from the Memorial and Blames Her Ex

Her mother, Heather Wright, who split from Christopher when Anna was four, told Fox News Digital that she had been distanced from her daughter's life for a long time. She said she moved to Oklahoma and tried to maintain contact, but was gradually pushed out — even excluded from Anna's online obituary until it was later edited.

Heather described herself as deeply shaken by the loss, saying the grief has left her struggling to function. She emphasized the depth of her love for her daughter, insisting that the bond they shared remained strong despite years of distance.

She also recounted being warned to stay away from the recent memorial service, alleging that Christopher threatened legal consequences tied to old child-support issues if she showed up. Heather questioned why she was being painted as the villain when she was trying to mourn her child.

Heather added that she partly blames her ex-husband for what happened because, she said, he "put them in the same room together."

She later addressed the public backlash in a TikTok video she posted under the username @justmom1984, writing, "I don't care about ur judgment and opinions about me they are irrelevant to me so just know I don't and won't read what u have to say [sic]." — a clip in which commenters overwhelmingly expressed support.

One supporter wrote, "As bad of a mother as they may accuse you to be, at least you didn't PUT her in a dangerous situation that resulted in her death. That's all on dad [sic]." Another commenter told her, "She didnt pass on your watch so people need not comment on your parenting."

Father Hints at Stepson's Involvement: 'I Want Him to Face the Consequences/

Christopher confirmed in People’s reporting that court filings in an unrelated custody case revealed his 16-year-old stepson is possibly under investigation in connection with Anna's death. He said he last saw Anna at a family dinner on the night of November 6. By the next day, a housekeeper found her body hidden under a bed.

While declining to confirm or deny what he knows about his stepson’s alleged involvement, he told the outlet, "I do not stand behind what my stepson has done," adding:

"I want him to face the consequences ... I will be fighting to make sure that does happen."

When pressed on whether he believes the teen was responsible, Christopher said, "I cannot say that he is responsible but I can't decline. He was the only one that was in the room and the FBI has an ongoing investigation in which they will have to provide the evidence to say that he did do it or did not do this [sic]."

As federal investigators work to determine who killed Anna, the grief-stricken family remains divided — a fractured dynamic now unfolding in the public eye. Heather blames Christopher, while Christopher signals that his stepson may face consequences.

Anna's death, and the deeply strained relationships surrounding her, continue to raise urgent questions about accountability, safety aboard cruise ships, and a family grappling with loss amid long-standing turmoil.

As her parents continue to address the circumstances of her death, we previously reported accounts that offered more profound insight into the tensions Anna faced within her blended family.

A Troubled Family Dynamic Emerges

Anna's ex-boyfriend, Joshua Westin, painted a chilling picture of events leading up to her death, revealing that he once witnessed the stepbrother enter Anna's bedroom during a late-night FaceTime call. According to Joshua, the stepbrother tried to climb onto Anna as she lay down, but fled when he shouted, "What the [expletive] are you doing in her room?"

Anna never told her family about the incident. Joshua said Anna often kept her worries to herself because she was afraid speaking up might make things worse. He recalled that she never felt entirely at ease around her stepfamily, especially since they were still relatively new to her life — Shauntel had only been with Anna's father for about a year.

The ex-boyfriend added that Anna once told him Shauntel "doesn't really like her… she has an attitude most of the time and was very controlling over her." The ex-boyfriend said Anna disliked living with Shauntel's family so much that she frequently stayed with friends instead. He shared how close they had been — he'd even planned to be on the cruise with her.

Joshua's father, Stephen Westin, said the teen boy was obsessed with Anna, despite being her stepbrother. "He always wanted to date her," Stephen told Inside Edition. Stephen added that his son tried to raise concerns with Anna's family, but was brushed aside.

As the investigation proceeds, the stepbrother — whose identity remains protected due to his age — could face criminal charges, according to the Daily Mail.

Custody Battle Casts Harsh Light on Internal Strife

Recent court filings have shed further light on the troubled dynamics inside the blended family. The New York Post reported that Shauntel and her ex-husband, Thomas Hudson, are locked in a custody dispute in which each accuses the other of endangering their children.

In an emergency motion obtained by the Post, Shauntel alleged that Thomas emotionally and physically abused their two youngest children — one of whom is the 16-year-old now at the center of the FBI probe. Christopher, Shauntel, Anna, and two of Shauntel's children boarded the cruise on November 2. Less than a week later, the vacation ended in tragedy.

The FBI has yet to issue any public updates, leaving lingering questions, unresolved accusations, and fractured relationships in the wake of the cheerleader's death.

For now, the investigation remains the only part of this case moving forward with certainty. Until authorities determine what happened inside that cabin, the people who knew Anna Kepner are left confronting their own versions of the truth — and the painful reality that her final hours exposed fractures that may never fully mend.