Father of Titusville Teen Found Dead on Carnival Cruise Subpoenaed in Custody Battle
By Fox News // November 25, 2025
FBI Investigating the death of Anna Kepner
ABOVE VIDEO: Anna Kepner cruise death becoming ‘quagmire’ amid FBI review
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA (FOX NEWS) – The father of a Florida cheerleader who died under suspicious circumstances aboard a Carnival cruise ship has been subpoenaed to testify in a bitter custody battle between his wife and her ex-husband.
Christopher Kepner is the father of 18-year-old Anna Kepner, who was found dead in her cabin around 11:15 a.m. on Nov. 7. She was on a family vacation with her father, stepmother, grandparents and some of her siblings.
The FBI is investigating her death — which her family told ABC News was ruled a homicide by mechanical asphyxiation.
While the bureau hasn’t publicly identified anyone as a suspect, and no criminal charges have been filed, the feud in family court between Christopher’s wife, Shauntel Kepner, and her ex-husband, Thomas Hudson, has revealed that their 16-year-old son is being investigated by the FBI in connection with Anna’s death.
Christopher Kepner has been ordered to testify during a Dec. 5 hearing in Brevard County, according to a subpoena filed by Hudson’s attorney, Scott Smith.
After Anna’s death, Hudson asked the judge for custody of the daughter he shares with Shauntel, arguing in part that her parenting has directly put their 16-year-old son’s future “in jeopardy.”
While the bureau hasn’t publicly identified anyone as a suspect, and no criminal charges have been filed, the feud in family court between Christopher’s wife, Shauntel Kepner, and her ex-husband, Thomas Hudson, has revealed that their 16-year-old son is being investigated by the FBI in connection with Anna’s death.
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