MIAMI — An investigation into the mysterious death of a woman onboard a Carnival cruise ship that left from South Florida remains open and active.
Authorities said 18-year-old Anna Kepner was found dead on the Carnival Horizon back on Nov. 7.
The ship returned to PortMiami as scheduled the following day.
Investigators from the FBI field office in Miami are examining the circumstances that led up to Kepner’s death, with the girl’s 16-year-old stepsibling now considered a suspect.
According to court documents addressed to Kepner’s step-mother in an unrelated family court case, “The respondent took the remaining minor children on a cruise with a step-child of her paramour. The sixteen-year-old child is now a suspect in the death of the step-child during the cruise.”
Another document indicates something similar, stating, “A criminal case may be initiated against one of the kids.”
Court documents also indicated that the step-sibling is currently staying with a third party.
Because the death happened in international waters, the FBI is in charge of the investigation.
So far, agents have not released any information on a possible suspect or said how Kepner died.
In a statement, Carnival Cruise Line said, in part:
“Carnival Cruise Line is fully cooperating with the Miami office of the FBI in the investigation of the death of a guest traveling on Carnival Horizon last week. The ship returned to PortMiami as planned on Saturday morning, Nov. 8 and the FBI has advised that there is no related threat to safety aboard as it sails its current voyage.”
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