New details have surfaced in the ongoing investigation into the death of 18-year-old Anna Kepner, the Titusville teen found dead earlier this month aboard the Carnival Horizon cruise ship. Federal court documents now indicate her 16-year-old stepbrother, Timothy Hudson, has been identified as a suspect — and witnesses allege he had become “obsessed” with Anna prior to her death.
According to statements reviewed by investigators, a former boyfriend reported that Hudson’s behavior toward Anna had grown increasingly fixated in the months leading up to the cruise. Authorities are examining those claims as part of the expanding federal investigation.
No charges have been filed, and the FBI has not released any official findings regarding Anna’s cause or manner of death.
The family has appeared divided since the incident, with rising tensions linked to the stepbrother’s involvement. Some relatives were reportedly instructed not to attend Anna’s funeral, which was held Thursday in Orlando.
Anna’s biological mother, Heather Wright, traveled from Oklahoma to Florida but said she received no direct communication from law enforcement or family members regarding her daughter’s death.
“I found out through Google,” Wright said. “Nobody called me — not the FBI, not her father, nobody.”
Reporters observed Anna’s vehicle still parked at the family’s Titusville home, where those inside declined to speak publicly.
Anna, a student at Temple Christian School, was remembered as joyful, caring, and full of energy. Her mother described her as someone who “always wanted to make people laugh” and loved swimming.
Court records from a separate custody dispute formally name Timothy Hudson as a suspect in the cruise-ship case, though investigators have not disclosed what evidence links him to Anna’s death.
The Miami-Dade Medical Examiner’s Office is expected to release autopsy results soon, which may provide critical clarity. Until then, Anna’s family and community remain in anguish, waiting for answers.
A public celebration of life is scheduled at 5 p.m. Thursday at The Grove Church in Titusville, where attendees are encouraged to wear bright colors in honor of Anna’s vibrant spirit.
