VIERA, FL – Recently revealed text messages between the stepmother and father of 18-year-old Anna Kepner, who died this past November while aboard a Caribbean-bound Carnival cruise ship, detail conversations between the two regarding concerns over their 16-year-old son who remains a suspect in Kepner’s death.
Few details have been released publicly in the ongoing investigation of Kepner’s death, who died on November 7th while aboard a vacation cruise line while with her grandparents, father, stepmother, and siblings. A death certificate reportedly produced by the family of the deceased claimed Kepner’s cause of death was mechanical asphyxia caused “by other person(s),” but an official autopsy has yet to be released publicly by officials.
Court documents in an unrelated case involving Kepner’s family revealed that the couple’s 16-year-old son, who was staying inside the same cabin as Kepner while aboard the cruise ship, is considered to be a suspect in the teen’s death. While the juvenile has yet to be officially charged with Kepner’s mysterious passing, texts shared between his parents outlined their concerns of what may come of the ongoing investigation.
Thomas Hudson and his wife, Shauntel Hudson-Kepner, reportedly discussed days after Kepner’s death that things are “supposed to be hush hush for now” while contending with social media discourse where speculation was brewing about Kepner’s apparent homicide.
“OK, I know everything is supposed to be hush hush for now but I’ve seen that it is still getting out with post and comments between Facebook TikTok and stuff,” Thomas reportedly texted his wife two days after Kepner died, adding, “I just want to make sure until things are certain that he doesn’t get [any] unnecessary comments towards him.”
In Shauntel’s response to the above message, she acknowledged that their 16-year-old son could be “booked on charges” pending the results of an autopsy but tried to assuage her husband’s concerns by highlighting that their efforts to keep their son’s name out of the media have been successful thus far.
“Nobody knows anything about him,” Shauntel wrote, adding, “He is a minor and has been kept completely out of it.” After referencing conversations the family had with the FBI, Shauntel concluded with, “Everybody’s just speculating, we know what I told you last night and we’ll know exactly more when the autopsy is done. Once we get the autopsy today, depending on what it says, depend on whether he’s booked on those charges.”
A former sheriff’s detective, Jamie Copenhaver, described the family’s conversations as being akin to the ongoings of a “PR department” more focused on protecting a loved one’s reputation and freedom rather than getting to the bottom of their teenage daughter’s death.
“They did damage control, their own PR department,” Copenhaver stated, adding, “I’m going to say 100% they know more than what they are telling. We are going to protect you. We are going to keep you out of the light. Let’s stay off of social media.”
The FBI is actively investigating Kepner’s death but have not rendered any official statements naming the couple’s teen son, or anyone else for that matter, as a suspect in the case.
Few details have been released publicly in the ongoing investigation of Kepner’s death, who died on November 7th while aboard a vacation cruise line while with her grandparents, father, stepmother, and siblings. A death certificate reportedly produced by the family of the deceased claimed Kepner’s cause of death was mechanical asphyxia caused “by other person(s),” but an official autopsy has yet to be released publicly by officials.
Court documents in an unrelated case involving Kepner’s family revealed that the couple’s 16-year-old son, who was staying inside the same cabin as Kepner while aboard the cruise ship, is considered to be a suspect in the teen’s death. While the juvenile has yet to be officially charged with Kepner’s mysterious passing, texts shared between his parents outlined their concerns of what may come of the ongoing investigation.
Thomas Hudson and his wife, Shauntel Hudson-Kepner, reportedly discussed days after Kepner’s death that things are “supposed to be hush hush for now” while contending with social media discourse where speculation was brewing about Kepner’s apparent homicide.
“OK, I know everything is supposed to be hush hush for now but I’ve seen that it is still getting out with post and comments between Facebook TikTok and stuff,” Thomas reportedly texted his wife two days after Kepner died, adding, “I just want to make sure until things are certain that he doesn’t get [any] unnecessary comments towards him.”
In Shauntel’s response to the above message, she acknowledged that their 16-year-old son could be “booked on charges” pending the results of an autopsy but tried to assuage her husband’s concerns by highlighting that their efforts to keep their son’s name out of the media have been successful thus far.
“Nobody knows anything about him,” Shauntel wrote, adding, “He is a minor and has been kept completely out of it.” After referencing conversations the family had with the FBI, Shauntel concluded with, “Everybody’s just speculating, we know what I told you last night and we’ll know exactly more when the autopsy is done. Once we get the autopsy today, depending on what it says, depend on whether he’s booked on those charges.”
A former sheriff’s detective, Jamie Copenhaver, described the family’s conversations as being akin to the ongoings of a “PR department” more focused on protecting a loved one’s reputation and freedom rather than getting to the bottom of their teenage daughter’s death.
“They did damage control, their own PR department,” Copenhaver stated, adding, “I’m going to say 100% they know more than what they are telling. We are going to protect you. We are going to keep you out of the light. Let’s stay off of social media.”
The FBI is actively investigating Kepner’s death but have not rendered any official statements naming the couple’s teen son, or anyone else for that matter, as a suspect in the case.
For corrections or revisions, click here.
The opinions reflected in this article are not necessarily the opinions of LET
Comments