Stepmother of teen found dead on Carnival Horizon cruise ship is questioned in custody hearing
For the first time, we are hearing from the stepmother of an 18‑year‑old woman who died on a Carnival cruise ship last month. CBS News Miami's Marybel Rodriguez has more on what the stepmother had to say.
Anna Kepner's stepmother took the stand on a separate matter regarding her 9‑year‑old daughter. But during the custody hearing, she was asked questions about what happened on that deadly vacation.
"At some point did you discover that one of the children had passed away?" one of the attorneys asked.
"Yes," Shauntel Kepner responded.
"And when was that, that you discovered that?"
"Friday morning," she said.
Teen found dead on cruise ship
Eighteen‑year‑old Anna Kepner was on a family vacation with her father, stepmother and her three step‑siblings when she was discovered dead on the Carnival Horizon as it was headed back to Miami.
The cruise ship docked on Saturday, Nov. 8. Her body was found by a housekeeper under the bed in her cabin. According to her stepmother, she shared the cabin with her 18‑ and 16‑year‑old stepbrothers.
The medical examiner confirmed the time of death as 11:17 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 7.
The family says that according to the FBI, the 16‑year‑old is considered a suspect in her death. In court, her stepmother was asked about him.
In court, the stepmother was asked about her 16‑year‑old son.
The 16‑year‑old is now living with other family members away from his siblings. The FBI is deciding whether to turn the case over to the state or pursue it federally.
As for the main focus of today's court hearing, it was about her 9‑year‑old daughter. The court decided that she could continue to live with her mother.