Suspect in half-sister’s cruise ship death claims to have no memory

Police investigating 16-year-old boy following death of his half-sister, Anna Kepneron a Carnival Cruise Ship last month. However, he claims to have no memory of what happened. This is the update according to text messages between his parents. The court gained access to the texts after they were included in a custody court case in Florida.

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What happened to half-sister Anna Kepner?

Anna Kepner‘s death was ruled a homicide. But his death attracted international attention and sparked intense speculation on social media. Kepner’s cause of death was “mechanical asphyxia,” according to a copy of his death certificate obtained by ABC News. The report states that the 18-year-old “was mechanically asphyxiated by one or more other persons.” For context, mechanical asphyxia occurs when an object or physical force prevents a person from breathing.

Anna was a high school cheerleader on Florida’s Space Coast, set to graduate next year. She was traveling on the Carnival Horizon ship with her father, grandparents, stepmother, Shauntel Hudsonand his stepmother’s two children, including the 16-year-old suspect.

Kepner’s death aboard the Carnival ship from Miami remained a mystery as the FBI and the South Florida medical examiner’s office refused to release any information about the case for weeks.

What the text messages say about the death of a young girl on a cruise ship

Anna Kepner’s 16-year-old half-brother has been identified as a suspect in her death. The suspect’s mother, Shauntel, texted her ex-husband: Thomas Hudsonthat the teenager kept repeating that he didn’t remember anything when asked. These revelations come from court documents, which local media in Central Florida obtained this week, according to Associated Press.

These court documents were filed in Brevard County by the teenage suspect’s divorced parents, the Hudsons. They are fighting for custody of their youngest child. The revelations offer the clearest public indication that federal investigators are scrutinizing a member of the victim’s own stepfamily.

Suspect’s parents dodge questions as case escalates

The attorney for the 16-year-old’s mother, Shauntel Hudson, also Kepner’s stepmother, did not respond to an emailed inquiry Wednesday. Additionally, the boy’s father’s lawyer, Thomas Hudson, also did not respond.

The Hudsons’ youngest child currently lives with Shauntel. Thomas Hudson accused his ex-wife of violating timeshare agreements. Upon his return from the cruise, the 16-year-old suspect went to live with a relative of Shauntel Hudson.

In the most recent court documents, the ex-spouses discussed via text message about the news of Kepner’s death going viral on social media. They also talked about how to protect their 16-year-old son from public scrutiny. Thomas Hudson also said he wanted his son to know that his parents love him despite what happened.

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The Associated Press contributed to this report via AP Newsroom.