Anna Kepner's Father Puts Blame For Murder On Close Family Member

Dad Of Viral ‘Cruise Ship Murder’ Victim Points To Someone Close To The Family Anna KepnerAnna Kepner/Instagram By  Nick Bythrow Published 9 minutes ago Nick Bythrow is a Lead Writer for ScreenRant. He has been writing for the site since September 2022. He graduated from Hampshire College in 2022, where he triple majored in Journalism, Communications, and Media Studies. When he's not writing about TV and movies for ScreenRant and his blog, Frayed Branches, Nick is penning speculative fiction and poetry on Amazon. He lives outside Boston, Massachusetts. Sign in to your ScreenRant account Summary Generate a summary of this story follow Follow followed Followed Like Like Thread Log in Here is a fact-based summary of the story contents: Try something different: Show me the facts Explain it like I’m 5 Give me a lighthearted recap

The father of the viral "cruise ship murder" victim points to someone close to the family as the investigation into Anna Kepner's death continues. 18-year-old Kepner was found dead under her bed in early November during a family cruise trip on the Carnival Horizon. Her death was ruled a homicide, with her 16-year-old stepbrother currently being investigated for the crime.

Now, People reports that, in a conversation with Kepner's father, Christopher Kepner, he appeared to aim blame at his stepson for Anna's death. While he didn't specify any knowledge he had about his stepson's involvement, he did indicate that, if he was the one who murdered her, he should face punishment for it. See what Christopher Kepner said below:

I do not stand behind what my stepson has done.

I want him to face the consequences ... I will be fighting to make sure that does happen.

I cannot say that he is responsible but I can’t decline. He was the only one that was in the room and the FBI has an ongoing investigation in which they will have to provide the evidence to say that he did do it or did not do this.

Christopher Kepner also described his stepson as "a normal kid," saying he would never have expected him to be capable of murder. This aligns with statements made by Barbara Kepner, Anna's grandmother, who described the pair as close in an interview with ABC News. The FBI is currently investigating the murder, though hasn't officially announced any suspects.

Anna KepnerAnna Kepner/Instagram

The ongoing true crime story of Kepner's murder has put her stepbrother as a primary suspect. Based on court filings for an unrelated case, Anna's stepmother appeared to blame one of her three stepsiblings for the murder, with her 16-year-old brother being core to the case. However, the FBI hasn't specified, nor have they charged anyone as of writing.

Christopher Kepner says he last saw his daughter on the night of November 6, 2025, when the entire family was together for dinner. Following this gathering, he didn't see her alive again. According to her death certificate, she was killed via asphyxiation, her body discovered not long after the crime would have been committed. At present, the investigation continues.

Anna shared a room with two of her stepsibilings while on the Carnival Horizon.

Although there have been no formal charges brought against a suspect who may have been involved in Anna's death, her father appears to believe his stepson was the culprit. There's nothing concrete yet that fully links him to his stepsister's murder, though it appears there's enough reason for suspicion to be aimed at him for Christopher to speak about it.

As the investigation into Anna Kepner's death continues, more details are likely to be revealed by the family and by the FBI as time goes on. For now, it seems like there's no way of knowing what truly happened on the cruise ship and who killed Anna, something the ongoing investigation may not reveal for some time.

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