NEXT NOVEMBER. ALL RIGHT. WE’RE TURNING NOW TO THE WORDS WE HAVEN’T SEEN YET SURROUNDING THE DEATH OF 18 YEAR OLD ANNA KEPNER OF BREVARD COUNTY. THE WORDS ARE NOT CONTAINED IN A DOCUMENT RELATED TO LAW ENFORCEMENT. SUSPECTED MURDER APPEARS IN A MOTION FOR A GAG ORDER. THOSE ARE THE TWO WORDS WESH 2’S GAIL PASCHALL-BROWN. LIVE IN STUDIO TO EXPLAIN GAIL. YEAH. THIS NON DISSEMINATION MOTION FILED BY ANNA KEPNER, STEPMOTHER, IS ASKING A JUDGE TO RESTRICT INDIVIDUALS FROM PUBLICLY DISCUSSING THE CASE OR SHARING ANY INFORMATION ABOUT IT. WE ALSO SPOKE WITH ANNA’S BIOLOGICAL MOTHER TONIGHT, 18 YEAR OLD ANNA KEPNER WAS FOUND DEAD ON A CARNIVAL CRUISE SHIP ON NOVEMBER 7TH. THE MEDICAL EXAMINER NOR THE FBI HAS NOT YET RELEASED HER CAUSE OF DEATH OR HOW SHE DIED, BUT A NEW COURT DOCUMENT, WESH TWO NEWS, OBTAINED FRIDAY, FILED UNDER THE FAMILY LAW DIVISION, HAS THE WORD SUSPECTED MURDER IN IT. THE DOCUMENT, FILED IN A SEPARATE AND UNRELATED CASE THURSDAY BY THE ATTORNEY FOR ANNA’S STEPMOTHER, HAS TO DO WITH A CUSTODY BATTLE. PART OF IT SAYS AN EXTREMELY SENSITIVE AND SEVERE CIRCUMSTANCE HAS ARISEN WHEREIN THERE IS AN INVESTIGATION BEING CONDUCTED BY THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATIONS ARISING OUT OF THE SUSPECTED MURDER OF THE RESPONDENT MOTHER’S STEPDAUGHTER. THIS IS A SAME CASE IN WHICH OTHER DOCUMENTS STATED ANNA’S 16 YEAR OLD STEPBROTHER WAS CONSIDERED A SUSPECT IN HER DEATH. WE SPOKE WITH ANNA, KEPNER’S BIOLOGICAL MOTHER, ON THE TELEPHONE TO GET HER REACTION. IT’S NOT A SUSPECTED MURDER LIKE IT’S BEEN PROVEN. SHE IS GONE. SHE DIED, AND NOW WE DON’T HAVE THE FBI’S ACTUAL OR THE CORONER’S ACTUAL CAUSE OF DEATH. WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF ALL THIS? I’M STILL TRYING TO WRAP MY HEAD AROUND IT. I HAVE NO IDEA. LIKE, I KEEP THINKING IT’S JUST A NIGHTMARE AND I’M GOING TO WAKE UP. I CAN’T EVEN IMAGINE WHAT MY DAUGHTER WAS GOING THROUGH AT THAT MOMENT. THE NEW FILING, WHICH IS A NON DISSEMINATION ORDER, REFERENCES THE 16 YEAR OLD BY SAYING THE MINOR CHILD IS CURRENTLY THE SUBJECT OF THE ACTIVE FBI CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION. THERE IS GOOD CAUSE FOR THE NEED TO PROTECT THE PRIVACY, SENSITIVITY AND WELL-BEING OF NOT ONLY THE MINOR CHILD, BUT THE OTHER INDIVIDUAL FAMILY MEMBERS INVOLVED. ANNA KEPNER, STEPMOTHER, ALSO WANTS THE JUDGE TO REQUIRE ANY FURTHER FILINGS REFERENCING THE MINOR CHILD OR THE PARTIES OF THIS ACTION TO BE SUBMITTED UNDER SEAL. PREVENTING PUBLIC ACCESS TO CERTAIN PUBLIC RECORDS. THE DOCUMENT ALSO WANTS TO PROHIBIT EITHER PARTY FROM DISCUSSING, DISCLOSING, OR EVEN POSTING ANY INFORMATION CONCERNING THE FAMILY AND COURT PROCEEDINGS UNT
‘Suspected murder’ cited in death of Florida teen found on cruise ship
Updated: 10:27 PM EST Nov 21, 2025
A court document filed in Brevard County has revealed the words “suspected murder” in connection with the death of 18-year-old Anna Kepner, who was found dead on a Carnival Cruise ship on Nov. 7, as part of a custody battle involving her stepmother.The motion, filed by Anna Kepner’s stepmother in a case unrelated to Anna’s death, requests that individuals be prohibited from publicly discussing or sharing information about the case.The document states, “An extremely sensitive and severe circumstance has arisen wherein there is an investigation being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigations, arising out of the suspected murder of the Respondent/Mother’s stepdaughter.”The case also involves Anna’s 16-year-old stepbrother, who is considered a suspect in her death according to other documents.The new filing, a Non-Dissemination Order, references the stepbrother by stating, “The minor child is currently the subject of the active F.B.I. criminal investigation. There is good cause for the need to protect the privacy, sensitivity, and well-being of not only the minor child, but also the other individual family members involved.”Anna Kepner’s stepmother is also seeking to have any further filings referencing the minor child or parties involved submitted under seal to prevent public access to certain records.The document aims to prohibit either party from discussing, disclosing, or posting information concerning the family and court proceedings until the criminal investigation concludes.
BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. —
A court document filed in Brevard County has revealed the words “suspected murder” in connection with the death of 18-year-old Anna Kepner, who was found dead on a Carnival Cruise ship on Nov. 7, as part of a custody battle involving her stepmother.
The motion, filed by Anna Kepner’s stepmother in a case unrelated to Anna’s death, requests that individuals be prohibited from publicly discussing or sharing information about the case.
The document states, “An extremely sensitive and severe circumstance has arisen wherein there is an investigation being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigations, arising out of the suspected murder of the Respondent/Mother’s stepdaughter.”
The case also involves Anna’s 16-year-old stepbrother, who is considered a suspect in her death according to other documents.
The new filing, a Non-Dissemination Order, references the stepbrother by stating, “The minor child is currently the subject of the active F.B.I. criminal investigation. There is good cause for the need to protect the privacy, sensitivity, and well-being of not only the minor child, but also the other individual family members involved.”
Anna Kepner’s stepmother is also seeking to have any further filings referencing the minor child or parties involved submitted under seal to prevent public access to certain records.
The document aims to prohibit either party from discussing, disclosing, or posting information concerning the family and court proceedings until the criminal investigation concludes.