Carnival Cruise Line confirmed to Fox News Digital on Monday that it is cooperating with federal investigators following the passenger\u2019s death during the ship\u2019s most recent voyage, which returned to Miami<\/a> on Saturday morning. Kepner’s mother confirmed on Facebook that her daughter died on the cruise ship.<\/p>\n An FBI spokesperson confirmed agents responded when the ship docked over the weekend and that the investigation remains ongoing.<\/p>\n “I can confirm that the FBI has responded to the scene,” the spokesperson told Fox News Digital. “Because this is an ongoing matter, no further information is available at this time.”<\/p>\n TWO VACATIONERS DROWN AT CARNIVAL’S NEW BAHAMAS PRIVATE ISLAND<\/a><\/p>\n Anna Kepner was identified by her family as the passenger who died onboard the Carnival Horizon. (Instagram\/Anna Kepner)<\/p>\n The FBI<\/a> did not say what led to the investigation or whether foul play is suspected.<\/p>\n Kepner’s family told ABC News<\/a> that the 18-year-old was going to graduate high school in May and had dreams to join the military.<\/p>\n “When she walked into a room, she would light it up,” her family said. “If you were sad, she\u2019d make you laugh. She would joke around and be the funniest little person in school.”<\/p>\n “She had just finished taking the test to join the military\u2026She was already talking to recruiters and had chosen her career path. She wanted to do something that would help her community,” they added.<\/p>\n Kepner was also heavily involved within her community and volunteered in her grandparents’ 55+ neighborhood as well as helping local businesses in Titusville, Florida<\/a>, where she’s from.<\/p>\n “She was a people person,” her family said. “She loved being around people. She had that type of energy that just drew you in with her smile and the way she carried herself. She was such an easy person to talk to.”<\/p>\n 80-YEAR-OLD AUSTRALIAN WOMAN DIES ON ISLAND AFTER CRUISE SHIP LEAVES WITHOUT HER<\/a><\/p>\n Anna Kepner’s family said she had dreams of joining the military. (Instagram\/Anna Kepner)<\/p>\n Kepner was a member of her high school’s varsity cheerleading team and enjoyed spending time near the water, as she had her scuba certification and boating liscense<\/a>, according to her family.<\/p>\n “She was the best child you could ever meet,” her family said. “We’ll always remember her for who she was.”<\/p>\n Temple Christian School, where Kepner went to school, described her in a Facebook post as “a bright, kind-hearted young woman whose presence brought warmth and energy into the classroom.<\/p>\n FBI INVESTIGATING PASSENGER DEATH ABOARD CARNIVAL CRUISE SHIP AFTER RETURN TO MIAMI<\/a><\/p>\n The Carnival Horizon cruise ship docked at the cruise terminal at Port Miami in Miami, Florida, on Sunday, Dec. 17, 2023. (Eva Marie Uzcategui\/Bloomberg via Getty Images)<\/p>\n Former FBI Special Agent Nicole Parker told Fox News Digital that cruise ship death cases can be “very complex” for law enforcement.<\/p>\n Parker said that the bureau typically assumes jurisdiction when potential crimes occur aboard cruise ships in international waters.<\/p>\n AMY BRADLEY DISAPPEARANCE SEES 3 MAJOR NEW LEADS AS INVESTIGATORS RENEW DECADES-OLD SEARCH: REPORT<\/a><\/p>\n “The FBI has jurisdiction to handle cases when a crime occurs in international waters,” Parker said. “It\u2019s very complex \u2014 it falls under what\u2019s called special maritime jurisdiction laws that mandate this. For example, if a cruise departs from Miami, that gives FBI Miami jurisdiction if it\u2019s returning in or out of a U.S. cruise port. And if the alleged crime occurred in international waters, then that\u2019s the FBI\u2019s responsibility.”<\/p>\n Parker, who spent years investigating maritime cases, said such probes often require complex coordination between agencies and cruise line officials.<\/p>\n![\"Anna](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/carnival-horizon-02.jpg\")
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