18-year-old Anna Kepner died on a Carnival cruise ship, and her death has spurred an investigation by the FBI.
Keep reading to know more about what new details have come to light.
18-year-old Anna Kepner, a high school senior from Titusville, Florida, passed away under unknown circumstances while she was on a Carnival cruise with her family.
It was a six-day trip, which went from Miami to the Caribbean and back descended into tragedy over a horrific incident. Kepner’s family reported her dead. According to authorities, including the FBI, her is being investigated; however, no details surrounding it have yet been released.
The teenager’s family spoke to the media about her. “She was a people person,” they said in a statement. It went on, “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,” they shared about the late teen.
Kepner was a member of the school’s varsity cheerleading team and was set to graduate high school in May of next year with plans of joining the military after.
“She had just finished taking the test to join the military,” her family shared. “She was already talking to recruiters and had chosen her career path. She wanted to do something that would help her community.”
Carnival Cruise Line also confirmed that a passenger had died on board. They issued a statement on the matter saying, “Since this is an ongoing matter under the jurisdiction of law enforcement, all media inquiries need to be directed to the FBI’s Miami public affairs office.
“Our focus is on supporting the family of our guest and cooperating with the FBI,” they said.
The FBI said to the media that it had responded to the scene, with Special Agent Willie Creech declining to comment further on the case. Creech said, “Because this is an ongoing matter, no further information is available at this time.”
As news of Kepner’s death was revealed, her last post to social media started making rounds. The teenager had posted on TikTok a bathroom-mirror selfie in which the text read, “You deserve to be happy, but if it ain’t with me, then nvm.”
The high school senior concluded her post with a light-hearted, “Haha I’m not kidding,” adding the hashtags ‘#comeherebae’ and ‘#funny’.
Her school paid tribute to the late student, with a teacher from Temple Christian School writing a sweet note about her, saying the teenager “brought warmth and energy into the classroom.”
“Your curiosity, your gentle spirit, and the way you cared for those around you made a lasting impression on me and on everyone who knew you,” she went on. “I will miss you poking your head in my office to say hello and that turning into a fun 15-minute conversation.”
Her family is still trying to process what happened, saying that “We’ll always remember her for who she was.”
This is such a heartbreaking tragedy. We are sending our thoughts and prayers to Anna Kepner’s family and friends.
READ MORE
