Anna Kepner's father wants stepson to 'face the consequences' in cruise ship death case

The begetter of an 18-year-old cheerleader who was recovered dormant aboard a Carnival cruise vessel says his stepson should beryllium punished if investigators find helium played a relation successful her death.

Christopher Kepner said his 16-year-old stepson had ever seemed similar "a mean kid" and that helium remains successful daze implicit his daughter’s killing.

Anna, 18, was recovered dormant aboard the Carnival Horizon connected Nov. 7 during a household abrogation with her father, stepmother, grandparents and respective siblings. She was discovered wrapped successful a broad and covered successful beingness jackets successful a country she shared with her stepbrother.

"I privation him to look the consequences … I volition beryllium warring to marque definite that does happen," Kepner told People.

CHEERLEADER'S CRUISE SHIP DEATH HAS FAMILY POINTING FINGERS

Anna Kepner, 18, was recovered dormant aboard a Carnival cruise vessel connected Nov. 7, during a abrogation with her family.  (Anna Kepner/Instagram)

"I bash not basal down what my stepson has done," helium said. Kepner did not straight accidental his stepson was liable for Anna’s death.

"I cannot accidental that helium is responsible, but I can’t decline," helium added.

Anna’s decease has reportedly been ruled a homicide by "mechanical asphyxiation," but authorities person not announced immoderate suspects oregon arrests. She was recovered successful the compartment she shared with her stepbrother, relatives person said.

Mechanical asphyxia means an outer unit obstructs breathing, Dr. Priya Banerjee, a board-certified forensic pathologist, antecedently told Fox News Digital.

Dr. Michael Baden, the erstwhile main aesculapian examiner of New York City, said mechanical asphyxiation is not ever a homicide, though it tin be, and it is up to prosecutors to find immoderate charges.

Anna Kepner's household said she had dreams of joining the military. (Instagram/Anna Kepner)

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The FBI is starring the probe and has not publically named immoderate suspects.

Anna’s stepbrother was identified arsenic a imaginable "suspect" by his ain parents successful tribunal filings amid an unrelated custody dispute. No charges person been filed.

"He was the lone 1 that was successful the room, and the FBI has an ongoing probe successful which they volition person to supply the grounds to accidental that helium did bash it oregon did not bash this," Kepner told the outlet. "And I would’ve ne'er thought that immoderate of this would’ve happened."

Christopher Kepner (center, reddish hat) arrives astatine a memorial work for his daughter, Anna Kepner, astatine the Grove Church successful Titusville, Florida, connected Nov. 20, 2025. (Mark Sims for Fox News Digital)

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"Right now, my champion people of enactment is to fto the FBI bash what they’re doing. They person the grounds that they need. When they marque the arrest, past we’ll commencement seeing the justness broadside of things," helium said.

Kepner was a precocious schoolhouse varsity cheerleader who planned to articulation the Navy aft graduation and yet wanted to go a K-9 constabulary officer.