Anna Kepner’s father has recently shared his thoughts as the FBI continues to probe the death of the 18-year-old student.
Kepner, known for her excellent academic record and kindness, was on a Carnival Cruise with her family when the tragic event occurred.
The promising young woman from Titusville, Florida, was set to graduate from Temple Christian School in May, with aspirations of a military career.
Her family fondly remembered Kepner as a ‘bubbly, people person’ who had a magnetic energy and an easy-going nature.
“She was such an easy person to talk to,” they said of her welcoming demeanor.
Kepner had previously enjoyed a vacation on a Carnival Cruise, and in a TikTok video from May, she expressed her wish to return to the ship.
In another video, she was seen wearing a hoodie from the cruiseliner.
The Horizon was on a six-day itinerary, returning to Miami from the Caribbean when the incident happened.
The Miami-Dade County Medical Examiner’s preliminary report notes that Kepner’s death occurred at 11:17 am on Friday, November 7.
The ship docked back in Miami on Saturday, November 8. The exact cause of her death remains unknown.
The FBI is actively conducting an investigation, labeling the case as an ‘ongoing matter’.
Carnival Cruise Line released a statement on Saturday, stating: “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.”
They added: “Our focus is on supporting the family of our guest.”
Kepner’s father, Christopher, shared the profound impact of the event with the Daily Mail.
He mentioned that ‘everyone was questioned,’ including his family members who accompanied him on the cruise, comprising his two younger children, Anna’s stepmom, and stepsiblings.
Christopher expressed the deep sorrow and disruption to their lives following the tragedy.
“I’ve had to shut the world out. I don’t watch the TV anymore. We’ve literally had to stop doing anything to do with the internet,” he explained.
“We are very private people. Our lives have been turned upside down,” he continued.
He admitted uncertainty about the investigation’s direction, saying, “The FBI hasn’t shared anything with me yet. I would imagine they’re going to be in contact with me about it – but I know as little as everybody else.”
He added, “I have no idea what is going on right now. We are just trying to sit still and wait for answers.”
FBI Special Agent Willie Creech informed People: “Because this is an ongoing matter, no further information is available at this time.”
Former special agent Nicole Parker explained to Fox News that the FBI handles investigations in international waters, stating, “The FBI has jurisdiction to handle cases when a crime occurs in international waters.”
She continued, “Crimes on the high seas were part of my responsibilities at the bureau. It was a lot of work. The FBI has the first right of refusal for those incidents, so the cruise line security officers would call me at all hours of the night, and I’d have to listen and determine whether we’d take the case.”