New Details in Death of Teen, Anna Kepner Killed on Family Cruise | Crime Alert 3PM 12.05.25

During a custody hearing in Florida, shocking new information emerged regarding a tragic incident on a cruise that resulted in the death of 18-year-old Anna Kepner, with her 16-year-old stepbrother now considered a suspect.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Crime al Art hourly update, breaking crime News Now, I'm
Nicole Parton. During a custody hearing in Florida, shocking new
information emerged regarding a tragic incident on a cruise that
resulted in the death of eighteen year old Anna Kepner,
with her sixteen year old step brother now considered a suspect.
Anna's death has been classified as a homicide due to

(00:21):
asphyxia after she was discovered in the cabin she shared
with her stepbrother and younger brother aboard the Carnival Horizon.
The sixteen year old step brother, referred to as THH
in court filings, has been identified by the FBI as
the primary suspect in Anna's death, though he has yet
to be arrested or formally charged. Thomas Hudson, Thh's biological father,

(00:46):
submitted an emergency petition seeking custody of his nine year
old daughter, who is the child he shares with Thh's mother,
Chantel Kepner. She had accompanied THH on the cruise. Chantelle
is also Anna His stepmother, and was traveling with Anna's father,
Christopher Kepner, and their other children on the cruise during
the time of the homicide. The petition expressed concerns that

(01:09):
the nine year old's safety was at risk due to
the events surrounding Anna's death on vacation. During the hearing,
Chanteale testified that Anna's cabin was located directly across from
the ones she shared with her husband and the family's
two nine year old children. She denied permitting any of
the miners to access alcohol despite the crews being in

(01:31):
international waters, stating that Anna opted to remain in the
room with the two teenage boys rather than stay with
her grandparents, who were staying two floors above. After hearing
testimonies from Hudson, Chanteale, and their adult son, Judge Michelle
Pruitt denied the custody petition, highlighting that the six year

(01:52):
old suspect has been relocated from Chantell's home and is
currently residing with a maternal relative since the cruise incident.
When questioned about the night of the alleged thomiside, here's
what the suspect's mother had to say, And your.

Speaker 2 (02:09):
Child did you see him that Thursday night as well?

Speaker 1 (02:12):
Yes?

Speaker 2 (02:13):
What time did you see him at? Closer to seven,
just a little bit before seven? What was he doing
at that time? He was headed back to his room,
you know whether or not present in the room as well.
They all were head back to their room as far
as I know. So where was their room in relation

(02:34):
to your room? Right across the hall?

Speaker 1 (02:38):
You loped out my door at their door.

Speaker 2 (02:39):
Was right in front of it. Did you return to
your room that evening?

Speaker 1 (02:43):
Yes?

Speaker 2 (02:44):
What time did you return to your room? Seven o'clock?
Seven pm? Yeah? Right, it was actually closer to seven thirty.
Did you stay in the room for the rest of
the night, yes, with the teenagers across the hall. Did
you ever go in and check on No? I had
went to sleep.

Speaker 1 (03:03):
She continued by saying, he's not coming back home. Shontell
firmly stated when questioned by her ex husband's attorney about
the possibility of allowing that six year old boy to return. Additionally,
Schonteal disclosed that all children in her household have been
withdrawn from their school due to the extensive media coverage
surrounding the murder case or Crime and Justice News After

(03:26):
this and now to another shocking case out of Florida,
A fourteen year old girl reported as a runaway, was
found brutally murdered in a wooded area earlier this week,
authorities say two teenage boys are now facing first degree
murder charges. Santa Rosa County Sheriff Bob Johnson announced Thursday

(03:48):
that the suspects, ages sixteen and fourteen, were arrested and
charged in connection with the death of Danica Jade Troy.
Officials hope to try both teens as adults, though theirs
have not been released because they are miners. Danica was
reported missing Monday from Pace, Florida, about twenty miles east
of the Alabama border, but investigators believe she was killed

(04:11):
the night before. According to Sheriff Johnson, the girl was
allegedly lured into the wooded area by two boys, the
teens she reportedly knew from school, and then the details
turn horrific. Johnson says the sixteen year old stole his
mother's handgun and shot Danica multiple times. Afterward, the teens
allegedly set her body on fire. Her burned and bullet

(04:34):
riddled remains were discovered Tuesday by a passer by who
called nine to one one. Detectives say evidence quickly pointed
to the two suspects. Both are now being held by
the Department of Juvenile Justice, a motive remains unclear. Meanwhile,
the community is rallying around Danica's family. A GoFundMe page
has helped to cover funeral cost and has raised more

(04:55):
than five thousand dollars so far. Police in Baltimore County, Maryland,
are searching for a missing teened girl and are asking
for the public to help Maria Johnson. She's just fourteen,
described as a black female five eight weighing one hundred
and seventy pounds. She was last seen at approximately one
twenty am on Friday, December five in the Dundalk area.

(05:17):
She was wearing dark clothing and white shoes. Anyone with
information on Maria Johnson's whereabouts is asked to call nine
one one or four one two eight eight seven seven
three two one or the latest crime in justice news.
Follow Crime Alert hourly update on your favorite podcasting app
with this crime Alert. I'm Nicole Parton