Stepbrother of Teen Who Died on Cruise Ship Was Briefly Taken Into Custody: His ‘Future Is in Jeopardy’

The 16-year-old stepbrother of Anna Kepner — the 18-year-old high school senior found dead on the Carnival Horizon cruise ship on Friday, November 7 — was briefly taken into custody, according to court documents obtained by Globe.

The information appears in an emergency child custody motion filed on Monday, November 17 by Thomas Hudson, the estranged husband of Shauntel Hudson. Shauntel is the partner of Anna’s father, Chris Kepner.

“The parties’ sixteen-year-old child has been residing with [Shauntel],” the filing states. It explains that she took the boy, identified as T.H., on the cruise with their 9-year-old daughter, B.H., “with a step child of her paramour.”

“The sixteen-year-old child is now a suspect in the death of the step child during the cruise,” the motion says.

The filing also notes that T.H. has been released from custody and is currently living with a third party. It adds, “The sixteen-year-old’s future has been put in jeopardy because of the choices made by the Respondent.”

In a response filed Tuesday, November 18, Shauntel acknowledged that T.H. is a suspect, but said Thomas had agreed to let him live with a relative of hers. The filing also states that T.H.’s father “is believed to have hired counsel for the minor child, T.H., due to the alleged incident.”

“The family is grieving,” the response continues, adding that “it is certainly not in the best interests of T.H. that any statements regarding the matter that is the subject of the open investigation be discussed at a civil court proceeding.”

As previously reported, the FBI is investigating Shauntel’s son in connection with Anna’s death. Her body was found under a cabin bed while the ship was in international waters.

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