A Florida cheerleader’s 16-year-old stepbrother has been named an FBI “suspect” in her death, according to court papers, as troubling allegations of domestic abuse within her family have come to light.
The accusations surfaced during a tense custody battle between Kepner’s stepmother, Shauntel Hudson, and her former husband over their two young children. Hudson claimed in court that her ex, Thomas, physically abused their two youngest children, including the teen stepbrother now under FBI scrutiny in the high school senior’s mysterious death, according to an emergency motion filed Monday.
Court documents also indicate that Thomas is under active investigation by the Florida Department of Children and Families.
The stepbrother, referred to as “TH” in court filings, is staying with one of his mother’s relatives as investigators continue examining Kepner’s death aboard a Carnival cruise ship on Nov. 7, The Post reported.
Thomas has also accused Hudson of abuse, saying she was involved in a “violent altercation” with the couple’s adult son. The alleged incident reportedly involved Hudson, her current husband, and Kepner’s father, Christopher, according to court documents.
Hudson and two of her children boarded the Carnival Caribbean cruise on Nov. 2, along with Kepner and her father. Kepner, 18, was traveling with her family on the six-day trip when she was pronounced dead in international waters between Mexico and Florida on Nov. 7.
According to the Daily Mail, her body was found wrapped in a blanket, covered with life jackets, and hidden under a bed before a cabin attendant discovered her.
Authorities have not released details about the circumstances of her death, though Florida Today confirmed that the Miami-Dade medical examiner’s office completed an autopsy. The Daily Mail reported that Kepner felt sick on the evening of Nov. 6 and went back to her cabin. When she didn’t show up for breakfast the next morning, her father and relatives began searching the ship.
The latest revelations stem from an emergency motion filed in Hudson’s divorce case. In the filing, which asks for a postponement, Hudson’s attorneys stated that FBI agents informed her a criminal case “may be initiated” against one of the men. CBS reported that the children are not involved.
“An extremely sensitive and severe circumstance has arisen wherein the Respondent/Mother will not be able to testify at the hearing at this time,” the motion stated.
Hudson’s legal team is seeking a delay in custody and visitation matters involving her two minor children with Thomas until the “criminal investigation has been concluded,” according to the Daily Mail.
“Any testimony the respondent may give, either written or oral, could be prejudicial to her or her adolescent child in this pending criminal investigation,” the motion said.
Law enforcement is reviewing surveillance footage from the ship and analyzing electronic key card data that may show who accessed the teen’s cabin, a source told CBS. Investigators are also examining Kepner’s cellphone records.
The FBI and ship security personnel are interviewing additional passengers, crew members, and relatives. Carnival Cruise Line says it is fully cooperating with the federal investigation.
The FBI has jurisdiction because Kepner, a U.S. citizen from Titusville, Florida, died in international waters. The FBI’s Miami field office is working closely with Carnival’s security team.
Kepner, a high school cheerleader and gymnast, dreamed of joining the military. She was set to graduate from Temple Christian School in Titusville in May. Her father told the Daily Mail she planned to join the Titusville Police Department’s canine unit to help protect her family and community.
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