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The death of an 18-year-old Florida high school student aboard a Carnival cruise ship in early November has been officially ruled a homicide. Anna Kepner, a senior and cheerleader, was found unresponsive in her cabin on the Carnival Horizon on November 8, 2025, as a six-night Caribbean voyage was concluding in Miami.
According to the Miami-Dade Medical Examiner's Office, the official cause of death was mechanical asphyxiation by strangulation. This finding transformed the case from a death investigation into a homicide inquiry, which is being led by the FBI due to the incident occurring on the high seas. So far, no arrests have been made public in connection with the case.
Kepner was described by her family as a bright, straight-A student with a promising future. She was set to graduate in May. Reports from ABC News detailed the family's grief, remembering her as a happy and bubbly person who lit up any room she entered. The incident has drawn significant media attention, highlighting concerns about safety and jurisdiction during international travel.
Carnival Cruise Line has stated it is fully cooperating with law enforcement. In a statement, the company expressed its condolences to the Kepner family. The FBI boarded the ship upon its arrival at PortMiami to begin its investigation, gathering evidence and interviewing crew members and passengers. The confirmation that Kepner's death has been ruled a homicide has intensified the search for answers and accountability. As the federal investigation continues, further details about the circumstances leading to her death remain undisclosed. The official report from the medical examiner, however, definitively refutes any initial speculation about other causes, confirming strangulation as the cause of death.
