The teen embroiled in the middle of an investigation into his stepsister’s death on board a Carnival cruise ship was briefly hospitalized after the cruise for an undisclosed reason.
The information was disclosed Thursday at a custody hearing involving the 16-year-old boy’s mother, Shauntel Kepner, and her ex-husband, Thomas Hudson, over custody of two of their children, WKMG reported.
Both Kepner and Hudson have indicated that the boy is a suspect in the death of 18-year-old Anna Kepner, who was found stuffed beneath a bed in her room on the Carnival Horizon cruise ship earlier this month, although the FBI, which is leading the investigation, has not confirmed that information, as CrimeOnline reported.
Shauntel Kepner previously requested a delay in the scheduled custody hearing because of the investigation into her stepdaughter’s death.
The cruise ship returned to the Port of Miami on November 8 after Anna Kepner’s body was found a day earlier when the ship was off the coast of Cuba.
Anna Kepner, her father, Shauntel Kepner, and at least two of her children were on the cruise. Anna Kepner and the 16-year-old boy shared a stateroom, Shauntel Kepner’s attorney said at the hearing on Thursday, according to WKMG.
The attorney, Millicent Athanason, denied allegations from Hudson’s attorney that the boy was allowed to drink alcohol because the ship had been in international waters, claiming videos showed that didn’t happen.
“The issue that counsel raised about drinking, there are videotapes on the ship that confirmed that there was absolutely no drinking,” said Athanason. “DCF investigated and saw there was no alcohol in mom’s house whatsoever. So I’m not sure where that’s coming from.”
Athanason said the boy was hospitalized “immediately after the incident” and was now living with relatives of his mother.
Shauntel Kepner said that her son “has a psychiatrist appointment” next month, but the judge stopped her from continuing, advising her not to speak without seeking advise from her attorney.
There was no ruling on Thursday, and Brevard County Circuit Court Judge Michelle Pruitt Studstill set a 4-hour hearing on December 5 to discuss custody arrangements.
Hudson’s attorney indicated that the 16-year-old might be called to testify, but the judge said that they would have to file a motion indicating they planned to call him and that she anticipated he would “choose not to testify and invoke his Fifth Amendment right.”
The attorneys also indicated Christopher Kepner, Anna Kepner’s father, might be called to testify at that hearing.
For the latest true crime and justice news, subscribe to the ‘Crime Stories with Nancy Grace’ podcast.
[Featured image: Anna Kepner/Instagram]
