Why Did the FBI Get Involved in a Cruise Ship Death? The Anna Kepner Case

An 18-year-old high-school senior, Anna Kepner, boarded the Carnival Horizon in early November 2025 for what was supposed to be a weeklong Caribbean getaway. Within days, she was found dead onboard. The ship returned to Port Miami, and waiting at the pier were agents from the FBI.

In this episode of Hidden Killers with Tony Brueski, we break down the facts only — no speculation, no rumors. What do we actually know about what happened aboard the Carnival Horizon? Why does the FBI take the lead when a death occurs on the open sea? And how common are fatalities aboard cruise ships that carry millions of passengers every year?

Tony unpacks the confirmed timeline: when Anna was found, when the ship returned, and how federal jurisdiction under Title 18 U.S. Code § 7 gives the FBI authority over deaths that happen in U.S. maritime territory. We also look at the bigger picture — how cruise lines handle onboard deaths, what the statistics show, and why so few details ever reach the public.

This is not about gossip — it’s about transparency, procedure, and accountability when tragedy strikes far from shore.
A promising life ended in silence. The investigation continues. And we ask the question every parent and passenger deserves answered: How does someone die at sea — and why don’t we hear the truth sooner?

Stay tuned for updates as the Miami-Dade Medical Examiner and FBI release their findings.


#HiddenKillers #TonyBrueski #AnnaKepner #CarnivalHorizon #FBIInvestigation #CruiseShipDeath #TrueCrimePodcast #MaritimeLaw #FBI #CarnivalCruise #HiddenKillersPodcast


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