Crime
Anna Kepner Birth Mother Heather Wright Said She Learned of Her Daughter Death Through an Online Search
New developments have surfaced regarding the death of 18-year-old Titusville cheerleader Anna Kepner, who was found deceased earlier this month aboard the Carnival Horizon cruise ship.
The case remains under federal investigation, and court documents indicate her 16-year-old stepbrother, Timothy Hudson, has been identified as a suspect.
No charges have yet been filed.
According to a statement from a former boyfriend, Hudson appeared to be โobsessedโ with Anna prior to her deathโa detail now being reviewed as part of the broader investigative landscape.
Kepnerโs funeral was held Thursday in Orlando.
Due to ongoing investigative concerns involving her stepbrother, sources say there has been significant tension among family members.
Some relatives were reportedly told they were not welcome at the service.
Annaโs biological mother, Heather Wright, traveled from Oklahoma to Florida but said she was not contacted directly by authorities or family members regarding her daughterโs death or funeral plans.
โI found out through Google,โ Wright said.
โThe only information I had was that my daughter was on a cruise. No one called meโnot her father, not the FBI.โ
Reporters who visited the familyโs Titusville residence observed Annaโs vehicle parked outside. However, family members declined to provide comment and left the home in an SUV.
Kepner was a student at Temple Christian School and was described by those who knew her as friendly, vibrant, and deeply loved.
Her mother described her as a joyful and carefree young woman.
โShe always wanted to make people laugh,โ Wright shared.
โShe loved being in the waterโwhen she lived with me, we went to the lake constantly so she could swim.โ
Court records filed in a separate custody matter involving Annaโs stepmother formally identify Timothy Hudson as a suspect in the case.
The FBI has not released any public statements regarding cause of death or investigative findings.
Autopsy results from the Miami-Dade Medical Examinerโs Office are expected soon and may provide crucial clarity regarding Annaโs cause and manner of death. Until then, Annaโs family and community continue to wait โ many expressing grief, disbelief, and unanswered questions.
A public celebration of life is scheduled Thursday evening at 5 p.m. at The Grove Church on Harrison Street in Titusville.
The family has requested that attendees honor Anna by wearing bright, vibrant colors rather than traditional mourning attire.
Crime
16-year-old Khyon Smith-Tate found shot to death inside Chipotle bathroom on edge of Temple University’s campus in North Philadelphia
PHILADELPHIA โ A 16-year-old boy was fatally shot inside the bathroom of a Chipotle restaurant near Temple Universityโs campus in North Philadelphia on Monday afternoon, police said, as students and staff returned for the first day of the Spring 2026 semester.
The shooting occurred at approximately 5:00 p.m. inside the Chipotle located in the 1100 block of West Montgomery Avenue, on the ground floor of The View at Montgomery apartment complex. The building is situated near Temple Universityโs Student Center and TECH Center.
Police later identified the victim as Khyon Smith-Tate, a North Philadelphia resident. Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector Scott Small said Smith-Tate was found with a gunshot wound to the chest and was pronounced dead at 5:24 p.m.
Temple University President John Fry and Vice President for Public Safety and Chief of Police Jennifer Griffin issued a joint statement following the incident:
โThe loss of life to gun violence is a profound tragedy, and there are no words that can make sense of it. Our thoughts are with the victimโs family and loved ones.โ
According to investigators, Smith-Tate and another minor entered the restaurant and requested access to the restroom. Chief Inspector Small said the shooting is believed to have occurred inside the bathroom.
Moments later, employees discovered Smith-Tate suffering from a gunshot wound. Police recovered one spent shell casing from a semiautomatic weapon inside the restroom.
Although the victimโs last known address was approximately eight blocks from the scene, authorities have not indicated what brought him to the location or what led to the shooting.
At the time of the incident, the restaurant was crowded, and multiple individuals inside the business were detained briefly for questioning. However, police said they have not yet obtained any statements from witnesses who reported hearing a gunshot.
A person of interest was taken into custody several blocks from the scene shortly after the shooting, but Chief Inspector Small said that individualโs involvement remains unclear.
As of Tuesday, police confirmed that no arrests have been made and no motive has been established.
Investigators believe Smith-Tate entered the restroom with another minor, though the whereabouts of that individual remain unknown.
Police are also seeking information about three possible suspects, described as teenagers carrying backpacks.
Chief Inspector Small noted that the area is equipped with numerous surveillance cameras, which detectives are reviewing as part of the ongoing investigation.
Authorities are asking anyone with information related to the incident to contact the Philadelphia Police Department.