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.
Orlando, Fla. โ Family and friends of 33-year-old Julien Emmanuel Cruz are seeking answers and accountability following his fatal shooting outside a popular LGBTQ+ nightclub early Sunday morning.
According to the Orlando Police Department, officers responded at approximately 2:31 a.m. on February 22, 2026, to the 1900 block of North Orange Avenue, just north of Lake Ivanhoe, in reference to a reported shooting.
Upon arrival, officers located Cruz suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. He was transported to a local hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries. Authorities confirmed Cruz was born May 18, 1992.
Detectives determined that prior to the shooting, Cruz and the suspect were involved in a verbal and physical altercation on the sidewalk outside the nightclub district. Investigators say that during the dispute, the suspect retrieved a firearm from his vehicle and shot Cruz.
The suspect fled the scene in a vehicle, which patrol officers later located in the 200 block of East New Hampshire Avenue, approximately two blocks from where the shooting occurred.
Police subsequently arrested 37-year-old Jean Gabriel Borja Gil De La Madr (DOB: October 29, 1988). He has been charged with Second Degree Murder with a Firearm. Authorities confirmed this case marks the third homicide in Orlando in 2026.
Cruzโs father, Anthony Cruz, said his son and his partner had been at Savoy Orlando enjoying the evening before the violence unfolded.
According to the family, as the couple exited the club after closing time, a vehicle sped past them. Cruzโs partner allegedly yelled toward the occupants of the vehicle, prompting the car to stop. A physical altercation then reportedly began between Cruzโs partner and one of the individuals from the vehicle.
โWhen they fought, my son saw that was happening. My son went to intervene, and when he intervened, another guy got out of the car, and he got shot,โ Anthony Cruz said. โMy son didnโt deserve what happened. All I have left is a shirt โ a shirt with a bullet hole.โ
While police have charged Borja Gil De La Madr, Cruzโs family maintains that another individual may have been directly responsible for pulling the trigger. Authorities have not publicly confirmed whether additional suspects are being sought.
A small memorial has formed across from the nightclub, where members of the community have gathered to honor Cruzโs memory.
Joshua Cooper, owner of Savoy Orlando, said the tragedy has deeply impacted the LGBTQ+ community, even though the shooting occurred off the clubโs property.
โI didnโt know the victim, but from everything Iโve been told, I wish I had,โ Cooper said. โHe seemed like a great kid. Seeing a family that is so heartbroken and so supportive of this community says so much.โ
The Orlando Police Department has not released additional information regarding potential additional suspects. Detectives continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the altercation and shooting.
Anyone with information related to this case is encouraged to contact the Orlando Police Department or Crimeline.
The investigation remains active.