Crime
Slain Carnival Cruise Teen Anna Kepner Brother Unknowingly Slept Feet Away From Her Body
New information has emerged in the death of 18-year-old Florida cheerleader Anna Kepner, revealing that her younger brother slept in the same cruise cabin where her body had been hidden—unaware she was already deceased only feet away from him.
According to a source familiar with the investigation, Anna was sharing a cabin aboard the Carnival Horizon with her 14-year-old brother and her 16-year-old stepbrother, Timothy Hudson, who has since been named a suspect in her death.
On the evening of November 6, Anna reportedly left dinner early after telling relatives she did not feel well and returned to her room alone. Her brothers returned later that night.
The younger sibling changed clothes and briefly left again to take photos of the ship. When he returned, Anna was not in her bed.
Believing she had gone to spend time with their parents elsewhere on the vessel, he went to sleep without concern.
Investigators later confirmed that Anna returned to the cabin on surveillance footage—and was never seen exiting again.
By the following morning, family members noticed Anna was still missing.
Her father, Christopher Kepner, 41, began searching the ship alongside staff as announcements regarding a medical emergency echoed through the public address system.
A member of the cleaning staff eventually discovered Anna’s body hidden under a cabin bed, positioned next to the bunk beds where her brothers had slept.
According to an investigative source, the teen’s body was wrapped in a blanket and partially covered with life jackets.
The disturbing discovery intensified scrutiny already growing around the case after a viral online statement by a man identifying himself as Anna’s uncle, Martin Donohue.
In his post, Donohue alleged that Anna was beaten, wrapped in bedding, hidden beneath a bed, and that her stepbrother later slept above her unaware of what had occurred.
Court filings released this week confirm that 16-year-old Timothy Hudson has been identified as a suspect in Anna’s death.
He is currently residing with one of his maternal relatives as the investigation continues.
Authorities stated that Anna was reported dead aboard the Carnival Horizon on November 8—two days after she was last seen alive.
The Miami-Dade Medical Examiner’s Office has not yet released an official cause or manner of death.
In a related legal development, Anna’s stepmother, Shauntel Hudson, requested the postponement of a scheduled custody hearing.
Court documents indicate the delay was sought because one of her minor children may face criminal charges connected to Anna’s death.
The case remains under investigation by federal authorities, including the FBI, due to the incident occurring in international waters.
Crime
New Mexico Teen Darren Munoz Charged With Orchestrating Parents’ Murders in Alleged Financial Plot
A 19-year-old New Mexico man is facing multiple murder-related charges after authorities allege he arranged the killings of his father and stepmother as part of a plan to gain control of their finances and property.
Darren Munoz, 19, is accused of recruiting a friend, 18-year-old Julio Zamora, to carry out the fatal shootings of Oscar Munoz, 58, and Dina Munoz, 71, inside the family’s home in Clovis, New Mexico—located more than 200 miles east of Albuquerque.
Both suspects were taken into custody on Monday, December 15.
According to an arrest affidavit, investigators believe the killings were premeditated and planned over the course of weeks or months. Authorities allege Munoz intended to seize his parents’ assets and financial holdings and believed his father owned an Allsups convenience store franchise, a chain operating hundreds of locations across Texas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico.
Prosecutors allege the plan called for Zamora to enter the residence through the garage during the early morning hours and shoot both victims while they slept.
Investigators also identified a second individual as a potential backup should Zamora fail to carry out the plan.
Police were dispatched to the Clovis residence at approximately 4:50 a.m. on December 15 after receiving a report of a possible burglary.
Upon arrival, officers found Munoz standing near the open garage.
According to police, Munoz told officers there was no emergency and attempted to dissuade them from entering the home, stating his parents were asleep.
Officers were eventually permitted inside the residence.
Investigators state that Munoz later emerged from a bedroom with blood on his hands.
Both Oscar and Dina Munoz had sustained gunshot wounds to the head. Dina Munoz was pronounced dead at the scene, while Oscar Munoz was transported to a hospital in Lubbock, Texas, where he later died from his injuries.
Munoz reportedly told investigators he was awakened by the sound of the garage door alarm but claimed he did not hear any gunshots.
Authorities noted that this account appeared inconsistent with the home’s layout.
Investigators also reported there were no signs of forced entry and no evidence that property had been stolen.
Additional evidence surfaced during the investigation, including statements from Munoz’s girlfriend, who told police he had previously discussed trading an AR-style rifle for another firearm.
Surveillance footage reportedly shows Munoz carrying a 9mm Glock handgun several hours before the killings. Investigators also confirmed that Munoz, Zamora, and others had recently purchased 9mm ammunition together.
Zamora was later arrested outside his residence, where authorities recovered a 9mm Glock handgun believed to have been used in the murders.
Investigators allege Zamora admitted that Munoz asked him to kill his parents.
Darren Munoz is charged with two counts of first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, and solicitation to commit first-degree murder.
Julio Zamora faces two counts of murder and conspiracy to commit murder.
Both defendants have entered not guilty pleas as the case proceeds through the court system.