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.
MONROE TOWNSHIP, Mich. โ A 27-year-old Monroe Township man has been charged in connection with the death of 15-year-old Trenton Grant and the serious injuries suffered by the teenagerโs mother and stepfather following a violent stabbing incident in Monroe Township, Michigan.
Tyson Alexander Grant faces six criminal charges stemming from an incident reported during the early morning hours of Saturday, October 17, in the 1200 block of Raintree Boulevard, according to Monroe County Prosecuting Attorney Jeffery A. Yorkey.
The charges include open murder, two counts of assault with intent to murder, two counts of carjacking, and one count of assaulting, resisting or obstructing a police officer or other first responder.
According to the prosecutorโs office, each of the first five charges carries a maximum possible penalty of life in prison. The charge of assaulting, resisting or obstructing a police officer or first responder carries a maximum penalty of two years in prison and/or a $2,000 fine.
Authorities were dispatched to the Raintree Boulevard area on October 17 after receiving a report of a stabbing.
Upon arriving at the scene, deputies discovered multiple people suffering from lacerations and stab wounds. They also found the body of 15-year-old Trenton Grant.
Several people were transported to a hospital for treatment. Investigators subsequently began treating the teenagerโs death as a homicide.
The incident prompted a criminal investigation into the circumstances surrounding the fatal stabbing and the injuries sustained by the other victims.
Prosecutors have not publicly disclosed the nature of the relationship, if any, between Tyson Alexander Grant and the victims.
According to the Monroe County Prosecuting Attorneyโs Office, Tyson Alexander Grant is currently hospitalized in Lucas County, Ohio, with injuries stemming from the incident.
Prosecutors intend to seek his extradition to Monroe County after he is discharged from the hospital so the criminal proceedings can move forward.
As of the latest information provided by prosecutors, a date for Grantโs initial court appearance has not been scheduled.
The six charges reflect the allegations filed against Grant. The case remains subject to the judicial process, and the allegations have not yet been proven in court.
Authorities have not provided additional details about the events leading up to the stabbing or the circumstances surrounding the suspectโs injuries.
The investigation and court proceedings are expected to provide further information as the case develops.