Father of 18-year-old cheerleader found dead on cruise makes heartbreaking admission
Anna Kepner's father has spoken out as the FBI continues to investigate the death of the 18-year-old high schooler.
Kepner, a straight-A student from Titusville, Florida, was onboard a Carnival Cruise with her family when she died.
The teen was due to graduate Temple Christian School in May and had dreams of joining the military.
Her family described Kepner as a kind-hearted, 'bubbly, people person,' adding: "She had that type of energy that just drew you in with her smile and the way she carried herself.
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"She was such an easy person to talk to."
Kepner had previously vacationed on a Carnival Cruise, having expressed desire in a TikTok posted in May to return aboard sometime.
In another post, the teen was even wearing a branded cruiseliner hoodie.
The Horizon ship was on a six-day trip, returning to Miami from the Caribbean when she died.
Kepner's death was recorded as 11.17am on Friday November 7, according to the Miami-Dade County Medical Examiner's preliminary report.
The ship returned to Miami on Saturday (November 8). Kepner's cause of death is yet to be disclosed.
FBI officers responded to the scene, and the death is currently an 'ongoing matter', the agency has said.
In a statement released on Saturday, the Carnival Cruise Line said: "Since this is an ongoing matter under the jurisdiction of law enforcement, all media inquiries need to be directed to the FBI’s Miami public affairs office."
It added: "Our focus is on supporting the family of our guest."
Since, Kepner's father has broken his silence on his family's ordeal in an interview with the Daily Mail.
Christopher Kepner told the publication that 'everyone was questioned,' including the family he was traveling with: his two younger children, Anna's stepmom and stepsiblings.
He went on to make a heartbreaking admission over how his world had been turned 'upside down' by his daughter's death.
"I've had to shut the world out. I don't watch the TV anymore. We've literally had to stop doing anything to do with the internet," the 41-year-old said.
"We are very private people. Our lives have been turned upside down."
Christopher added that he 'doesn't know' who authorities are 'looking at or what their investigation is.'
"The FBI hasn't shared anything with me yet. I would imagine they're going to be in contact with me about it - but I know as little as everybody else."
He concluded: "I have no idea what is going on right now. We are just trying to sit still and wait for answers."
FBI Special Agent Willie Creech previously told People: "Because this is an ongoing matter, no further information is available at this time."
Explaining why the FBI are handling the investigation, former special agent Nicole Parker told Fox News that 'the FBI has jurisdiction to handle cases when a crime occurs in international waters'.
She added: "Crimes on the high seas were part of my responsibilities at the bureau.
"It was a lot of work. The FBI has the first right of refusal for those incidents, so the cruise line security officers would call me at all hours of the night, and I’d have to listen and determine whether we’d take the case."
Topics: Crime, US News, Cruise ship, Florida, Travel
Ellie Kemp