Featured Image Credit: Instagram/anna.kepner16
Topics: Cruise ship, US News
Britt Jones
The last social media post of a girl who died on a Carnival cruise ship has been revealed.
Anna Kepner, an 18-year-old high school senior from Titusville, Florida, tragically passed away under unknown circumstances while on board a ship with her family.
The teenager had been on the Carnival Horizon cruise ship, which traveled back to Miami from the Caribbean on Saturday (November 8), as part of a six-day trip.
During this trip, Kepner is said to have passed away, according to her family. Authorities, including the FBI, have said they are investigating her death, but have not released any details surrounding her passing.
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“She was a people person,” her family told ABC News in a statement. “She loved being around people. She had that type of energy that just drew you in with her smile and the way she carried herself.
"She was such an easy person to talk to.”
Kepner, who was also a member of her school's varsity cheerleading team, was supposed to graduate from high school in May and had plans to join the military.
“She had just finished taking the test to join the military,” her family said. “She was already talking to recruiters and had chosen her career path. She wanted to do something that would help her community.”
Carnival Cruise Line has since confirmed a passenger had died on board the ship, revealing in a statement: “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.
"Our focus is on supporting the family of our guest and cooperating with the FBI.”
The FBI also told People that it had responded to the scene, with Special Agent Willie Creech saying: "Because this is an ongoing matter, no further information is available at this time."
After the news broke of Kepner’s death, her last social media post was discovered.
Posted on October 30 on TikTok, the picture was a bathroom-mirror selfie, with the text on the image reading: “You deserve to be happy, but if it ain’t with me, then nvm.”
She also wrote in the post's caption: "Haha I'm not kidding," with the hashtags '#comeherebae' and '#funny'.
Kepner's school also paid tribute to her, with a teacher from Temple Christian School writing on Facebook about how she 'brought warmth and energy into the classroom'.
"Your curiosity, your gentle spirit, and the way you cared for those around you made a lasting impression on me and on everyone who knew you," she continued. "I will miss you poking your head in my office to say hello and that turning into a fun 15-minute conversation."
Her family said they are still processing her death, calling her the 'best child you could ever meet', adding: “We'll always remember her for who she was.”