Paradise turned prison on the high seas: 18-year-old cheerleader Anna Kepner, the “Anna Banana” whose infectious grin lit up Temple Christian School hallways and family TikToks, was strangled in a vicious “bar hold”—an arm clamped like a vice across her neck—during what should have been a carefree Caribbean jaunt aboard the Carnival Horizon. Her lifeless body—swaddled in a blanket, camouflaged under life vests, and crammed beneath a bunk bed like a shameful secret—was discovered by a housekeeper at 11:17 a.m. on November 7, 2025, mere hours after she’d retreated from dinner, complaining of queasiness.
Tragedy strikes aboard a Carnival cruise as the lifeless body of 18-year-old Anna Keaptainner is discovered stuffed under a bed, sparking a chilling investigation into her mysterious death. The shocking revelation has left her family shattered and authorities scrambling for answers.
Anna, affectionately known as “Anna Banana,” was on a six-day cruise with her father, Christopher Keaptainner, and her stepmother, Shantel Hudson, along with her two teenage stepbrothers. What began as a fun getaway from Miami on November 2 took a horrifying turn when Anna, who had dreams of joining the U.S. Navy and becoming a K-9 police officer, was reported missing after telling family she felt unwell and returned to her cabin on the fourth night of the voyage.
The nightmare escalated when a maid aboard the Carnival Horizon made the gruesome discovery of Anna’s body, wrapped in a blanket and concealed beneath a bed, covered by life jackets. The ship, which can carry nearly 4,000 passengers, abruptly changed course back to Miami, where the FBI took over the investigation, given the incident occurred in international waters.
As the investigation unfolds, disturbing details about Anna’s 16-year-old stepbrother have emerged. He is now being eyed as a suspect, with allegations of a troubling obsession with Anna. Reports indicate that she was fearful of him, claiming he frequently carried a large knife. A court motion linked to a custody dispute revealed that this stepbrother, identified only as “TH,” could potentially face criminal charges in connection with Anna’s death.
Eyewitness accounts paint a haunting picture of the hours leading up to the tragedy. After Anna returned to her room, her younger stepbrother went out to take pictures of the cruise ship, unaware that Anna was lying lifeless just feet away. Surveillance footage confirms Anna was last seen entering her cabin, but she never left again.
Adding to the chilling narrative, Anna’s ex-boyfriend’s father has come forward, alleging that the 16-year-old had a creepy obsession with Anna, including an incident where he was caught climbing on top of her while she slept. He expressed concern that his warnings to Anna’s parents went unheeded, stating, “They didn’t want to believe me.”
As the FBI continues to investigate, no charges have yet been filed, and the cause and manner of Anna’s death remain undetermined. The Miami-Dade County Medical Examiner has listed her time of death as November 7 at 11:17 a.m., but further details are still pending.
This tragic story is unfolding rapidly, and the Keaptainner family is left grappling with the loss of a vibrant young woman whose life was tragically cut short. As authorities delve deeper into the circumstances surrounding Anna’s death, the community is left in shock, demanding answers to this haunting mystery.