Crime Stories with Nancy Grace

Episode: Cruise Teen Cheerleader Dead from 'Bar Hold' After Stepbro-Suspect Skips Daily Drug Cocktail

Date: December 9, 2025

Episode Overview

In this gripping episode, Nancy Grace delves into the shocking death of 18-year-old cheerleader Anna Kepner, who was found asphyxiated from a “bar hold” and stuffed under a bed on a cruise ship. The primary suspect: her 16-year-old stepbrother, recently off his prescribed medications and currently not facing charges—he’s merely been “sent to relatives.” The case exposes failures in parental supervision, alarming family dysfunction, and a challenging investigation hampered by custody disputes and unclear law enforcement action.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Crime & Immediate Circumstances

• Anna Kepner was found dead, wrapped “mummy style” under a cruise-ship twin bed, after not being seen for approximately 16 hours.
• The only suspect is Anna’s 16-year-old stepbrother, who missed two days of his prescribed medications (notably Clonidine) for insomnia and ADHD.
• Punishment for the suspect: rather than arrest, he is temporarily sent to stay with relatives.

  “Chokehold asphyxiation, neck covered in bruises, and his punishment is he has to go live with relatives. That’s the punishment?” – Nancy Grace (12:45)

Timestamps:

• [02:29] - Nancy lays out the case: Anna’s death, family in court, no charges.
• [06:35] - Detailed neglect: Parents absent for 16 hours, Anna found dead.

2. Family Dysfunction & Custody Battle

• The episode’s key facts are emerging through a contentious custody hearing, underscoring the family's dysfunction.
• Blended family dynamics: Stepbrother (suspect), his mother Chantel Hudson (Anna’s stepmom), and Anna’s biological father are embroiled in court over the care of younger children.
• History of issues: Anna’s ex-boyfriend and younger brother repeatedly warned parents about the stepbrother’s obsession and dangerous behavior. No action was taken.

Timestamps:

• [03:29] - Details on learning case facts through custody dispute.
• [14:45] - Testimony from ex-boyfriend: observed stepbrother’s obsession and attempts to enter Anna’s bed.

3. Medication, Withdrawals, and Behavioral Questions

• The stepbrother missed his regular "cocktail" of medications for two days. Experts discuss how sudden withdrawal from Clonidine can cause agitation, frustration, irritability, and impulsivity—especially dangerous for a teen with ADHD.

  “One of the withdrawal symptoms is frustration or become irritated by minor things quite easily.” – Dr. Kendall Crowns (17:24)

• This mental state may have contributed to the fatal incident.

Timestamps:

• [16:13] - In-depth on Clonidine, withdrawal effects, and psychiatric considerations.

4. Parental Negligence and Supervision Lapses

• Supervision breakdown: Anna and two teen boys are placed in their own cabin across the hall from the parents, who do not check on them for over 16 hours.
• Parental priorities: Instead of tracking their children, parents were likely indulging in cruise amenities—pool, bars, casino.
• Carnival cruise ships offer adjoining rooms, but parents blamed the travel agent for room assignments rather than accept responsibility.

  "You know how fast she could be sold into sex slavery? She’s just what those people want her... And you don’t supervise?" – Nancy Grace (07:51)

• Alcohol access: Expert Spencer Ehrenfeld testifies that it’s easy for minors to obtain alcohol on cruises, despite parental denials.

  “There’s 1,001 ways an underage minor can obtain alcohol on a Carnival cruise." – Spencer Ehrenfeld (22:15)

Timestamps:

• [09:41] - John Bueller describes sex trafficking dangers.
• [31:45] - Parental negligence, timeline of events, and room arrangements.

5. Violent History and Missed Warnings

• Prior altercation: Anna’s ex-boyfriend saw the stepbrother try to get on top of Anna during a FaceTime and warned the parents, who dismissed his concerns.
• Pattern of obsession: Stepbrother reportedly made romantic advances; Anna was afraid and felt unsafe.

  "If he would have taken the warnings her ex-boyfriend gave him... then she would still be here." – Anna’s ex-boyfriend (21:28)

• On the night of Anna’s death, Anna’s younger brother heard sounds of a violent struggle and screaming, but did not alert adults.

Timestamps:

• [19:14] - Recounting ex-boyfriend's and little brother’s warnings.
• [29:20] - Younger brother’s account of the final altercation and parental absence.

6. Legal Questions and Investigative Delays

• Despite being identified as the suspect, the stepbrother is not charged, as authorities appear to be waiting on jurisdictional clarity (federal vs. state), toxicology reports, and possibly delayed by holidays.

  "Both the federal government and the state can simultaneously... prosecute ... and both can and probably will proceed with this under the dual sovereignty doctrine." – Spencer Ehrenfeld (47:15)

• No arrests, no charges in the case yet.
• The victim’s biological mother is in the dark: Heather Wright hears about the case only through the media and was not allowed at her daughter's service.

  "Heather doesn’t know anything. She just sits and waits for the news." – Crystal Wright, Anna’s aunt (50:10) "Heather is not mentioned in Anna's obituary." – Nancy Grace (50:55)

Timestamps:

• [46:27] - Interview with Anna’s maternal aunt Crystal about Heather Wright’s struggles.
• [48:34] - Ehrenfeld explains legal delays.
• [51:10] - John Bueller on why family is kept in the dark.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Nancy Grace on Parental Accountability:

  “Nearly a day passes, they don’t know where she is… and in the midst of all this, where are they? …drink like fish, eat at buffets all day long and then gamble. Do we have any idea where they were while Anna was stuffed dead under that twin bed?” (06:35)

• On Stepbrother’s Mental State:

  “It’s critical not to stop taking clonidine abruptly as it can lead to withdrawal reaction, a rapid, dangerous increase in blood pressure, agitation, nervousness, headache, tremor, shaking hands, pounding or fast heartbeat.” – Nancy Grace (26:59)

• On Evidence Coming from Custody Hearings:

  “We’re only getting dribbles and drabbles of evidence… while the whole time she’s dead, her body cooling, decomposing, evidence drifting away….” (05:20)

• On Systemic Failures:

  “Why isn’t he arrested? He’s staying with her relatives. Just staying there, chatting on the phone. Okay, you know what? I don’t know how to say this without my head exploding…” (13:28)

• Victim's Mother’s Devastation:

  “Heather doesn’t know anything. She finds out from the news. She just sits and waits for the news... Heather is not mentioned in Anna’s obituary.” (50:10/50:55)

• Career Lawman’s Sober Assessment:

  “... There was complete lack of supervision. And they had a lot of warning signs coming up on this. ... Why would you put these two teens together in a room? Complete lack of any type of responsibility on the part of the parents from what we’ve seen.” – John Bueller (29:37)

Timeline of Key Events (Approximate)

• Day before death, 6pm: Anna leaves dinner for her room, in pain from braces.
• Parents last see Anna and the boys at 7:30pm.
• ~16 hours pass: No parental contact, Anna unseen.
• Police investigation begins after Anna’s body found stuffed under bed.
• Custody hearings shed more light than criminal proceedings.
• Stepbrother sent to relatives, not arrested.

Concluding Thoughts

Nancy Grace and her panel emphasize the egregious failures in supervision, response to warnings, and ongoing judicial inaction in this case. Family dysfunction, ignored red flags, and administrative delays have, so far, prevented justice for Anna Kepner. The episode ends with a call for anyone with information to contact authorities and a somber reflection on the tragedy and heartbreak experienced by Anna's biological mother.

Contact Information

If you know or suspect anything about Anna Kepner’s death:
Call: 754-703-2000