Going West: True Crime
Episode 557 – Anna Kepner (Happening Now)
Release Date: November 25, 2025
Hosts: Daphne Woolsoncroft & Heath Merryman
Overview
This "Happening Now" episode centers around the shocking and unfolding case of Anna Kepner, an 18-year-old high school senior and cheerleader found dead aboard a Carnival cruise ship. Hosts Daphne and Heath piece together the complex family history, cruise events, and latest investigation updates, examining rumors, facts, and family turmoil in a case receiving national attention.
Daphne and Heath emphasize the devastating failure of adults around Anna, the unresolved nature of the investigation, and their commitment to clearing up widespread misinformation. They urge listeners to treat the details as evolving, referencing only information cross-verified as of the episode’s release.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Case Background & Family History
[03:47–10:58]
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Family Dynamics:
- Anna was born and raised primarily in Florida; her parents split when she was an infant amidst allegations of a relationship between her father and a 15-year-old babysitter (later stepmother, Tabitha).
- Anna grew up with numerous half- and step-siblings across blended families.
- Her biological mother, Heather, was largely absent, reportedly not seeing Anna for years.
- Her father, Chris, remarried Chantel Kepner in December 2024, bringing three new step-siblings into Anna's life, including 16-year-old "T" (the primary person of interest in her death).
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Anna’s Personality and Aspirations:
- Vibrant, athletic, TikTok enthusiast, loved water activities, aspired to join the Navy as a K9 officer; recently baptized (May 2025).
- Had just passed her military entrance exam prior to the cruise.
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Notable Quote:
"It seems like everybody or every adult, I'll say, in Anna's life totally failed her. This was an amazing young woman who had so much ahead of her."
— Daphne, [01:36]
2. Cruise Timeline & Room Assignments
[12:33–16:47]
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Trip Details:
- Family boards Carnival cruise from Miami on November 2, 2025, with stops in Jamaica, Grand Cayman, and Cozumel.
- Anna is assigned to share a cabin with 16-year-old stepbrother "T" and her 14-year-old half-brother.
- The arrangement is questioned by hosts:
“Which just feels so inappropriate, especially with what we're going to get into and the fact that they had only known each other for like a little over a year... They're both elder teens, I guess you would say. And they're sharing a room.”
— Daphne, [13:25]
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The Night Before Her Death:
- On November 6, Anna reportedly left dinner early feeling unwell and returned alone to her room.
3. Discovery & Evolving Investigation
[19:18–22:52]
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Body Found:
- On the morning of November 7, a housekeeper discovers Anna’s naked body wrapped in blankets and life vests, hidden under her cabin bed.
- At first, the incident wasn’t treated as a homicide.
- Autopsy by FBI in progress; time of death reported as 11:17am, but she died hours before.
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Suspect and Family Turmoil:
- Anna’s 16-year-old stepbrother ("T") becomes a focus of the investigation.
- A custody battle erupts between T’s parents (Chantel & Thomas Hudson), with Thomas using Anna’s death to argue for sole custody, alleging T’s drinking, lack of supervision, and that T is a suspect.
- T is temporarily living with a relative, not in police custody.
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Notable Quotes:
"It was only about two years ago that they divorced... this is a pretty new marriage. And the three children that came into Anna's family as step siblings were fairly new to her."
— Daphne, [08:09]"He couldn't even speak. He couldn't believe what had happened. In his own words, say he does not remember what happened."
— Barbara Kepner (Anna’s grandmother) via People, [24:00]
4. Community Reaction & Anna’s Memorial
[26:30–29:57]
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Tributes:
- Schoolmates and teachers honor Anna with flowers, balloons, and heartfelt posts.
- Funeral held November 20 with hundreds attending; Anna’s mother, estranged and unwelcome, attends in disguise.
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Revelations from Anna’s Social Media:
- TikToks highlight toxic familial relationships, referencing her mother and struggles at home.
5. Relationship with Stepbrother T & Reports of Prior Disturbing Behavior
[38:46–43:55]
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Ex-boyfriend’s Testimony:
- Anna’s ex, Josh, and his father speak to media, detailing alarming prior incidents:
- T once allegedly tried to get on top of Anna at night; Anna was terrified to report for fear of retaliation.
- Josh says T carried a large knife, obsessed over Anna, made her uncomfortable living at home.
- Anna often stayed at friends’ houses to avoid T.
- Josh reports T was heard screaming and throwing chairs in Anna’s cabin on the night she died, and that her 14-year-old brother was prevented from entering the room.
- Both Josh and his father believe T was fixated and jealous:
“He’s infatuated, attracted to her like crazy. He always wanted to date her.”
— Stephen (Josh’s father), [38:51]
- Anna’s ex, Josh, and his father speak to media, detailing alarming prior incidents:
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Stepfather’s and Family’s Interpretations:
- Contradictory statements from Anna’s other family members—her grandmother claims Anna and T were “like brother and sister… two peas in a pod.” [43:55]
- Various relatives post online implicating T and criticizing the silence and inaction from Anna’s father and stepmother.
6. Autopsy & Official Updates
[43:55–45:55]
- Preliminary Findings:
- Evidence Anna was asphyxiated in a chokehold or bar hold; two bruises on neck.
- No signs of sexual assault or drugs/alcohol in her system.
- FBI reviewing cruise ship surveillance and awaiting more forensic evidence.
- No official suspect named or arrest made at time of episode.
7. Internal Family Conflict & Social Media Misinformation
[45:55–52:22]
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Obituary Changes:
- Anna’s obituary reportedly altered to remove references to stepmother Tabitha (key mother figure), other family members, and even T—suspected to be fallout over family disagreements and pressure to control the narrative.
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Misinformation Online:
- Fake surveillance footage circulating online is denounced by hosts as clickbait (“all these tiktokers are using this to be, like, surveillance release in Anna Kaepernick’s case. And it's totally for clickbait. It's not real.” — Daphne, [52:30]).
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Call to Action:
- Hosts encourage anyone with first-hand cruise information to contact the FBI ([52:49]).
Memorable Moments & Notable Quotes
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On the Family’s Failure:
"It seems like everybody or every adult, I'll say, in Anna's life totally failed her."
— Daphne, [01:36] -
On Anna and T Sharing a Room:
“It just feels so inappropriate, especially with what we’re going to get into and the fact that they had only known each other for like a little over a year... they’re both elder teens… and they’re sharing a room.”
— Daphne, [13:25] -
On the Discovery:
“A housekeeper who was cleaning the room that Anna and her brothers were staying in discovered 18-year-old Anna’s body wrapped in blankets and covered in life vests underneath her bed on that Friday morning.”
— Heath, [19:18] -
On Family Discord:
“The stepmom’s son killed her, stuffed her naked, beaten body in a sheet and stuffed her under a bed and covered her with life jackets, then slept on that bed like nothing ever happened. He told his stepmom when no one could find Anna on the ship.”
— Martin Donahue (Anna’s step uncle), [45:55] -
On Social Media and Rumors:
“There is a fake clip going around that is not real security footage… it is not real. It has nothing to do with Anna Kepner’s case.”
— Heath, [52:22]
Important Timestamps
- 01:36: Opening and context, the gravity of the case
- 03:47: Overview of Anna’s family background
- 12:33: Cruise details, room assignments
- 19:18: Discovery of Anna’s body on cruise ship
- 22:52: Introduction of T as a person of interest and custody battles
- 26:30: Tributes and Anna’s social media insights
- 38:46: Testimony from Anna’s ex-boyfriend and details about T’s past behavior
- 43:55: Preliminary autopsy findings – strangulation/asphyxiation
- 45:55: Family’s reaction, internal conflict, obituary changes
- 52:22: Denouncing online rumors and fake surveillance videos
- 52:49: Call for public tips to FBI
Tone & Approach
- Empathetic: Both hosts approach the topic with compassion and caution due to the active, unresolved investigation and the victim's young age.
- Analytical: They cross-reference facts, challenge rumors, and clarify misinformation.
- Cautious: Explicitly state when information is unverified or speculative, warning listeners about problematic online rumors.
Conclusion & Call to Action
The case remains unsolved as of this episode, but the hosts believe it is "extremely solvable" given the abundance of surveillance and evidence. Listeners are encouraged to raise awareness and report any information. The hosts promise to provide updates via their social media and future episodes, reminding listeners that their information is the most up-to-date as of recording.
“Please submit a tip online at tips.FBI.gov… make sure you share this episode or Anna’s story as more awareness in Anna Kepner’s case could lead to answers.”
— Daphne, [52:49]
For regular updates, visit the show’s Instagram (@goingwestpodcast), TikTok, or Facebook.
Summary prepared to reflect the episode's empathetic and thorough approach, highlighting all key narrative threads and investigative insights as presented by the hosts.