Just like any other mirror selfie, 18-year-old Anna Kepner’s last post had a cryptic caption: “You deserve to be happy, but if it ain’t with me, then [nevermind].” These few words from the high school senior from Titusville, Florida, read like a premonition. Weeks later, Anna was found dead on board the Carnival Horizon, a massive cruise liner that was coming back to Miami from the Caribbean.
The circumstances remain unclear, but the heartbreak is deep. Her final TikTok post is now flooded with comments. The Carnival Horizon promises adventure. But unfortunately, it’s now the focus of an FBI investigation.
According to Global News, Anna died on board the ship on November 8, 2025. There were still a few days left before the liner docked in Miami. Carnival Cruise Line confirmed the teen’s death with a statement, “Our focus is on supporting the family of our guest and cooperating with the FBI.”
Beyond that, Anna Kepner’s family is questioning every single thing that might have led up to her death. Her family told ABC News she ‘loved being around people’ and ‘just drew you in with her smile.’
Anna Kepner
Anna was aboard a Carnival Horizon Cruise ship when she was found dead.
A deep scrub revealed she may have fallen from a balcony, but how?
Anna was only 18. She was set to graduate high school in May and was planning on serving our country in the military.
If… pic.twitter.com/p6Z7uyzg4k
— Jennifer Coffindaffer (@CoffindafferFBI) November 10, 2025
Anna Kepner was a straight-A student and cheerleader. She had just passed her test to join the military. Her family said she spoke to recruiters as she wanted to “help her community.” Anna Kepner also loved the water, but that irony is not lost on anyone. Turns out that she had also recently earned her boating license and scuba certification, as her family told Global News.
She worked at a nearby pet shop called Aqua Mart Aquariums, volunteered at her grandparents’ retirement community, and was well-liked at her school — Temple Christian School.
On Facebook, her teacher, Mr. Brunner, wrote, “Your absence will be felt every day, but your (…) memories (…) will continue to live on in our hearts.”
As the news broke, TikTok users flooded her last post to mourn collectively. Some noted how scary her final post seems, while others opined that we should just let her rest in peace and not make it about ourselves as we theorize about Anna Kepner’s death.
As is customary when U.S. citizens die at sea, the FBI’s Miami field office has taken over the case. No foul play has been proven or disproved as of yet. Although specifics regarding Anna’s case are still being kept under wraps, the Carnival Horizon, which has enough room to take in almost 4,000 passengers, has been the scene of prior onboard incidents. Her family said, meanwhile, that they are still shocked and say that they will remember Anna Kepner for being “the best child you could ever meet.”
But what really happened to Anna on the Horizon, and could anyone have seen it coming?
