Anna Kepner
Anna Kepner

The family of an 18-year-old Florida high school senior whose body was found aboard a Carnival Cruise passenger ship over the weekend is now awaiting word from FBI investigators about the circumstances leading to the teen’s death.

Anna Kepner, described by her family as an A-student with plans to join the military, died aboard the Carnival Horizon, a Panamanian-registered cruise ship which returned to Port Miami Nov. 8 following a trip to the Caribbean. The cause of death was not immediately known.

The teen’s body was turned over to the Miami-Dade medical examiner’s office, where an autopsy was expected to be carried out. The FBI, which by law shares jurisdiction with state law enforcement agencies involving maritime incidents, boarded the ship as part of its investigation. Deaths are reported from time to time on cruise ships but are typically handled by local authorities. It was not clear why the case at Port Miami garnered federal attention. Some cruise ships, like the Horizon, can carry up to 4,000 to 5,000 people or more.

“I can confirm that the FBI has responded to the scene. Because this is an ongoing matter, no further information is available at this time,” said James Marshall, spokesperson for the FBI.

Carnival Cruise Lines also confirmed the death.

“The death of a guest traveling on the Carnival Horizon voyage that returned to Port Miami on Saturday morning, Nov. 8, is being investigated by the FBI,” Carnival Cruise officials said in a statement issued to FLORIDA TODAY. “Our focus is on supporting the family of our guest.”

In a statement to ABC News, the family spoke about the Titusville teen known by the nickname "Anna Banana," saying 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.

“She was the best child you could ever meet. We’ll always remember her for who she was.”

At the teen’s school, Temple Christian, students gathered early Monday, Nov. 10 and covered her white car with flowers as a tribute.

“Anna, I will deeply miss you. You were a bright, kind-hearted young woman whose presence brought warmth and energy into the classroom,” Rich Brunner, youth pastor at the school, wrote in a post to Facebook.

J.D. Gallop is a Criminal Justice/Breaking News Reporter at FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Gallop at 321-917-4641 or jgallop@floridatoday.com. X: @JDGallop.

This article originally appeared on Florida Today: FBI investigating Florida teen's death aboard Carnival Cruise ship

Reporting by J.D. Gallop, Florida Today / Florida Today

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