Anna Kepner, age 18.

By Joe Lombardi From Daily Voice

The cause of death has been released for a Florida high school cheerleader whose mysterious death aboard a Carnival cruise ship earlier this month drew national attention.

Anna Kepner, 18, died by asphyxiation resulting from an arm across the neck, according to a source briefed on the investigation who spoke with ABC News on Friday, Nov. 21. Investigators found two bruises on the side of her neck, the source told ABC News.

Kepner, a straight-A student and cheerleader, was discovered dead under a bed on the Carnival Horizon cruise ship on Friday, Nov. 7. Her body was wrapped in a blanket and covered by life vests, according to a security source. The ship returned to Miami as scheduled the following day.

The FBI is leading the investigation, which is standard for deaths in international waters. Few details have been released about what happened before Kepner’s death, and authorities have not said whether anyone has been charged.

Court documents in an unrelated family court matter revealed that Kepner’s 16-year-old stepbrother is now considered a suspect, according to WPLG-TV, Local 10 in Florida. 

Kepner’s stepmother, who was also on board, requested a delay in a custody hearing, stating in court filings, “a criminal case may be initiated against one of the kids,” and “the 16-year-old child is now a suspect in the death of the stepchild during the cruise,” the outlet reported.

The stepbrother has been released from custody and is reportedly staying with a third party, WPLG reported.

Kepner’s family described her as a “happy, bubbly” young woman with a bright future, ABC News reported.

Check back to Daily Voice for updates.