Anna Kepner's death on cruise ship ruled a homicide
The death of 18-year-old Anna Kepner on a Carnival cruise ship has been ruled a homicide, according to a copy of the death certificate issued on Monday and provided to ABC News by Kepner's family.
The document said the death was caused by "mechanical asphyxia" and the date of injury was listed as Nov. 6, though the time is unknown. It says the teenager "was mechanically asphyxiated by other person(s)."
Autopsy and toxicology reports have not been released and the Miami-Dade medical examiner declined to comment Monday. The FBI has not previously commented and did not respond to a request for comment Monday.
The news comes weeks after the Florida teenager was found dead on the Carnival Horizon ship while on vacation with her grandparents, father, stepmother, siblings and stepsiblings. She was found dead under a bed, wrapped in a blanket and covered by life vests, according to a security source briefed on the investigation.
The Kepner family previously told ABC News the FBI said Anna apparently died from asphyxiation, possibly caused by a bar hold -- an arm across the neck.
A court filing in an unrelated family court matter noted Kepner's stepbrother, a minor, could face charges.
No charges have been filed.
Kepner's grandparents said the independent 18-year-old was set to graduate high school in May and aspired to join the Navy.
"We were looking forward to seeing her grow," grandfather Jeffrey Kepner told ABC News.
