Birth mother says she learned Central Florida daughter died on cruise ship via online search
By Bob Hazen
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TITUSVILLE, Fla. (WESH) — The birth mother of an 18-year-old Titusville teen said she learned of her daughter’s death through an online search.
“I found out through Google. I ended up Googling it, because the only information I had was that my daughter was on a cruise,” said Heather Wright, the mother.
Wright has not heard from Anna Kepner’s father or the FBI since her daughter’s death.
When reporters visited the family’s house, they saw Kepner’s car parked outside, but the family left in an SUV without stopping to talk.
Kepner was a student at Temple Christian School in Titusville. Court documents from her stepmother’s divorce case claim that Kepner’s 16-year-old stepbrother is a suspect in her death, although the FBI has not revealed any details about what might have happened.
Wright, who lives in Oklahoma and last saw Kepner a few years ago, described her daughter as a great girl who never got into trouble.
“She always wanted to make people laugh. She loved the water; we were constantly going to the lake here where I live so she could go swimming,” Wright said.
Wright is desperate for answers about what happened to Kepner, and autopsy results from the medical examiner are expected on Thursday, which could explain how Kepner died.
Thursday night, there will be a celebration of life at 5 p.m. at the Grove Church on Harrison Street in Titusville.
It will be a time to remember Anna, with her family requesting attendees wear bright colors instead of black.
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