The Chokehold Testimony That Blew Open the Anna Kepner Case-WEEK IN REVIEW
Hidden Killers With Tony Brueski | True Crime News & Commentary
True Crime Today
3 • 791 Ratings
🗓️ 15 December 2025
⏱️ 75 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
In a December 5th custody hearing in Brevard County, Anna’s older stepbrother testified under oath that their stepfather, Christopher Kepner, once put him in a chokehold during a custody dispute — the same type of bar hold that killed Anna. That testimony, delivered while the FBI is investigating a homicide involving the identical technique, immediately raised questions about where a 16-year-old could have learned a neck restraint that takes minutes to execute.
This episode breaks down everything emerging from court: the skipped psychiatric medications in the days before Anna’s death, the suspect’s hospitalization after the ship docked, the parents moving him to an undisclosed location because they feared he was too dangerous to be around other children, and the family fracturing into public accusations. The grandmother says security footage shows only the stepbrother entering and exiting the cabin. Anna’s father told People magazine he wants his stepson to “face the consequences.”
Then retired FBI Special Agent Robin Dreeke joins us to dissect the behavioral complexity surrounding concealment — Anna hidden under a bed, wrapped and placed out of sight. Robin explains why concealment by juveniles doesn’t automatically equal malice; panic, dissociation, and shock can drive catastrophic decisions. We look at shifting statements, trauma responses, family chaos, and what investigators prioritize next: timelines, nonverbal cues, consistency, and the autopsy.
No one has been charged. But the family has drawn its own conclusions — loudly and publicly.
More testimony comes December 17th. We’ll stay on it.
#AnnaKepner #CarnivalCruise #CruiseShipInvestigation #TrueCrimeNews #RobinDreeke #BehavioralAnalysis #JuvenileCases #FamilyDynamics #CrimeInvestigation #HiddenKillers
Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video?
Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/
Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod
X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod
Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872
Transcript
Click on a timestamp to play from that location
| 0:00.0 | This is the big breakdown. |
| 0:02.2 | A long look back at some of the biggest stories we're covering for you at the Hidden |
| 0:05.9 | Killers podcast and True Crime Today. |
| 0:09.1 | Is Hidden Killers with Tony Brewski. |
| 0:11.7 | Here now, Tony Brewski. |
| 0:15.3 | This is a case with just so much wrong with it. |
| 0:19.6 | So, so much wrong with it. So, so much wrong with this family unit. |
| 0:26.7 | And I've said it before. |
| 0:28.4 | For those of you who grew up in the 90s, early 2000s, |
| 0:32.1 | feels like Springer. |
| 0:34.1 | It just does. |
| 0:43.3 | And I feel bad for the people who are in this ecosystem that don't want to be part of the show, but are inadvertently becoming part of the show because of the poor |
| 0:49.7 | decisions of certain actors on this show. |
| 0:56.3 | And unfortunately, it's not a show. |
| 0:57.0 | It's life. |
| 1:01.8 | And it's a life where this girl is no longer part of it. |
| 1:09.2 | She doesn't get to be a supporting cast member, breathing air anymore because of other actors. It's one of those things that doesn't necessarily give you any sort of |
| 1:21.6 | closure on what took place it the actions that we're about to discuss in this are certainly not an excuse, but they're part of the recipe, as I always say in cases like this. |
| 1:36.3 | None of this is an excuse. |
| 1:38.4 | But once you understand the recipe, you understand why what made it to the plate made it to the plate. |
| 1:49.9 | Anna Kempner died from a bar hold. |
| 1:53.5 | An arm across her throat. |
... |
Transcript will be available on the free plan in 27 days. Upgrade to see the full transcript now.
Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from True Crime Today, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.
Generated transcripts are the property of True Crime Today and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.
Copyright © Tapesearch 2025.