The tragic and puzzling death of 18-year-old Anna Kepner aboard a Carnival cruise ship has been officially ruled a homicide. According to newly released information, the cause of death was determined to be “mechanical asphyxiation.”

The young woman’s lifeless body was discovered on November 7, at approximately 11:15 a.m., on the Carnival Horizon, marking a grim turn of events for what was supposed to be a joyful voyage.

Dr. Priya Banerjee, a renowned forensic pathologist, explained the term “mechanical asphyxia” as a situation where an external force prevents the victim from breathing properly, indicating that her chest or abdomen was unable to expand.

Identified by her grieving family, Anna Kepner was the passenger who lost her life under these suspicious circumstances. Her untimely death has left a cloud of mystery and sorrow hanging over her loved ones.

In light of the ongoing investigation, the Miami-Dade Medical Examiner’s Office has refrained from making further comments at this time, leaving many questions unanswered as authorities continue their search for justice.

The teen’s death was ruled a homicide, and she was “mechanically asphyxiated by other person(s)”, ABC News reported late Monday afternoon, citing a copy of Kepner’s death certificate reportedly supplied by her family.

Although her time of death is listed at 11:17 a.m. on Nov. 7, the report says she suffered her fatal injury on Nov. 6, the last night she was publicly seen alive.

Anna Kepner, 18, was found dead aboard a Carnival cruise ship on Nov. 7, during a vacation with her family.  (Anna Kepner/Instagram)

Mechanical asphyxiation isn’t always a homicide, said Dr. Michael Baden, the former chief medical examiner of New York City, but it can be, and it remains up to prosecutors to decide how the case should be charged, if they file charges at all.

The FBI is handling the investigation and has not publicly named any suspects as of Monday evening, although Anna’s 16-year-old stepbrother has been identified as a potential “suspect” by his own parents in court filings amid an ongoing custody dispute. No charges have been filed.

Anna Kepner’s family said she had dreams of joining the military. (Instagram/Anna Kepner)

Kepner was found dead under the bed in her cabin, wrapped in a blanket and covered in life jackets in a room she shared with the stepbrother.

Both of his parents and their attorneys have not responded to multiple requests for comment from Fox News Digital.

Kepner was a high school varsity cheerleader who planned to join the Navy after graduation and ultimately wanted to become a K-9 police officer.