Topline: A federal judge let the teenager accused of raping and killing his 18-year-old stepsister aboard a Carnival cruise ship remain free for now while he weighs whether the boy should be jailed before trial.
Published: May 28, 2026 10:30 am ET
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Anna Kepner (Family handout)
MIAMI, FL — A federal magistrate judge ended a Wednesday hearing without immediately revoking the release of 16-year-old Timothy Hudson, who is charged as an adult with first-degree murder and aggravated sexual abuse in the death of his stepsister, Anna Kepner.
Hudson was first arrested as a juvenile, and in February U.S. Magistrate Judge Edwin Torres allowed him to live with an uncle under electronic monitoring. After the case was transferred to adult court, federal prosecutors asked that Hudson be taken into custody.
The judge said he wanted to speak with the U.S. Marshals Service about whether Hudson could be detained in central Florida, closer to his family, rather than in South Florida, where the case is being prosecuted. No final decision was announced Wednesday, and Hudson walked out of court after the hearing.
In a report from KVUE, citing Associated Press reporting, prosecutors argued the charges are so serious that Hudson should not remain in the community. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alejandra Lopez said the autopsy found Kepner had been pinned down and violently raped, and she said it likely took three to five minutes for Hudson to strangle her to death.
Prosecutors also argued Hudson now faces a possible life sentence if convicted in adult court, making him a greater flight risk than he was as a juvenile, when any confinement would have ended at age 21. Defense lawyer Evan Kuhl told the court Hudson has followed the terms of his release for months without problems.
Torres said an adult facing the same charges would almost certainly be detained until trial, but he said Hudson’s age still has to be part of the analysis. The judge said he viewed Hudson as a low flight risk, though he had not decided whether the teen still posed a danger to the community if strict pretrial conditions remained in place.
Kepner was traveling with family aboard the Carnival Horizon in November when her body was found concealed under a bed in a room she shared with Hudson and another teen, according to the criminal complaint. Authorities said the ship was in international waters, placing the case in federal court rather than state court.
The medical examiner determined Kepner died Nov. 6 from mechanical asphyxia, meaning an object or physical force stopped her from breathing. Her father, Christopher Kepner, previously said the family was placing its trust in the justice system to pursue the truth with care and integrity.
Anna Kepner was a cheerleader at Temple Christian School in Titusville, Florida. Family members asked mourners at her memorial service to wear bright colors in honor of what they called her bright and beautiful soul.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
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Teen Charged in Anna Kepner Cruise Ship Killing Remains Free After Miami Hearing
A federal judge let the teenager accused of raping and killing his 18-year-old stepsister aboard a Carnival cruise ship remain free for now while he weighs whether the boy should be jailed before trial.
By Aaron Stephensen
Published: May 28, 2026 10:30 am ET
Anna Kepner (Family handout)
MIAMI, FL — A federal magistrate judge ended a Wednesday hearing without immediately revoking the release of 16-year-old Timothy Hudson, who is charged as an adult with first-degree murder and aggravated sexual abuse in the death of his stepsister, Anna Kepner.
Hudson was first arrested as a juvenile, and in February U.S. Magistrate Judge Edwin Torres allowed him to live with an uncle under electronic monitoring. After the case was transferred to adult court, federal prosecutors asked that Hudson be taken into custody.
The judge said he wanted to speak with the U.S. Marshals Service about whether Hudson could be detained in central Florida, closer to his family, rather than in South Florida, where the case is being prosecuted. No final decision was announced Wednesday, and Hudson walked out of court after the hearing.
In a report from KVUE, citing Associated Press reporting, prosecutors argued the charges are so serious that Hudson should not remain in the community. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alejandra Lopez said the autopsy found Kepner had been pinned down and violently raped, and she said it likely took three to five minutes for Hudson to strangle her to death.
Prosecutors also argued Hudson now faces a possible life sentence if convicted in adult court, making him a greater flight risk than he was as a juvenile, when any confinement would have ended at age 21. Defense lawyer Evan Kuhl told the court Hudson has followed the terms of his release for months without problems.
Torres said an adult facing the same charges would almost certainly be detained until trial, but he said Hudson’s age still has to be part of the analysis. The judge said he viewed Hudson as a low flight risk, though he had not decided whether the teen still posed a danger to the community if strict pretrial conditions remained in place.
Kepner was traveling with family aboard the Carnival Horizon in November when her body was found concealed under a bed in a room she shared with Hudson and another teen, according to the criminal complaint. Authorities said the ship was in international waters, placing the case in federal court rather than state court.
The medical examiner determined Kepner died Nov. 6 from mechanical asphyxia, meaning an object or physical force stopped her from breathing. Her father, Christopher Kepner, previously said the family was placing its trust in the justice system to pursue the truth with care and integrity.
Anna Kepner was a cheerleader at Temple Christian School in Titusville, Florida. Family members asked mourners at her memorial service to wear bright colors in honor of what they called her bright and beautiful soul.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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Latest Articles
Teen Charged in Anna Kepner Cruise Ship Killing Remains Free After Miami Hearing
A federal judge let the teenager accused of raping and killing his 18-year-old stepsister aboard a Carnival cruise ship remain free for now while he weighs whether the boy should be jailed before trial.
By Aaron Stephensen
Published: May 28, 2026 10:30 am ET
Anna Kepner (Family handout)
MIAMI, FL — A federal magistrate judge ended a Wednesday hearing without immediately revoking the release of 16-year-old Timothy Hudson, who is charged as an adult with first-degree murder and aggravated sexual abuse in the death of his stepsister, Anna Kepner.
Hudson was first arrested as a juvenile, and in February U.S. Magistrate Judge Edwin Torres allowed him to live with an uncle under electronic monitoring. After the case was transferred to adult court, federal prosecutors asked that Hudson be taken into custody.
The judge said he wanted to speak with the U.S. Marshals Service about whether Hudson could be detained in central Florida, closer to his family, rather than in South Florida, where the case is being prosecuted. No final decision was announced Wednesday, and Hudson walked out of court after the hearing.
In a report from KVUE, citing Associated Press reporting, prosecutors argued the charges are so serious that Hudson should not remain in the community. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alejandra Lopez said the autopsy found Kepner had been pinned down and violently raped, and she said it likely took three to five minutes for Hudson to strangle her to death.
Prosecutors also argued Hudson now faces a possible life sentence if convicted in adult court, making him a greater flight risk than he was as a juvenile, when any confinement would have ended at age 21. Defense lawyer Evan Kuhl told the court Hudson has followed the terms of his release for months without problems.
Torres said an adult facing the same charges would almost certainly be detained until trial, but he said Hudson’s age still has to be part of the analysis. The judge said he viewed Hudson as a low flight risk, though he had not decided whether the teen still posed a danger to the community if strict pretrial conditions remained in place.
Kepner was traveling with family aboard the Carnival Horizon in November when her body was found concealed under a bed in a room she shared with Hudson and another teen, according to the criminal complaint. Authorities said the ship was in international waters, placing the case in federal court rather than state court.
The medical examiner determined Kepner died Nov. 6 from mechanical asphyxia, meaning an object or physical force stopped her from breathing. Her father, Christopher Kepner, previously said the family was placing its trust in the justice system to pursue the truth with care and integrity.
Anna Kepner was a cheerleader at Temple Christian School in Titusville, Florida. Family members asked mourners at her memorial service to wear bright colors in honor of what they called her bright and beautiful soul.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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