Florida Teen Faces Federal Murder Charges in Cruise Ship Death of Stepsister

A 16-year-old from Florida has been indicted on federal charges of first-degree murder and aggravated sexual abuse in the death of his 18-year-old stepsister aboard a Carnival cruise ship in November 2025.

The Incident

Discovery on the Carnival Horizon

Anna Kepner was found deceased on November 7, 2025, aboard the Carnival Horizon cruise ship while it was in international waters en route to Miami. She was traveling with her father, stepmother, and three stepsiblings.

Her body was discovered concealed under a bed in a shared cabin, wrapped in a blanket and hidden by life vests. The ship returned to the Port of Miami on November 8 as scheduled.

Cause of Death

The Miami-Dade Medical Examiner's Office determined the cause of death as mechanical asphyxiation (mechanical asphyxia). The manner of death was ruled a homicide.

According to an autopsy, the death was the result of strangulation that lasted between three and five minutes, and the medical examiner determined the victim was sexually assaulted.

Victim Background

Anna Kepner was a high school senior and cheerleader at Temple Christian School in Titusville, Florida. She had planned to continue cheerleading at the University of Georgia. Her obituary described her as outgoing and reliable.

Chris Kepner, her father, and Shauntel Hudson Kepner, the suspect's mother, were married in December 2024.

Timeline of Legal Proceedings

Initial Charges (February 2026)

• February 2, 2026: The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida filed charges against the minor, identified in court documents as T.H., under seal.
• February 3, 2026: Timothy Hudson was charged as a juvenile. He pleaded not guilty the following day in Miami.
• February 6, 2026: U.S. Magistrate Judge Edwin Torres ordered Hudson's release to the custody of his uncle under electronic monitoring, citing Hudson's age and the difficulty of family visitation if he were held far from his Hernando County home.

Adult Indictment (March–April 2026)

• March 10, 2026: A federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Hudson as an adult with first-degree murder and aggravated sexual abuse.
• April 2026: The case was transferred to adult prosecution. U.S. District Judge Beth Bloom ruled Hudson would be prosecuted as an adult at the request of prosecutors.
• The sealed indictment was subsequently unsealed, making the details of the case public.

Detention Hearings: A Reversal

April 29, 2026 Hearing

"What is needed to prove a danger? A second dead body?"
— Assistant U.S. Attorney Alejandra Lopez

• Prosecution argued Hudson poses a danger to the community, noting two minors live in his uncle's home.
• Defense countered that Hudson had complied with release conditions for several months without incident. His mother's lawyer stated he has been in counseling.
• Conditions at the time: Hudson could leave the house only with his uncle or aunt and was subject to electronic monitoring.
• Outcome: Judge Torres decided against detention but stated he would explore options for detaining Hudson closer to home.

June 10, 2026 Detention Order

Judge Torres reversed his earlier decision, ordering Hudson to remain in custody pending trial. He wrote that while Hudson had no prior criminal history and had complied with release conditions, the allegations suggest "a level of psychopathy and lack of remorse" indicating he could "snap at any time," and that he poses a danger to himself and others.

Subsequent Surrender

Hudson surrendered to U.S. Marshals on the Monday following the June 10 order. He was booked into Citrus County jail and was to be transferred to an approved juvenile facility in Miami by July 10.

Note: Court records indicate that at one point, the initial conditions of release were modified to allow Hudson to join his father at a landscaping business for a few days.

Statements

By the Prosecution

"Our hearts go out to the victim's family during this unimaginable loss."
— U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones

Assistant U.S. Attorney Alejandra Lopez stated in a court filing: "He committed these crimes against a victim with whom he had no apparent relational strife, and whom he was being raised to view as a sibling."

By the Victim's Family

"Justice needs to be served."
— Chris Kepner, Anna Kepner's father and Timothy Hudson's stepfather

Chris Kepner expressed trust in the justice system and said his family believes in "accountability and in the importance of justice being carried out." He also noted he was "deeply troubled" that Hudson had not been taken into custody at various points in the proceedings.

The Kepner family expressed gratitude to the FBI, which is leading the investigation, and stated the family was advised by the agency to remain quiet about the case.

By the Defense

Lawyers for Hudson did not respond to requests for comment at various points in the proceedings. An attorney for Hudson's mother declined to comment. Attorneys for Hudson's father and Anna Kepner's mother did not respond to requests for comment.

Trial Schedule

Hudson's trial is scheduled to begin in September 2026. He faces a possible life sentence if convicted.