A teenager from Miami, charged with sexually assaulting and murdering his 18-year-old stepsister on a Carnival Cruise ship, is now in custody. The U.S. Attorney’s Office confirmed that Timothy Hudson surrendered on Monday following a federal judge’s decision to deny his pretrial release. The judge, Edwin Torres, had originally allowed Hudson to live with an uncle under electronic monitoring. However, when the case moved to adult court, prosecutors insisted on his detention.
Hudson, facing charges of first-degree murder and aggravated sexual abuse, pleaded not guilty. His legal representatives have not commented on the charges. Although minors are rarely tried in federal courts, this case was an exception as Anna Kepner’s death occurred in international waters.
Kepner was found deceased under a bed she shared with Hudson and another teen aboard the Carnival Horizon ship in November. Her death was attributed to mechanical asphyxia. During a May 27 hearing, discussions centered on Hudson’s detention location. Prosecutors argued for his custodial positioning due to the severity of the charges and flight risk, asserting Hudson might avoid another violent incident by being detained.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Alejandra Lopez highlighted the gravity of Hudson’s alleged actions, which reportedly included forcibly restraining and killing Kepner. An autopsy suggested the attack lasted several minutes. Prosecutors emphasized Hudson’s higher risk of fleeing due to the potential life sentence he now faces as an adult. Initially, as a juvenile, he would have been released by age 21.
Hudson’s compliance with release conditions was noted by Evan Kuhl of the Federal Public Defender’s office. The tragedy has deeply impacted Kepner’s family. Her father expressed trust in the justice system’s ability to handle the investigation diligently.
Kepner, a high school cheerleader at Temple Christian School in Titusville, Florida, was mourned at a November service where attendees were asked to wear bright colors to honor her vibrant personality.