A teenager, Timothy Hudson, accused of sexually assaulting and murdering his 18-year-old stepsister on a Carnival Cruise ship, turned himself in on Monday. This development follows a federal judge’s decision to revoke his pretrial release after the charges were moved to adult court. The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Miami confirmed Hudson’s surrender.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Edwin Torres revoked Hudson’s pretrial release last Wednesday, although the order was made public only on Monday afternoon. The order required Hudson to surrender to U.S. Marshals at the federal courthouse in Tampa that morning. Initially, the 16-year-old was allowed to live with an uncle under electronic monitoring. However, as the case moved to adult court in April, prosecutors pushed for Hudson’s detention. Judge Torres agreed that Hudson’s pretrial release should align with adult court standards, although he will be held in a juvenile facility.
The Government has established, by clear and convincing evidence, that no condition or combination of conditions of release will reasonably assure the safety of the community going forward.
Hudson has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder and aggravated sexual abuse charges concerning the death of Anna Kepner. His federal public defenders have not commented on the charges. The case falls under federal jurisdiction since Kepner’s death occurred in international waters, outside any state’s jurisdiction. Kepner died during a family trip on the Carnival Horizon ship in November. Her body was found under a bed in a room she shared with Hudson and another teen.
The cause of Kepner’s death was identified as mechanical asphyxia, a condition resulting from an object or physical force hindering breathing. During a May 27 hearing, both prosecution and defense argued over Hudson’s pretrial detention. Judge Torres delayed the decision to consult with the Marshals Service about detaining Hudson closer to his family in central Florida, rather than South Florida, where the trial is taking place. Hudson left the courthouse after that hearing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Alejandra Lopez argued that Hudson’s alleged crimes are severe, and another violent incident cannot be risked. An autopsy revealed Kepner was pinned down and forcibly raped. It was estimated to have taken Hudson three to five minutes to strangle Kepner. Lopez also highlighted Hudson’s potential flight risk, as he now faces a life sentence if convicted as an adult, whereas as a juvenile he would have been released by age 21.
Evan Kuhl, a Federal Public Defender, stated that Hudson adhered to his release conditions without any issues. Anna Kepner’s father, Christopher Kepner, previously expressed faith in the justice system, hoping for a diligent pursuit of truth. He acknowledged the complex and painful nature of the situation for the family.
Anna Kepner was remembered as a high school cheerleader at Temple Christian School in Titusville, Florida, located about 40 miles east of Orlando. At her memorial service in November, family members requested bright attire to honor Anna’s vibrant personality.