Timothy Hudson, a teenager accused of sexually assaulting and killing his 18-year-old stepsister on a Carnival Cruise ship, turned himself over to federal authorities on Monday after a judge reversed his pretrial release decision following his transfer to adult court.
Judge Revokes Pretrial Release
The US attorney's office in Miami confirmed that Timothy Hudson is in custody. US magistrate Judge Edwin Torres filed the order to revoke Hudson's pretrial release last Wednesday, but the order remained sealed until Monday afternoon. The order required Hudson to surrender to US marshals at the federal courthouse in Tampa on Monday morning.
In February, the judge had ruled that the 16-year-old could live with an uncle and be electronically monitored. However, after the case was transferred to adult court in April, prosecutors sought his detention. The judge ultimately agreed that Hudson's pretrial detention should be treated as if he were an adult, though he will be held in an approved 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," Torres wrote in his order.
Charges and Legal Context
Hudson has pleaded not guilty to charges of first-degree murder and aggravated sexual abuse in the death of Anna Kepner. His federal public defenders have declined to comment on the charges.
Minors are rarely prosecuted in federal court, and their names are usually withheld. However, this case landed in federal court because Kepner died in international waters, outside any state's jurisdiction. Hudson's name was released because he was charged with murder as an adult.
Kepner had been traveling on the Carnival Horizon ship in November with her family, including Hudson. Before the ship was scheduled to return to Florida, her body was found concealed under a bed in a room she was sharing with Hudson and another teen, according to a criminal complaint.
The cause of Kepner's death on November 6 was determined to be mechanical asphyxia, which occurs when an object or physical force prevents breathing.
Arguments in Court
During a May 27 hearing, attorneys for both sides presented arguments regarding Hudson's detention. Torres said he wanted to consult with the marshals service about detaining Hudson in central Florida, closer to his family, rather than south Florida, where the trial is taking place. Hudson left the courthouse after that hearing.
Assistant US attorney Alejandra Lopez argued that the crimes Hudson is accused of are so serious that the court should not risk another violent attack. An autopsy determined that Kepner had been pinned down and forcibly raped, prosecutors said. Lopez also noted that it likely took three to five minutes for Hudson to allegedly strangle Kepner to death.
The prosecutor further argued that Hudson posed a greater flight risk because he now faces a possible life sentence if convicted of the adult charges. As a juvenile, he would have been released at age 21, regardless of the counts on which he was found delinquent.
Evan Kuhl of the federal public defender's office told the judge during the hearing that Hudson had abided by the conditions of his release for months without issue.
Family Statement
Kepner's father, Christopher Kepner, previously released a statement, saying the family was placing "trust in the justice system to pursue the truth with care and integrity." He added, "The situation is deeply painful and complex for the entire family."
Anna Kepner was a high school cheerleader at Temple Christian School in Titusville, Florida, about 40 miles east of Orlando. At her memorial service in November, family members encouraged people to wear bright colors instead of traditional black "in honor of Anna's bright and beautiful soul."
