A 16-year-old American boy charged with the murder of his stepsister on a Carnival cruise ship has surrendered to federal authorities after a judge ordered he be held in custody. Timothy Hudson, who has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder and aggravated sexual abuse, handed himself over to US marshals in Tampa on Monday.
The case has been transferred from juvenile to adult court, meaning Hudson now faces a possible life sentence if convicted. Judge Edwin Torres ruled last week that no conditions of release could ensure public safety, revoking a previous decision that allowed Hudson to live with his uncle under electronic monitoring.
The victim, 18-year-old Anna Kepner, was found hidden under a bed in a cabin she shared with Hudson and another teenager in November. The cause of death was mechanical asphyxia, and prosecutors allege she was sexually assaulted during the attack.
Hudson will be held in an approved juvenile facility until his trial, which is scheduled for June. The case falls under federal jurisdiction because the incident occurred in international waters. Kepner's father has expressed the family's trust in the justice system, describing the situation as deeply painful.
