A teenager charged with sexually assaulting and murdering his 18-year-old stepsister aboard a Carnival Cruise ship has been taken into federal custody after a judge ordered his pre-trial detention. Timothy Hudson, 16, turned himself in on Monday following a decision to revoke his release, which had allowed him to live with an uncle under electronic monitoring.
US Magistrate Judge Edwin Torres ruled in February that Hudson could remain with his uncle, but after the case was moved to adult court in April, prosecutors argued for detention. Torres agreed, stating in his order that no conditions of release could ensure community safety. Hudson will be held in an approved juvenile facility despite being charged as an adult.
Hudson has pleaded not guilty to charges of first-degree murder and aggravated sexual abuse in the death of Anna Kepner. The victim’s body was discovered concealed under a bed in a cabin she shared with Hudson and another teenager on the Carnival Horizon in November. The cause of death was mechanical asphyxia, and prosecutors said an autopsy indicated she had been pinned down and forcibly raped.
The case is being prosecuted in federal court because the alleged crime occurred in international waters. Minors are rarely prosecuted in federal court, and their names are usually withheld, but Hudson’s name was released because he was charged as an adult. He now faces a possible life sentence if convicted, whereas as a juvenile he would have been released at age 21.
During a hearing in May, Assistant US Attorney Alejandra Lopez argued that Hudson posed a flight risk and danger to the community, noting the severity of the alleged attack. Defence attorney Evan Kuhl countered that Hudson had complied with release conditions for months. Kepner’s father, Christopher Kepner, expressed trust in the justice system, describing the situation as ‘deeply painful and complex’.
Anna Kepner, a high school cheerleader from Titusville, Florida, was remembered at her memorial service with bright colours, as her family encouraged attendees to honour her ‘bright and beautiful soul’.
