A 16-year-old accused of murdering his stepsister on a Carnival cruise ship has turned himself in to federal authorities after a judge revoked his pre-trial release. Timothy Hudson surrendered to US marshals in Tampa on Monday, following a judge's decision to charge him as an adult.
US Magistrate Judge Edwin Torres ordered Hudson's detention last Wednesday, reversing a February ruling that allowed him to live with an uncle under electronic monitoring. The judge determined that no conditions could ensure community safety, as Hudson now faces adult charges of first-degree murder and aggravated sexual abuse.
The victim, 18-year-old Anna Kepner, was found dead under a bed on the Carnival Horizon in November. An autopsy revealed she died from mechanical asphyxia after being sexually assaulted. Prosecutors argued Hudson poses a flight risk due to a possible life sentence, whereas as a juvenile he would have been released at 21.
Hudson's defence noted his compliance with release conditions for months, but the judge sided with prosecutors. Hudson will be held in an approved juvenile facility pending trial. His public defenders declined to comment.
Kepner's father, Christopher Kepner, expressed trust in the justice system, calling the situation "deeply painful and complex." Anna Kepner was a high school cheerleader from Titusville, Florida.
