A 16-year-old boy charged with the sexual assault and murder of his 18-year-old stepsister aboard a Carnival cruise ship has been taken into federal custody after a judge revoked his pre-trial release. Timothy Hudson surrendered to US marshals in Tampa on Monday, following an order issued by Magistrate Judge Edwin Torres.
Hudson, who was initially allowed to live with his uncle under electronic monitoring, has been charged as an adult with first-degree murder and aggravated sexual abuse in the death of Anna Kepner. The case was transferred to adult court in April, prompting prosecutors to seek his detention. Judge Torres ruled last week that no conditions of release could ensure community safety, though Hudson will be held in an approved juvenile facility.
The teenager is accused of killing Kepner on 6 November aboard the Carnival Horizon in international waters. Her body was found concealed under a bed in a shared cabin. An autopsy determined the cause of death to be mechanical asphyxia, and prosecutors allege she was pinned down and forcibly raped before being strangled over a period of three to five minutes.
Hudson has pleaded not guilty, and his federal public defenders have declined to comment. The case landed in federal court because the alleged crime occurred outside any state's jurisdiction. Unlike juvenile proceedings, where detention would end at age 21, an adult conviction carries a potential life sentence.
Defence attorney Evan Kuhl argued that Hudson had complied with release conditions for months without issue. However, Assistant US Attorney Alejandra Lopez cited the seriousness of the crimes and the risk of flight. Kepner's father, Christopher Kepner, expressed trust in the justice system, describing the situation as 'deeply painful and complex for the entire family.'
