A federal judge in Miami allowed 16-year-old Timothy Hudson to remain free for now while considering whether he should be jailed before trial in the case of his 18-year-old stepsister’s death aboard a Carnival Cruise ship. Hudson is accused of sexually assaulting and killing Anna Kepner, whose body was found hidden under a bed on the Carnival Horizon in November 2025 during a family trip. The case is being heard in federal court because Kepner is believed to have died in international waters, outside state jurisdiction.
Hudson was first arrested and charged as a juvenile, and a magistrate judge later allowed him to live with an uncle under electronic monitoring. But after the case was transferred to adult court, prosecutors argued he should be detained. Hudson has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder and aggravated sexual abuse.
At Wednesday’s hearing, U.S. Magistrate Judge Edwin Torres did not issue a final ruling and said he wanted to speak with the U.S. Marshals Service about whether Hudson could be held in central Florida, closer to his family, instead of South Florida, where the trial will take place. Hudson walked out of the courthouse after the hearing and was not immediately taken into custody. The judge said he would decide later.
Prosecutors told the court the allegations are severe enough that Hudson should not remain free. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alejandra Lopez said the evidence shows a serious violent crime and argued there was clear and convincing proof that Hudson would be a danger to the community if released. She said the autopsy showed Kepner had been pinned down and forcibly raped, and that it likely took three to five minutes for her to be strangled to death. Prosecutors also argued Hudson is now a greater flight risk because, if convicted as an adult, he could face a life sentence. Under juvenile handling, they said, he would have been released at age 21 regardless of the outcome.
Hudson’s federal public defender, Evan Kuhl, argued that Hudson has followed all release conditions for months without incident. The defense said he is not a flight risk and urged the court to consider his age, even though he is now facing adult charges. The judge said he agreed Hudson appeared to be a low flight risk, but he had not yet decided whether the teen still posed a danger if strict pretrial conditions remained in place.
Anna Kepner’s father, Christopher Kepner, previously said the family was trusting the justice system to find the truth “with care and integrity.” Anna Kepner, a high school cheerleader at Temple Christian School in Titusville, Florida, was remembered by family and friends at a November memorial service, where attendees were encouraged to wear bright colors in honor of her personality and spirit.
