Timothy Hudson update: Anna Kepner's killer remains free after Miami hearing; what's next for him?

Timothy Hudson, 16, was charged with killing and sexually assaulting his stepsister, 18-year-old Anna Kepner, on a cruise ship.

Published on: May 28, 2026, 11:50:11 IST

By Sumanti Sen

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

A federal judge in Miami on Wednesday, May 27, allowed Timothy Hudson, 16, who was charged with killing and sexually assaulting his 18-year-old stepsister on a cruise ship, to remain free for now. The judge is now considering whether to hold him in a juvenile facility.

Timothy Hudson, charged with sexually assaulting and killing his 18-year-old stepsister Anna Kepner on a Carnival Cruise ship, arrives for a hearing at the The James Lawrence King Federal Justice Building, Wednesday, May 27, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell) (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Timothy is accused of killing and sexually assaulting Anna Kepner in November 2025 while on a cruise shift, Fox 35 Orlando reported. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

What’s next for Timothy Hudson?

In February, US Magistrate Judge Edwin Torres had ruled that Timothy, who was arrested and charged as a juvenile, could live with an uncle in the Tampa area under electronic monitoring. However, prosecutors sought to place him in custody after a federal grand jury indicted Hudson on charges of murder and aggravated sexual abuse in March.

The hearing was ended by the judge without a final decision being made. He said that he wanted to speak with the U.S. Marshals Service about the logistics of detaining Timothy in Central Florida, near his family, versus Miami, which is the site of his trial.

Federal prosecutor Alejandra Lopez urged Judge Edward Torres to detain Timothy, arguing that he “is a danger to others and should be held in pretrial detention” because he’s no longer being prosecuted as a juvenile, according to the Miami Herald.

Timothy allegedly killed and raped Anna, whose body was found underneath a bed in her stateroom by cleaning staff aboard the Carnival Horizon on November 7, 2025, a day before the ship docked at PortMiami. Anna was on board the cruise with her father, stepmother and two step-siblings, including Timothy. Anna’s cause of death was asphyxiation, according to the Miami-Dade Medical Examiner’s Office.

Timothy is scheduled for trial in early September after his lawyers sought a three-month continuance, citing the prosecution’s “voluminous” evidence.

Anna’s father previously said in a statement that the family was placing “trust in the justice system to pursue the truth with care and integrity.” “The situation is deeply painful and complex for the entire family,” Christopher Kepner said.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sumanti Sen
Sumanti Sen covers everything that’s happening in the US, from politics to entertainment, but her expertise lies in covering crime news. She has comprehensively chronicled the Idaho student murders, the Laken Riley and Iryna Zarutska cases, and the killing of Charlie Kirk, among other incidents. Over the years, she has interviewed several victims/families of victims of crimes seeking justice. She digs up stories that might otherwise remain unheard, and does her bit to ensure that victims and survivors’ voices are heard. Sumanti’s many years of experience also include interviews with Hamas attack survivors and mental health experts, among others. Her coverage of the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel and interviews with survivors of the tragedy, coupled with her other works including the Titan submersible coverage, earned her the Digi Journo of the Quarter award during her first year at Hindustan Times. Sumanti actively tracks missing person cases in the United States, and peruses Reddit and other social media platforms to bring to light cases that frequently elude public attention. She has extensively covered the disappearances of Nancy Guthrie, Thomas Medlin, Beau Mann, and Sudiksha Konanki, among others. When not at work, you will either find her with her novels, or with her beloved rescue pooches.Read More

Stay updated with US News covering politics, crime, weather, local events, and sports highlights. Get the latest on Donald Trump and American politics along with Horoscope 2026.