A Florida teenager has been formally charged with murder and aggravated sexual abuse following the tragic death of his stepsister on a cruise ship.
Timothy Hudson, a 16-year-old, was indicted on March 10 after initially facing charges in February. The case details were kept under seal until recently, when a judge ruled that he would be tried as an adult at the government’s request.
The victim, Anna Kepner, 18, was discovered deceased under a bed in a cabin she shared with two other teens, including her stepbrother, aboard the Carnival Horizon ship in November as it was en route back to Florida.
The medical examiner determined that Anna’s death on November 6 was due to mechanical asphyxia, which occurs when someone is prevented from breathing due to external factors.
In a statement, Christopher Kepner, Anna’s father, expressed the family’s reliance on the justice system to uncover the truth with diligence. However, he voiced concern over Hudson not being detained despite the gravity of the charges, calling the situation deeply distressing for the family.
Since his arrest in February, Hudson has been under the care of an uncle and has not been taken into custody.
Anna, a cheerleader at Temple Christian School in Titusville, Florida, was remembered for her vibrant personality at a memorial service where attendees were encouraged to wear bright colors in tribute to her spirit.
It is uncommon for teenagers to be prosecuted in federal court, and Hudson, who pleaded not guilty to the initial charges, has been subject to restrictions such as wearing an electronic monitoring device while residing with his uncle.
Prosecutors have raised concerns about Hudson’s potential danger and have requested a review of his release now that he has been charged as an adult. Defence attorneys will have a week to respond to the prosecution’s objections.
Assistant US Attorney Alejandra López highlighted the troubling nature of the crimes committed by Hudson against a victim with whom he had no apparent conflict, emphasizing the familial context of the tragedy.
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