Why Anna Kepner’s Stepmom Went to Court Over the Cruise Ship Murder

Why Anna Kepner’s Stepmom Went to Court Over the Cruise Ship Murder

Author: True Crime Today September 12, 2026 Duration: 26:49

Shauntel Hudson just filed a child support petition against her ex-husband Thomas Hudson — the father of Timothy Hudson, who is in a federal cell awaiting trial for the alleged murder of Anna Kepner aboard the Carnival Horizon. According to court documents, she claims Thomas didn’t pay for several months and wants the support amounts increased. Thomas denied her claims.

The petition asks for money per child. One of those children is in federal detention. The other is a nine-year-old girl living in a home with her stepfather — whose biological daughter was allegedly killed by her biological brother. Shauntel testified at an earlier hearing that all the children in her household had been unenrolled from school because of the media attention.

Thomas has been fighting for custody of that nine-year-old since November 2025. His emergency petition argued the child shouldn’t be in a household where her brother is accused of killing the stepfather’s daughter. He’s also supporting Timothy’s criminal defense — shouldering the cost of a federal murder case while his ex-wife tells a judge he owes her money.

The custody filings document a family that fractured within weeks of Anna’s death. Text exchanges entered into the record show Shauntel went from telling Thomas she loved their son to allegedly saying she couldn’t jeopardize her marriage to help him. She invoked the Fifth at a custody hearing rather than testify. And now she wants more money from the father who’s paying for their son’s defense.

Listen Anywhere You Get Podcasts: https://pod.link/1655749292

Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod?sub_confirmation=1

Join Our SubStack For AD-FREE ADVANCE EPISODES & EXTRAS!: https://hiddenkillers.substack.com/

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/

Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod

X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod

This publication contains commentary and opinion based on publicly available information. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Nothing published here should be taken as a statement of fact, health or legal advice.

#AnnaKepner #TimothyHudson #HiddenKillers #ShauntelHudson #CarnivalHorizon #CruiseShipMurder #ChildCustody #FederalTrial #TrueCrime #TrueCrimePodcast


Each week, Hidden Killers With Tony Brueski | True Crime News & Commentary cuts through the noise of the daily headlines to examine the darker stories unfolding in real time. Hosted by Tony Brueski and presented by True Crime Today, this isn't just a recap of events; it's a deep, analytical dive into the cases that dominate the news cycle, asking the difficult questions that often go unasked. You'll hear detailed commentary on ongoing trials, breaking developments in high-profile investigations, and discussions on the societal and psychological patterns that these crimes reveal. The podcast operates at the intersection of news and thoughtful analysis, providing context where there is often only sensation. Rather than simply presenting facts, Tony engages with the material, offering a perspective that challenges listeners to think critically about the true crime stories they believe they know. It’s for those who follow the news with a keen eye and want to understand the "why" behind the "what." Tune in for a sober, engaging conversation that treats these serious subjects with the depth they demand, making this a standout offering in the true crime genre for anyone seeking more than surface-level reporting.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Hidden Killers With Tony Brueski | True Crime News & Commentary
Podcast Episodes
Farwell's Defense Claims THIS About Sandra Birchmore [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:59
The defense in the Matthew Farwell case is building its strategy around Sandra Birchmore's mental health records, her journals, and her history of instability. They want the jury to see a woman who killed herself. Prosec…
Wendi Adelson's Ex-Boyfriend Testified to WHAT Under Oath? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:32
Five days before the murder, Wendi Adelson's boyfriend says she told him her brother had looked into hiring a hitman. The day before, she asked him about his Friday driving route near Dan Markel's house, then told him no…
Patrick Clancy's Lawyer Told Conspiracy Theorists What's Coming [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:25
Lindsay Clancy admitted through her defense that she killed her three children — Cora, Dawson, and Callan — in their Duxbury home in January 2023. The trial was solely about whether she was criminally responsible. It end…
Biggie's Case — What the LAPD Did to the Investigation [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 10:58
Every time a detective got close to solving the murder of Christopher Wallace, the LAPD pulled the plug. The first investigator followed the evidence to two of the department's own officers. His chief ordered him to stop…
Why Lindsay Clancy’s Case Is Farther From Over Than Ever [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:34
The trial ended. The case multiplied. Lindsay Clancy’s jury split eleven to one. The mistrial was declared. And instead of a resolution, the legal fight broke into three separate tracks — a potential retrial, two civil m…
Lindsay Clancy: The Defense Move That Could Shut Down a Retrial [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:13
What happens if the judge won’t end Lindsay Clancy’s case? Kevin Reddington had an answer ready before a retrial was even announced.After the mistrial, he asked for a fast hearing—and, if he lost that argument, jury sele…