A federal grand jury in the Southern District of Florida returned a superseding indictment on March 10, 2026, charging Timothy Hudson, sixteen, with first-degree murder under 18 U.S.C. §1111(a) and aggravated sexual abuse under 18 U.S.C. §2241(a)(1) in the death of his eighteen-year-old stepsister Anna Kepner aboard the Carnival Horizon cruise ship. The case was formally transferred from juvenile to adult prosecution on April 10 after a federal magistrate judge approved the government's request. Both charges carry a maximum sentence of life in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000 per count. The death penalty is constitutionally barred because the defendant was a minor at the time of the alleged offense.
Kepner, of Titusville, Florida, was found dead in her stateroom on November 7, 2025, while the ship was returning to PortMiami from international waters. Her body was located under the bed, wrapped in a blanket and covered in life vests. The medical examiner determined the cause of death to be mechanical asphyxiation. Because the alleged crime occurred in international waters, the case falls under federal jurisdiction.
The superseding indictment alleges Hudson sexually assaulted Kepner by force and intentionally killed her during or in connection with the assault. Security footage from the ship reportedly shows Hudson was the only individual who entered and exited the stateroom during the relevant time period. Kepner's younger brother was outside the room and reportedly heard sounds consistent with a violent struggle. The defendant was on prescribed medication for ADHD and insomnia and reportedly had not taken his insomnia medication for two consecutive nights prior to the incident. Text messages between the defendant's parents, released through a separate custody proceeding, indicate Hudson's mother stated he repeatedly said he could not remember anything.
Hudson was initially charged under seal in juvenile court on February 2, 2026, surrendered on February 3, and pleaded not guilty. He was released to the custody of his uncle under GPS monitoring with restrictions prohibiting unsupervised contact with any person under eighteen. On April 13, prosecutors filed a motion seeking to revoke Hudson's release and detain him pending trial. The defendant's attorneys have until April 20 to respond. Anna Kepner's father, Christopher Kepner, stated the family is placing trust in the justice system but expressed concern that Hudson has remained free despite the gravity of the charges. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
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