Teen, 16, Accused in Cruise Ship Slaying of Stepsister Anna Kepner Ordered Into Federal Custody Pending Trial

Titusville resident Anna Kepner's body discovered on Carnival Horizon in November 2025

JUDGE: 16-year-old defendant presents a danger to himself and to others that no curfew, monitor, or custodial placement can be trusted to contain.

A federal judge has revoked the release conditions of a Florida teenager accused of sexually assaulting and killing his 18-year-old stepsister aboard a family cruise, ordering that he be taken into custody while awaiting trial on murder charges.

Sixteen-year-old Timothy Hudson, identified in court records as T.H., is charged with first-degree murder and aggravated sexual abuse in the death of Titusville resident Anna Kepner, whose body was discovered aboard the Carnival Horizon cruise ship in November 2025.

According to newly unsealed federal court documents, Hudson was ordered to report to the federal courthouse in Tampa on June 15, where he would be placed in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.

The court directed that he initially be transported to the Citrus County Jail and held in juvenile detention, then transferred to a juvenile facility in Miami-Dade County no later than July 10.

The latest ruling marks a significant shift in the case after months of legal arguments over whether Hudson should remain free while awaiting trial.

Body Found Hidden Beneath Cruise Ship Bed

Federal investigators allege Kepner was killed during a family cruise aboard the Carnival Horizon. Court documents state that her body was discovered concealed beneath a bed inside a cabin and covered with life jackets.

Authorities said Kepner died from asphyxiation after being sexually assaulted. The cause of death was determined by the Miami-Dade Medical Examiner’s Office.

The allegations led to Hudson being charged in federal court because the incident occurred aboard a vessel at sea.

Release Conditions Revoked

When Hudson was initially charged as a juvenile, a judge approved his release under strict supervision.

Following the transfer of the case to adult court and the filing of adult charges, federal prosecutors sought his detention pending trial.

In May, a judge allowed Hudson to remain with family members under several conditions, including electronic monitoring through an ankle bracelet.

The court also instructed the U.S. Marshals Service to explore housing arrangements closer to Hernando County, where Hudson’s family resides, rather than requiring him to remain in South Florida.

Prosecutors argued that the seriousness of the allegations warranted detention, while defense attorneys maintained that existing supervision measures were sufficient.

Judge Cites Public Safety Concerns

In a June 10 order that was unsealed June 15, the judge concluded that Hudson should be detained based on concerns about dangerousness rather than the risk that he would fail to appear for future court proceedings.

“The Court now finds that Defendant should be held going forward in the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending his trial in the case,” the judge wrote.

The court stated that the original release conditions were adequate to ensure Hudson’s appearance at trial but insufficient to address the danger posed by the charges.

The judge further noted that allegations involving the intentional killing and sexual assault of a close family member in the confined environment of a cruise ship represented a level of danger that could not be mitigated through curfews, electronic monitoring, or supervised housing arrangements.

Federal court records indicate he is expected to be transferred to a juvenile detention facility in Miami-Dade County before July 10, where he will remain pending further proceedings.

MORE: Damaged Cellphone Becomes Key Evidence in Anna Kepner Cruise Ship Murder Case

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