A Florida teenager charged with sexually assaulting and killing his 18-year-old stepsister on a Carnival Cruise ship last year has been ordered detained while he awaits trial, court records show.
Timothy Hudson, 16, was initially charged as a juvenile in the death of Anna Kepner, but a judge later ruled he should be tried as an adult. The incident occurred in July 2025 aboard the Carnival Magic, which was sailing from Florida to the Bahamas.
According to court documents, Kepner was found dead in a cabin, and an autopsy determined she died from asphyxiation. Hudson was arrested by FBI agents upon the ship's return to port. He faces charges of first-degree murder and sexual battery.
During a detention hearing on June 15, 2026, a judge ordered Hudson held without bond, citing the severity of the charges and the risk of flight. His next court appearance is scheduled for July 2026.
The case has drawn attention due to the ages of those involved and the location of the alleged crime on a cruise ship, which falls under federal jurisdiction. Hudson's defense attorney has not commented on the detention order.
