A federal judge has ordered a Florida teenager to remain in custody until his trial in the murder of his 18-year-old stepsister aboard a cruise ship, reversing an earlier ruling that had allowed him to live with relatives while awaiting prosecution.
U.S. District Judge Edwin Torres issued the order on June 10, stating that 16-year-old Timothy Hudson poses a danger that “no curfew, monitor, or custodial placement can be trusted to contain.” The decision overturns a prior arrangement that permitted Hudson to stay with an uncle pending trial.
Hudson is accused of killing Anna Kepner on November 7, 2025, during a family cruise vacation. He has been indicted as an adult and faces charges of first-degree murder and aggravated sexual abuse. He has pleaded not guilty to both charges. If convicted, he could face a life sentence.
The judge’s order noted that despite Hudson having no prior criminal record and having complied with the terms of his release, the nature of the allegations raised serious concerns. Torres wrote that the case suggested a level of psychopathy and absence of remorse significant enough to warrant fears that Hudson could act violently again, regardless of the precautions taken by those supervising him.
Kepner’s father and Hudson’s mother had married in December 2024, making the two stepsiblings. Investigators found Kepner’s body in the cabin she shared with Hudson, hidden beneath the bed and concealed with a blanket and life vests. A medical examiner determined she had been sexually assaulted and asphyxiated.
Hudson is currently held at a Citrus County jail and is expected to be transferred to Miami by July 10. His trial is scheduled to begin in September.
Kepner, remembered as a high school senior and cheerleader with plans to attend the University of Georgia, was described by her father as a bright young woman whose future held countless dreams and milestones that were cut tragically short.
