A federal judge in Florida has ruled that a teenager must stay incarcerated until his trial for the sexual assault and murder of his stepsister on a cruise ship in November 2025, as revealed by unsealed court documents.

The decision overturns a previous order which permitted Timothy Hudson, aged 16, to reside with an uncle while he awaited trial for the killing of 18-year-old Anna Kepner.

In a June 10 directive, U.S. District Judge Edwin Torres stated that Hudson, who is being tried as an adult, poses a danger that no form of probation, electronic monitoring, or custodial arrangement can control.

Hudson has entered a plea of not guilty to charges of first-degree murder and aggravated sexual abuse. If found guilty, he could face a life sentence.

Despite Hudson’s lack of prior criminal activity and adherence to conditions of his release, Torres noted that the charges imply “a level of psychopathy and lack of remorse” that suggests a risk Hudson could act out spontaneously, regardless of the earnest efforts of those supervising him.

Hudson’s legal representatives have not responded to requests for comments on the matter.

Kepner’s father and Hudson’s mother wed in December 2024, with the alleged crime occurring about 11 months later during a family vacation on a cruise.

Kepner’s body was discovered hidden beneath a bed in a room she shared with Hudson, wrapped in a blanket and surrounded by life vests. An examination by a medical specialist indicated she had been sexually assaulted and suffered asphyxiation.

Local outlet NBC South Florida has reported that Hudson is being detained in the Citrus County jail and must be relocated to Miami by July 10. His trial is slated for September.

Kepner was known as a senior in high school and a cheerleader with aspirations to study at the University of Georgia. Her father described her as a “beautiful, bright young girl” filled with potential, whose promising future was tragically cut short.