A teenager accused of sexually assaulting and killing his stepsister on a Carnival Cruise ship has turned himself in after a judge changed his pretrial release. Timothy Hudson, now charged as an adult, is in custody in Miami according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. U.S. Magistrate Judge Edwin Torres had initially allowed the 16-year-old to live with his uncle under electronic monitoring. The case moved to adult court in April, prompting prosecutors to seek Hudson’s detention.
Judge Torres ultimately sided with prosecutors. The judge’s order, which was initially sealed, required Hudson to surrender to U.S. Marshals in Tampa. Despite his adult charges, Hudson will be detained in a juvenile facility. According to the judge, public safety concerns led to the decision. Hudson faces charges of first-degree murder and aggravated sexual abuse but has pleaded not guilty. His federal public defenders have not commented.
The prosecutor argued that Hudson poses a flight risk due to the severity of potential sentences.
The legal complication arose because Anna Kepner, the victim, died in international waters. She was found deceased under a bed on the Carnival Horizon in November. The body was located in a room shared with Hudson and another teen. Her death was attributed to mechanical asphyxia, indicating that she was prevented from breathing due to physical force.
During a May 27 hearing, Assistant U.S. Attorney Alejandra Lopez cited the violent nature of the crimes in arguing for Hudson’s detention. Lopez mentioned the autopsy revealed Kepner was forcibly raped and strangled over three to five minutes. Lopez indicated these acts create a risk of further violence.
Evan Kuhl, representing Hudson from the Federal Public Defender’s office, told the judge Hudson had been compliant with all release conditions. The judge consulted with the Marshals Service regarding the best location for Hudson’s detention to keep him near family.
Kepner’s family, including her father, Christopher Kepner, has expressed faith in the judicial process. At her memorial, family chose to remember her by wearing bright colors, reflecting her vibrant spirit. Anna Kepner was a cheerleader at Temple Christian School in Titusville, Florida.