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Judge orders teen accused of killing his stepsister on a cruise to be held in jail until murder trial
NBC News • • general
Key Points:
- A federal judge in Florida has ordered 16-year-old Timothy Hudson to remain in custody until his trial for the sexual assault and murder of his stepsister, reversing an earlier decision allowing him to live with an uncle.
- Hudson, indicted as an adult, faces charges of first-degree murder and aggravated sexual abuse related to the November 2025 killing of 18-year-old Anna Kepner aboard a cruise ship, with a possible life sentence if convicted.
- The judge cited concerns about Hudson’s potential danger to himself and others, noting a “level of psychopathy and lack of remorse” despite his compliance with previous release conditions.
- Kepner's body was found concealed under a bed on the cruise ship, with the medical examiner confirming she was sexually assaulted and asphyxiated; the victim was a high school senior and cheerleader with plans to attend the University of Georgia.
- Hudson was booked into Citrus County jail and is expected to be transferred to Miami by July 10, with his trial scheduled to begin in September.
