Judge Orders Teen to Remain in Custody for Alleged Crimes on Cruise Ship

A federal judge in Florida has decided that a teenager should remain in custody until his trial for the alleged sexual assault and murder of his stepsister on a cruise ship last year. This decision follows the unsealing of court records on Monday.

The judge reversed an earlier ruling that allowed Timothy Hudson, aged 16, to stay with an uncle while awaiting trial for the incident that occurred on November 7, 2025. U.S. District Judge Edwin Torres, in an order dated June 10, stated that Hudson “presents a danger to himself and to others that no curfew, monitor, or custodial placement can be trusted to contain.” Hudson has pleaded 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 history and adherence to his release conditions, Judge Torres expressed concerns. The judge cited allegations indicating “a level of psychopathy and lack of remorse that by itself raises a serious concern that Defendant can snap at any time, despite the well-meaning and serious efforts of his caretakers to make sure that does not happen.” Hudson’s lawyers have not yet commented on the recent order.

Anna Kepner, the victim, had become Hudson’s stepsister following the marriage of Kepner’s father to Hudson’s mother in December 2024. The incident occurred 11 months into the family’s cruise vacation. Kepner was found deceased in the room she shared with her stepbrother. Her body was discovered under a bed, wrapped in a blanket and hidden by life vests. The medical examiner’s report concluded that she had been sexually assaulted and asphyxiated.

According to NBC South Florida, Hudson was booked into Citrus County jail and must be transferred to Miami by July 10. His trial is expected to commence in September. Kepner was a high school senior and cheerleader who had plans to attend the University of Georgia. Her father described her as a “beautiful, bright young girl” who “had so much life ahead of her, so many dreams, milestones, and moments that were taken far too soon.”