A 16-year-old boy has been charged with murder and aggravated sexual abuse in the death of his 18-year-old stepsister, Anna Kepner, on a Carnival Cruise ship.
Charges against Timothy Hudson were announced Monday. He was initially charged as a juvenile on Feb. 2 but the case was sealed until U.S. District Judge Beth Bloom ordered that he be prosecuted as an adult.
“Our hearts go out to the victim’s family during this unimaginable loss,” U.S. Attorney Jason Reding Quiñones said in a statement. “A federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging serious offenses that allegedly occurred aboard a vessel in international waters.”
Before the Department of Justice announced the charges Monday, there were multiple indications that Anna’s stepbrother was a focus of the investigation into her death aboard the cruise ship, which was bound for the Caribbean.
Here’s a look at the timeline of the case:
Nov. 6, 2025:
Anna Kepner, a high school cheerleader from Titusville, Florida, dies from mechanical asphyxia aboard the Carnival Horizon in international waters. She was on the cruise with her family.
Nov. 7-8, 2025:
Kepner’s body is discovered by a housekeeper, concealed under a bed in the cabin she was sharing with two other teens, including her stepbrother, Timothy Hudson.
Mid-November, 2025:
Kepner’s death draws international attention, sparking intense speculation after a court filing in a dissolution of marriage case involving Hudson’s mother said the FBI is investigating and a minor child may be implicated.
Nov. 20, 2025:
The Associated Press reports that Hudson is identified as a suspect in her death according to court documents filed by his parents in an ongoing custody dispute. He is identified only as “T.H.” in the court documents.
Feb. 2, 2026:
Hudson is charged as a juvenile with murder and sexual abuse in federal court, but the court file is sealed because of his age.
Feb. 3:
Hudson is arrested and pleads not guilty to the charges. The hearing is not open to the public.
Feb. 6:
U.S. Magistrate Judge Edwin Torres says Hudson can remain free pending trial, but he must live with an uncle and be electronically monitored.
Feb. 24:
Assistant U.S. Attorney Alejandra L. Lopez requests that Hudson be prosecuted as an adult, and Hudson’s defense attorneys do not object.
March 10:
Federal prosecuting attorneys file a superseding indictment but asks the court to keep it sealed.
April 10:
The entire court file is unsealed.
April 13:
The U.S. Department of Justice announces that murder and sexual abuse charges have been brought against Hudson in connection with Kepner’s death.
