June 2026 Trial Set for Teen Tried as Adult in Carnival Horizon Death

Updated June 4, 2026

A federal judge has allowed Timothy Hudson, the 16-year-old Titusville, Florida, teen charged as an adult in the death of his stepsister Anna Kepner aboard Carnival Horizon, to remain free for now while awaiting trial.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Edwin Torres did not order Hudson detained after a May 27 hearing in Miami. Torres said he wanted more information about possible detention options closer to Hudson's family in Hernando County before deciding whether to hold him in custody. Prosecutors said Wednesday that Hudson's trial could begin in September.

What the judge decided about release

Hudson has been living with an uncle in Hernando County under electronic monitoring since his February arrest, when the case was still being handled as a juvenile matter. He is only allowed to leave the house with his uncle or aunt, according to the latest hearing reports.

Prosecutors asked the court to revoke that release after a federal grand jury indicted Hudson as an adult on charges of first-degree murder and aggravated sexual abuse. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alejandra L. Lopez argued that Hudson is "a danger to the community" and questioned whether restrictions were enough, noting that two minors live in the uncle's home.

"What is needed to prove a danger? A second dead body?" Lopez asked during the hearing. She also argued that Hudson is a greater flight risk now because he faces a possible life sentence if convicted as an adult.

Federal public defender Evan Kuhl countered that Hudson is not a danger to the public or a flight risk because he has followed the conditions of his release for several months without incident. Torres said an adult facing the same circumstances likely would have been detained, but he also said Hudson's age required additional consideration.

"If it were a 20-year-old under the exact circumstances I probably would have detained," Torres said. "The presumption would be we were just not going to take that chance." He added, "This is a different animal."

What prosecutors allege happened aboard Carnival Horizon

Federal prosecutors allege Hudson sexually assaulted Kepner and intentionally killed her while Carnival Horizon was in international waters en route to Miami. Court records described the events as occurring on or about Nov. 6 or 7, 2025, during a Caribbean voyage.

At the May 27 hearing, prosecutors described an alleged 3-to-5-minute chokehold. They also said they had narrowed Kepner's time of death to a two-hour window between her final Snapchat message at about 8:15 p.m. and security video that allegedly showed Hudson leaving the cabin they shared at about 10:15 p.m.

Kepner's body was discovered concealed under a bed in a cabin she shared with Hudson and another teenager, according to court filings. Prosecutors said a housekeeper found her body the next morning and that Hudson had walked across the ship and thrown her cellphone in a trash can. Other case details described Kepner as having been wrapped in a blanket and concealed by life vests.

After the ship docked in Miami, Kepner was taken to the Miami-Dade Medical Examiner's Office, which determined the cause of death was mechanical asphyxia, a form of suffocation caused by physical force or obstruction to the airway.

Charges, potential penalty, and why the case is in federal court

Hudson is charged with first-degree murder and aggravated sexual abuse. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of life in prison. He has entered a written not-guilty plea.

Because the alleged crimes occurred aboard a cruise ship in international waters, the case is being handled in federal court in the Southern District of Florida. FBI Miami is investigating, and Lopez is prosecuting the case.

How the case moved from juvenile proceedings to adult prosecution

Hudson was arrested in February 2026 and initially charged as a juvenile. The case file remained sealed due to his age. A federal grand jury later returned an indictment, and the U.S. Department of Justice announced the federal charges in April.

On April 10, U.S. District Judge Beth Bloom granted the government's request to transfer the case for adult prosecution, unsealing the court records and making the filings public. Minors are rarely prosecuted in federal court.

Former Palm Beach County prosecutor Dave Aronberg, who reviewed the indictment and has followed the case but is not involved, said adult prosecution was expected given the seriousness of the allegations. Aronberg also pointed to a practical difference in the federal juvenile system, where a defendant could potentially be released at age 21 regardless of the severity of the offense.

U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones of the Southern District of Florida said in the Justice Department's announcement of the indictment, "Our hearts go out to the victim's family during this unimaginable loss." He also said prosecutors intend to present evidence in court "with professionalism and care," and said Hudson is presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

Family reactions and who Anna Kepner was

Kepner's father, Christopher Kepner, and stepmother, Shauntel Kepner, released a statement describing the loss as devastating. "Our family is devastated by the loss of Anna and continues to grieve this unimaginable tragedy," the statement said. "Anna was deeply loved, and we remain committed to honoring her life and memory every day."

Christopher Kepner also said the family was placing "trust in the justice system to pursue the truth with care and integrity," adding that the situation was "deeply painful and complex" for the family and expressing concern that Hudson had not been taken into custody despite the allegations.

Chris Donohue Sr., Kepner's step-grandfather, said, "I am glad that justice is starting and I am hoping she gets the justice she deserves," adding, "Her life was cut short and we are saddened that we will not be able to see what a beautiful life she would have had."

Kepner was a senior at Temple Christian School in Titusville. She was a cheerleader with an outgoing personality, described by family and friends as "bubbly, funny, outgoing," and her obituary noted her love for gymnastics and boating. Kepner had plans to join the U.S. Navy after graduation, aspiring to become a K9 officer. Her birth mother, Heather Wright, said her daughter "always wanted to make people laugh," and described her as someone who loved being in the water.

Family members also spoke about the shock of her death. Kepner's grandmother, Barbara Kepner, said, "We were all having a great time," adding, "I couldn't fathom why anyone would wanna hurt my baby." Her grandfather, Jeffrey Kepner, said, "It's all family."

In Titusville, Kepner was mourned at a celebration-of-life service in November that drew hundreds of people. Family members encouraged attendees to wear bright colors instead of traditional black "in honor of Anna's bright and beautiful soul," and her car was turned into a makeshift memorial by friends and relatives.

Key dates in the case

Nov. 6–7, 2025: Investigators place the alleged events on or about these dates during a Carnival Horizon voyage as the ship headed toward Miami. Kepner's cause of death was later determined to be mechanical asphyxia.

February 2026: Hudson was arrested and charged in federal court as a juvenile. The case file was sealed because of his age, and he was later released under conditions including electronic monitoring while living with an uncle in Hernando County.

April 2026: A federal grand jury returned an indictment. Judge Bloom approved transferring the case to adult prosecution, and the court file was unsealed. Hudson filed a written not-guilty plea.

May 27, 2026: Torres held a detention hearing in Miami and allowed Hudson to remain free for now while seeking more information about possible detention options closer to Hudson's family.

September 2026: Prosecutors said Hudson's trial could begin in Miami federal court.