Timothy Hudson Trial Delayed to Nov. 2 in Carnival Horizon Case
The defense said it needs time to prepare for a Miller hearing; its filing said none of Hudson's three federal public defenders had represented a juvenile in federal court.
The federal jury trial of a 16-year-old accused of sexually assaulting and killing his stepsister aboard Carnival Horizon has been postponed until Nov. 2. Timothy Hudson faces first-degree murder and aggravated sexual abuse charges in the November 2025 death of 18-year-old Anna Kepner.
The ruling is the second delay in the case in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida. The trial was initially scheduled for June 1 and later moved to Sept. 8 before the latest continuance.
Why the defense asked for more time
Hudson’s attorneys requested more time on Aug. 24, saying they were still reviewing discovery and examining issues that could affect the case’s resolution. The motion cited the seriousness of the charges, Hudson’s status as a juvenile and what the defense called a “unique — and very unfortunate — family dynamic.”
None of Hudson’s three assistant federal public defenders had previously represented a juvenile in federal court, according to the filing. Prosecutors did not oppose the request for a continuance at the time it was submitted.
The defense also is preparing for a Miller hearing, which would require the court to make an individualized sentencing decision before imposing life without parole on a juvenile. Such proceedings consider youth-related factors including immaturity, family environment, the defendant’s role in the offense and potential for rehabilitation.
“Preparation for a Miller hearing often resembles the type of mitigation investigation involved in a capital prosecution,” Assistant Federal Public Defender Eric M. Cohen wrote. The defense said limited access to certain family members had complicated that work.
Federal Public Defender Hector Dopico declined to provide further details about the family issues in the motion, writing that he was “purposefully being vague” because of intense media attention. Separate custody proceedings involving Hudson’s two younger siblings included testimony about family conflicts that predated the cruise.
Death aboard Carnival Horizon
Federal prosecutors allege Hudson assaulted and killed Kepner during a six-night Florida cruise aboard Carnival Horizon. A crew member found her body beneath a bed in the cabin she shared with Hudson and her 14-year-old half-brother on Nov. 7, 2025.
Kepner’s body had been concealed beneath life jackets, according to court filings. The Miami-Dade Medical Examiner determined that she died from asphyxiation following an assault.
The ship returned to Miami on Nov. 8. Federal authorities began investigating that day. Hudson, who was charged as an adult, remains in custody at the Miami-Dade County Metro-West Detention Center while the case is pending.
The court set Oct. 23 as the deadline for any guilty plea.
