RismadarVoice Reporters, June 16, 2026
A federal judge in Florida has ordered a 16-year-old boy accused of sexually assaulting and killing his stepsister aboard a cruise ship to remain in detention until the conclusion of his murder trial.
The ruling overturns an earlier decision that allowed the teenager, Timothy Hudson, to stay with a relative while awaiting trial over the death of 18-year-old Anna Kepner during a family cruise in November 2025.
In a court order issued on June 10, U.S. District Judge Edwin Torres stated that the defendant posed a significant risk to both himself and others, concluding that no supervision arrangement could adequately guarantee public safety.
Hudson, who was indicted as an adult earlier this year, has pleaded not guilty to charges of first-degree murder and aggravated sexual abuse. If convicted, he could face a life sentence.
Although the court acknowledged that Hudson has no previous criminal record and had complied with the conditions of his release, the judge cited the seriousness of the allegations and concerns raised during the proceedings as reasons for revoking his release.
According to court records, Kepner was found dead inside the cabin she shared with her stepbrother during the cruise. Investigators alleged that her body was concealed beneath a bed and covered with a blanket and life jackets.
Medical findings referenced in the court documents reportedly concluded that the victim died from asphyxiation and had been sexually assaulted.
Kepner’s father and Hudson’s mother had married less than a year before the incident, making the two teenagers stepsiblings.
Following the latest ruling, Hudson was returned to custody and is expected to be transferred to Miami ahead of the trial, which is scheduled to begin in September.
The case has drawn widespread attention due to the nature of the allegations and the circumstances surrounding the incident aboard the cruise ship.
Anna Kepner, described by her family as a bright and ambitious young woman, was a high school senior and cheerleader who had planned to attend the University of Georgia. Her family has continued to mourn her loss, remembering her as someone whose future was cut tragically short.
