Teen Pleads Not Guilty in Murder Case of Florida Stepsister Aboard Cruise Ship

A teenager, Timothy Hudson, has pleaded not guilty to charges related to the death of his stepsister, Anna Kepner, on a Carnival Cruise ship. Hudson is being charged as an adult in the case after his stepsister’s body was discovered under a bed in their shared cabin during a family cruise in November.

The 16-year-old waived his appearance at a recent hearing in Miami federal court, as confirmed by his defense attorney, Eric Cohen. Hudson has been free since his arrest in February, under the care of an uncle, but prosecutors are seeking to detain him while the case proceeds.

Anna, an 18-year-old high school cheerleader from Titusville, Florida, died from mechanical asphyxia, indicating she was suffocated by a force preventing her from breathing. The details surrounding the case remained largely sealed initially, given Hudson’s juvenile status. However, following a request from the government, U.S. District Judge Beth Bloom approved the move to prosecute him as an adult, and the case was unsealed earlier this month, revealing the charges, which include murder and aggravated sexual abuse.

As the legal process unfolds, the court battle is poised to escalate, especially with prosecutors pushing for Hudson’s detention.

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