The killing of Anna Marie Kepner occurred on November 6, 2025, during a cruise aboard Carnival Horizon with her family members.
| Date | November 6, 2025 |
|---|---|
| Type | Homicide by mechanical asphyxiation |
| Deaths | Anna Kepner |
| Arrests | Timothy Hudson |
Background
editKepner was from Titusville, Florida. She was a cheerleader at Temple Christian School.[1] Kepner's grandparents stated that she and her stepbrother were very close. At the time of her killing, she was 18 years old.[2] Kepner had previously expressed discomfort around her stepbrother, with her ex-boyfriend claiming that her stepbrother tried to climb on top of her while she lay down.[3]
Death
editOn November 2, 2025,[4] Kepner boarded the Carnival Horizon in Miami, Florida with her family, including her father (Christopher Kepner), her paternal grandparents, her 14-year old half-brother and 10-year old half-sister, her stepmother, (Shauntel Hudson), her stepbrother, and a 9-year-old stepsister.[1][2][4][5][6] The sailing was planned to be 6 nights, with ports of call in George Town, Grand Cayman, Ocho Rios, Jamaica, and Cozumel, Mexico.[1] Kepner, who was 18, was sharing a room with her stepbrother, who was 16.[2][1]
Kepner was killed via mechanical asphyxiation on November 7.[5] On November 8, Kepner's body was found by a cabin steward at 11:17 am, wrapped in a blanket under a bed and concealed by life vests.[1][2][6][7] Family members said her stepbrother was "an emotional mess" after Kepner's body was discovered.[2] He reportedly told investigators and family members he could not remember anything.[1][2]
The vessel returned to Miami on November 8, as originally planned per its itinerary.[1][4][5] Following their arrival in Miami, Anna Kepner's stepbrother was hospitalized for psychiatric observation and was later released to one of Shauntel's relatives.[1][2][4] The death was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and was ruled a homicide.[2][6] Bruising was present on Kepner's neck, suggesting an arm had been held across her neck.[6][8] A memorial service for Kepner was held on November 20, and attendees were encouraged to wear bright colors, "in honor of Anna's bright and beautiful soul."[1][9]
Legal proceedings
editShauntel Hudson and the father of Anna Kepner's stepbrother, Thomas Hudson, were engaged in an ongoing custody battle.[7] On November 17, Shauntel requested an emergency delay in the hearing, as one of her minor children may be considered a suspect in the incident.[7][9] On December 5, a federal judge in Brevard County, Florida, stated that the stepbrother was considered a suspect during a custody hearing.[10]
On February 6, 2026, Kepner's stepbrother, Timothy Hudson appeared before a federal magistrate. The case was sealed, and charges were not publicly released.[5][6] He was represented by a federal public defender.[5]
On April 13, 2026, Kepner's stepbrother was indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of murder and aggravated sexual abuse. The indictment was unsealed by U.S. District Judge Beth Bloom as the stepbrother will be tried as an adult.[11]
On June 15, 2026, a judge ruled that Hudson would be held in custody before and during his trial because the prosecution's "case for a forcible rape is beyond clear and convincing," and "suggests a level of psychopathy and lack of remorse that by itself raises a serious concern that [Hudson] can snap at any time, despite the well-meaning and serious efforts of his caretakers to make sure that does not happen."[12]
References
edit- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Gallop, JD (December 23, 2025). "Kepner case: Court records show family texts shared after teen's death". Florida Today. Retrieved February 7, 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Asma-Sadeque, Samira (November 24, 2025). "Anna Kepner's Grandma Reveals How Stepbrother Reacted After Her Body Was Found In His Room on Cruise". People. Retrieved February 7, 2026.
- ↑ Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, Michael Ruiz (November 20, 2025). "Stepbrother climbed 'on top of' cheerleader in video call before cruise death, ex-boyfriend says". Fox News. Retrieved April 14, 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 "Teenager Under Investigation After Stepsister Is Found Dead on Cruise Ship". November 19, 2025. Retrieved November 20, 2025.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Pipitone, Tony (February 6, 2026). "Teen suspect in stepsister's cruise ship death in federal court in Miami". NBC Miami. Retrieved February 7, 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Fox, Sheldon; Sosa, Samantha; Boulandier, Kevin (February 6, 2026). "Stepbrother of Florida teen found dead on cruise ship appears in federal court in connection to case". 7NewsMiami. Retrieved February 7, 2026.
- 1 2 3 Harman, Brian; Volack, Jason; Katersky, Aaron; Margolin, Josh; Barr, Luke. "Teen who died on Carnival cruise was found under bed, stepbrother under investigation: Source". ABC News. Retrieved February 7, 2026.
- ↑ Marcos, Coral Murphy (November 22, 2025). "Stepbrother investigated in death of Florida high schooler on cruise ship". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved November 23, 2025.
- 1 2 Payne, Kate (November 19, 2025). "Speculation intensifies in the death of a Florida high schooler on a cruise". AP News. Retrieved November 20, 2025.
- ↑ Asma-Sadeque, Samira; Spargo, Chris (December 5, 2025). "Judge Now Says Anna Kepner's 16-Year-Old Stepbrother Is 'a Suspect' in Her Cruise Ship Death". People. Retrieved February 7, 2026.
- ↑ "Titusville Teen Charged as Adult in Killing of Stepsister on Cruise Ship". United States Attorney's Office Southern District of Florida. April 13, 2026.
- ↑ Spargo, Chris (June 15, 2026). "Anna Kepner Stepbrother Taken into Custody Until Murder Trial Due to 'Level of Psychopathy and Lack of Remorse': Order". People.