A federal judge has ruled that 16-year-old Timothy Hudson must remain in custody while awaiting trial on charges of killing and sexually assaulting his stepsister aboard a cruise ship. The decision reverses an earlier release granted when Hudson was charged as a juvenile. Hudson has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Magistrate Judge Edwin G. Torres issued the order on June 10, citing clear evidence that no release conditions could ensure community safety. Hudson, now charged as an adult with first-degree murder and aggravated sexual abuse, must be transferred to the U.S. Marshals Service and held at facilities including the Miami-Dade County Metro West Detention Center by July 10.
The charges stem from the November 2025 death of 18-year-old Anna Kepner on Carnival Cruise Line's Horizon. Prosecutors allege the pair were alone in their cabin when Kepner was asphyxiated and sexually assaulted, with her Apple Watch data supporting the timeline.
Torres acknowledged Hudson's lack of prior criminal history and compliance with earlier conditions but determined these factors insufficient given the case's severity. Hudson's trial is scheduled for September.
