US4 min(s) read
Published 11:38 29 May 2026 GMT
Court documents show actions of Anna Kepner's stepbrother immediately after he allegedly raped and murdered her
Newly unsealed court documents have revealed disturbing new details in the case against 16-year-old Timothy Hudson, who is accused of raping and murdering his 18-year-old stepsister, Anna Kepner, during a family cruise vacation last year.
According to a 145-page transcript from Hudson’s February bond hearing, obtained from the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, prosecutors allege the teenager calmly wandered around the Carnival cruise ship after hiding Kepner’s body beneath a bed in their shared cabin.
Hudson is facing charges of first-degree murder and aggravated sexual abuse after the family’s November Caribbean cruise turned deadly.
The blended family had been sharing cabins aboard the ship, with Kepner, Hudson and her 13-year-old biological brother staying together in one room.
Their parents, who had recently married, were across the hall with their two younger daughters, while Kepner’s grandparents stayed one deck above.
What does the surveillance footage show?
On November 6, the family spent the day in Cozumel, Mexico, before returning to the ship that evening.
Surveillance footage reportedly showed Kepner heading back to the cabin shortly after 7:30pm after complaining of stomach pain and discomfort from her braces.
Hudson was already inside the room.
About 15 minutes later, Kepner’s younger brother briefly entered the cabin with two friends before leaving again. Prosecutors say it was 'the last time anyone saw her alive.'
Authorities believe Hudson remained alone in the cabin with Kepner for several hours before allegedly raping and strangling her to death.
According to the transcript, Hudson exited the cabin just after 10PM while 'looking left and right to see if anyone was around.'
Prosecutors said he entered and exited the room multiple more times before eventually hanging a 'Privacy' sign on the cabin door.
Around midnight, Kepner’s younger brother reportedly attempted to enter the room, but Hudson stopped him, allegedly claiming he was 'changing.'
Minutes later, the boy was allowed inside and went to sleep, unaware that his sister’s body was in a blanket and hidden underneath the bed.
The following morning, prosecutors allege Hudson walked around the ship carrying Kepner’s cellphone.
He reportedly visited a smoking deck, wandered near a restaurant area and spent time near the jogging track before returning briefly to the cabin.
Authorities claim Hudson later walked to the rear of the ship and disposed of Kepner’s phone in a trash can after destroying it.
At approximately 11:24am, a crew member cleaning the cabin discovered Kepner’s body.
Prosecutors noted that while the discovery was unfolding, Hudson allegedly walked past the cabin and 'didn’t look inside.'
A medical examiner later ruled Kepner died from strangulation and found evidence of sexual assault before death.
Investigators said DNA collected during the rape examination matched Hudson.
Hudson accused of killing his stepsister
Hudson is being prosecuted as an adult in federal court because the alleged crimes occurred in international waters.
During Wednesday’s hearing, prosecutors argued Hudson should remain behind bars, while his defense team pushed for him to stay with relatives in the Tampa area while awaiting trial.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Edwin Torres ultimately sided with the defense for now, though he reportedly wanted additional information from the U.S. Marshals Service before making a final decision regarding Hudson’s living arrangements.
Outside court, Hudson and his legal team were surrounded by reporters but declined to comment.
Federal prosecutors previously described the allegations in stark terms, stating Hudson 'sexually assaulted and intentionally killed' Kepner while aboard the cruise ship.
“Our hearts go out to the victim’s family during this unimaginable loss,” U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones said in a statement.
It was previously reported that Hudson was initially charged in juvenile court before prosecutors later escalated the case to adult federal court.
Following the cruise ship’s return to port, Hudson was removed from the family home.
His mother, Shauntel Kepner, reportedly told family court that her son was no longer welcome to live with her and Kepner’s father, while Hudson’s biological father has pledged to support him through the case.