BREVARD COUNTY FLA, New court filings reveal that Timothy Hudson, the 16-year-old stepbrother of 18-year-old Anna Kepner, has been formally charged in connection with her death, months after she was found deceased aboard a cruise ship during a family vacation.
Anna, a resident of Titusville, was discovered unresponsive in her stateroom on November 7, 2025, while traveling with family aboard the Carnival Horizon.
According to court documents, her body was located under a bed inside the cabin.
Filings indicate that the reported cause of death was asphyxiation, described in documents as resulting from a “bar hold.”
Because the incident occurred while the ship was in international waters returning to Miami after a weeklong Caribbean cruise, the matter is being prosecuted in federal court.
On February 20, Thomas Hudson filed an emergency petition in Brevard County seeking sole custody of his 9-year-old daughter, whom he shares with his former spouse, Shauntel Hudson.
The child primarily resides with Shauntel and her husband, Chris Kepner, who is Anna’s father.
The petition states that there has been what it describes as a “significant and unanticipated change in circumstances,” requesting an immediate review and modification of parental responsibility and time-sharing arrangements. The filing references information shared publicly by members of the Kepner family indicating that the 16-year-old stepbrother was charged on February 3 by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida.
The document further claims that newly obtained details may raise concerns regarding judgment and parenting decisions within the household.
A law enforcement source confirmed that the 16-year-old appeared in federal court in Miami on February 6.
According to the source, U.S. Marshals escorted the teenager to the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida, where he appeared alongside a public defender before a magistrate judge during a closed hearing.
Following the court appearance, Shauntel Hudson and Chris Kepner released a public statement expressing their reaction to the court’s decision to grant release conditions.
In their statement, they described the situation as deeply painful for the family and said they are continuing to cope with the loss while the legal process moves forward.
The charge represents a major development in a case that has drawn public attention due to the location of the incident and the family relationships involved.
Federal authorities continue to oversee the prosecution, and additional proceedings are expected as the case advances.
The investigation remains ongoing.
