MIAMI (WSVN) - The stepbrother of 18-year-old Anna Kepner, the Florida cheerleader found dead aboard a Carnival cruise ship, arrived to a Miami federal courthouse on Friday in connection to the case.
7News cameras were rolling when 16-year-old Timothy Hudson walked toward the James Lawrence King Federal Justice Building wearing a cap and camouflage hoodie and flanked by his attorney.
The sealed juvenile proceedings are in connection to Kepner’s murder that occurred on Nov. 7 aboard the ship that sailed from Miami. It has since been ruled a homicide, according to a copy of her death certificate.
Federal agents and other officials boarded the cruise following the incident and removed Kepner’s body at PortMiami as they began their investigation.
Investigators say she died by asphyxiation and had bruises on her neck. Her body was found wrapped in a blanket on the ship.
Weeks after the murder, Hudson was identified as a suspect in her death, according to court documents filed by his parents.
But on Friday, inside the courtroom, the teen remained tight-lipped and his legal team intervened as 7News questioned him on whether or not he killed Kepner.
His charges remain unknown as additional information about the case is sealed.
According to his attorneys, Hudson was released to the custody of a guardian after his proceedings.
Kepner’s father and stepmother responded to Friday’s events in a lengthy statement that reads in part:
“The loss of our daughter is a pain that will never fully heal. She was taken from us in a violent and senseless way, and our family has been permanently changed. Our grief is overwhelming, and her absence is felt in every part of our lives. No parent should ever have to bury their child, and no words can fully express the depth of our loss…At this time, it is deeply painful and disturbing to our family that the person responsible is able to walk freely. This reality adds to our grief and outrage. It is devastating to know that while we live every day with the loss of our child, the individual responsible has not yet been fully held accountable. This only strengthens our resolve to continue seeking justice for our daughter.”
Copyright 2025 Sunbeam Television Corp. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.