Trial Delayed for Teen Charged in Carnival Horizon Death

The federal trial of a 16-year-old accused of sexually assaulting and killing his stepsister aboard the Carnival Horizon has been postponed until Nov. 2.

Timothy Hudson is facing charges of first-degree murder and aggravated sexual abuse in connection with the November 2025 death of his 18-year-old stepsister, Anna Kepner.

The latest ruling marks the second postponement in the case before the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida. Proceedings were originally due to begin on June 1 before being rescheduled for Sept. 8.

Hudson’s defense attorneys requested another delay on Aug. 24, explaining that they needed additional time to review evidence provided through discovery and consider matters that could influence how the case is ultimately resolved. Their motion pointed to the severity of the allegations, Hudson’s age and what they described as a “unique - and very unfortunate - family dynamic.”

According to the filing, none of the three assistant federal public defenders representing Hudson had previously handled a juvenile case in federal court. Prosecutors did not object to the request for additional time when it was filed.

The defense is also preparing for a Miller hearing. Such a hearing requires a court to consider an individual juvenile defendant’s circumstances before imposing a sentence of life imprisonment without parole. Factors that may be examined include the defendant’s age and maturity, family circumstances, involvement in the alleged offense and prospects for rehabilitation.

“Preparation for a Miller hearing often resembles the type of mitigation investigation involved in a capital prosecution,” Assistant Federal Public Defender Eric M. Cohen wrote.

Defense attorneys said their preparations had been made more difficult by restricted access to certain members of Hudson’s family.

Federal Public Defender Hector Dopico did not elaborate on those circumstances in the filing, saying he was “purposefully being vague” because of the extensive media coverage surrounding the case.

Separate custody proceedings concerning Hudson’s two younger siblings have included testimony about family disputes that reportedly existed before the cruise.

Federal prosecutors allege that Hudson sexually assaulted and killed Kepner during a six-night Florida cruise aboard the Carnival Horizon.

A crew member discovered Kepner’s body underneath a bed in the cabin she had been sharing with Hudson and her 14-year-old half-brother on Nov. 7, 2025.

Court documents state that her body had been concealed beneath life jackets. The Miami-Dade Medical Examiner subsequently determined that Kepner died from asphyxiation following an assault.

The Carnival Horizon returned to Miami on Nov. 8, and federal authorities began investigating the death that same day.

Hudson has been charged as an adult and remains in custody at Miami-Dade County’s Metro-West Detention Center while proceedings continue.

The court has set Oct. 23 as the deadline for any guilty plea ahead of the rescheduled Nov. 2 trial.