The federal high-seas murder case against a teenager accused of sexually assaulting and strangling his stepsister aboard a cruise ship has reached a critical stage. New court filings show that the defense has sought additional time to evaluate a possible plea agreement.
Timothy Hudson was 16 when he was accused of sexually assaulting and strangling 18-year-old Anna Kepner aboard the Carnival Horizon on Nov. 7, 2025. He is being prosecuted as an adult in federal court in Florida.
Hudson’s plea deadline, originally set for Friday, Oct. 23, has been extended until January to give his defense team more time. A judge approved the extension earlier this month.
Timothy Hudson enters Miami Federal Court with a public defender on Wednesday, May 27, 2026. He was charged in connection with the death of his stepsister, Anna Kepner, on a Carnival Cruise in November 2025. (Matthew Symons for News Media)
A federal grand jury indicted Hudson in April, and he initially pleaded not guilty. He is being held at a federal pretrial detention center after a judge ordered him into federal custody in June.
Before that order, Hudson had remained in the custody of his family while wearing an ankle monitor.
The extended deadline may indicate that Hudson’s attorneys are working to resolve the case through a plea agreement, although no deal has been announced.
Anna Kepner’s 16-year-old stepbrother outside of a federal court building in Miami, Florida, Feb. 6, 2026. The teen is accompanied by his attorney. (Fox News)
“For a case like this, you’re talking about whether or not the defendant gets life or not,” said Anthony Strazza.
Strazza, a criminal defense attorney and former prosecutor who handles federal and state cases, is not involved in Hudson’s prosecution.
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Timothy Hudson is accused of sexually assaulting and killing his stepsister, 18-year-old Anna Kepner, onboard a Carnival Cruise ship. (News Media/Instagram)
He said Hudson’s lawyers could be negotiating a guilty plea under which prosecutors would agree not to recommend life without parole.
“There’s not going to be any sweet plea deal, regardless of whether or not they take a plea. The numbers [years in prison] are going to be large,” Strazza said.
Hudson’s age could still have a significant effect on how much of his life he spends behind bars, Strazza said. Even if he were convicted and sentenced to decades in prison, he could potentially complete his sentence and be released in his 30s.
In a court sketch, Timothy Hudson is seen in Miami federal court on Wednesday, May 27. Hudson is accused of murdering his stepsister, Anna Kepner, and sexually assaulting her. (Lothar Speer)
“You’re talking about a defendant who’s 16 years old, so there’s a huge difference between life and, let’s say, a 30-year sentence,” Strazza said.
Strazza said Hudson could be expected to serve “at least 85 percent” of any federal prison sentence.
In a court sketch, Timothy Hudson is seen in Miami federal court on Wednesday, May 27. Hudson is accused of murdering his stepsister, Anna Kepner, and sexually assaulting her. (Lothar Speer)
“Even if he does get big numbers, 20, 30 years, he is still going to be relatively young when he completes that time.”
Hudson’s defense attorney, Eric Cohen, declined to comment when contacted by News Media.