BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. – Federal prosecutors are asking a judge to revoke the release of a 16-year-old accused in the death of his stepsister, arguing he should be taken into custody now that the case has been transferred to adult court.
In a motion filed April 13, prosecutors said Timothy Hudson’s earlier release was granted under juvenile law and should no longer apply after a federal judge approved moving the case to adult prosecution.
Hudson is charged with first-degree murder and aggravated sexual abuse in connection with the death of 18-year-old Anna Kepner.
According to court records, Kepner was found dead Nov. 7, 2025, inside a stateroom aboard a Carnival cruise ship while it was traveling in international waters. Investigators said her body was discovered under a bed in the cabin she shared with Hudson and another sibling.
Hudson, who was 16 at the time, later became the primary suspect in the case.
Release now under review
Hudson was initially released to a family member in Hernando County following a detention hearing in February, when the case was still being handled under the federal Juvenile Delinquency Act.
During that hearing, prosecutors argued Hudson should be detained, citing concerns he posed a danger to others. A magistrate judge found probable cause for the charges but denied the request for detention, instead allowing Hudson to remain out of custody under specific conditions.
Now, prosecutors say that decision should be reconsidered.
In the newly filed motion, they argue that once the case was transferred to adult prosecution, it became subject to the federal Bail Reform Act — which allows courts to weigh broader factors when deciding whether a defendant should be detained before trial.
Prosecutors pointed back to the earlier detention hearing and reiterated their concerns about dangerousness, writing in the filing that “the defendant should be detained.”
They also said that, at minimum, the court should consider imposing a bond — an option that was not part of the original release order.
Case moves to adult court
A federal grand jury indicted Hudson on March 10. On April 8, a magistrate judge determined that all required documentation had been properly filed, allowing the case to formally proceed in adult court.
That transition significantly changes how the case is handled, including the potential penalties Hudson could face if convicted.
What happens next
Hudson’s attorneys have been ordered to file a response to the government’s motion by April 20. A judge will then decide whether Hudson will remain out of custody or be detained while the case moves forward.
If the court orders Hudson detained, prosecutors have not specified where he would be held. Because he is still a minor but is being prosecuted as an adult, it remains unclear whether he would be placed in a juvenile facility or an adult jail.