TITUSVILLE, Fla. – Two hundred miles away from where 16-year-old Tim Hudson walked into a federal courthouse, his 18-year-old stepsister, Anna Kepner, would have graduated this month.
Outside Temple Christian School, a cross still marks where Kepner parked her car up right until the family cruise last November when federal prosecutors say her stepbrother raped and strangled her in the room they were sharing.
While Hudson was in Miami Wednesday for a bond hearing, your Titusville Community Correspondent James Sparvero called Kepner’s dad, Chris Kepner, who told Sparvero he wanted the judge to hold Hudson until trial.
Instead, Hudson was allowed to go home to his family in Hernando County, Florida where he’s been staying for months.
“I want him in custody,” Kepner said. “I think that if he was in custody, we would possibly get more out of this kid, considering that he’s saying that he doesn’t remember. With him being free and being able to do what he wants, he’s put it in the back of his mind like there’s no consequences for his actions.”
Anna Kepner’s actions left a lasting impact on her community.
Since November, students and parents at her school have said how much they adored her.
“She was full of hope,” Temple Christian School parent Rosa Pissanos said. “She would turn a sad room into a happy room. She was just a light.”
That light shined at the school’s graduation ceremony this month.
Kepner talked about accepting his daughter’s diploma.
“It was very nice what the school did for us,” the father said. “The school gave us the yearbook, and they made a whole page about Anna.”
Kepner said the school’s making his daughter’s parking spot a permanent memorial for Anna, and one that never chips or fades.
Like her grandfather, Kepner said his daughter wanted to join the Navy after graduation.