A 16-year-old accused of killing his stepsister aboard a Carnival Cruise Line vessel has pleaded not guilty as the high-profile case moves forward in federal court.
The teenager, identified as Timothy Hudson, waived his right to appear at a scheduled arraignment in Miami and formally entered his plea through his attorney. Prosecutors are pursuing the case in adult court following a ruling by U.S. District Judge Beth Bloom, who approved the request to try him as an adult.
Hudson faces charges of murder and aggravated sexual abuse in connection with the death of his 18-year-old stepsister, Anna Kepner. Her body was discovered in November inside a cabin on the Carnival Horizon, where she had been staying with Hudson and another teen during a family trip.
Authorities determined the cause of death to be mechanical asphyxia, a condition in which breathing is obstructed by external force or pressure. The case initially remained sealed due to Hudson’s age, but it was made public after the court approved adult prosecution earlier this month.
Despite the severity of the charges, Hudson has been released into the custody of a relative since his arrest in February. However, federal prosecutors are now seeking to have him detained while legal proceedings continue, a matter that remains under consideration by the court.
The victim, a high school cheerleader from Titusville, Florida, has been remembered by her community as investigations and court proceedings continue to unfold.