Anna Kepner Murder

The stepbrother charged with raping and murdering 18-year-old Anna Kepner on a Carnival cruise ship got some more good news as his murder case moves forward ... a judge is allowing him to remain free on bond.

Anna's 16-year-old stepbrother, Timothy Hudson, was spotted going in and out of court Wednesday in Florida ... and was greeted by a throng of reporters as he exited court with his father and swept into a waiting SUV before driving off.

The alleged rapist killer didn't say anything and kept moving.

Anna Kepner should’ve been walking across the stage with her classmates this weekend ... instead, her grieving father accepted her diploma through tears as the crowd rose to its feet.

Christopher Kepner attended Temple Christian School’s commencement ceremony in Titusville, Florida ... six months after Anna was killed aboard a Carnival cruise ship.

Watch the video, obtained by "Good Morning America," that shows him wiping away tears as he walked onstage to collect Anna’s diploma following a standing ovation from the packed auditorium.

The heartbreaking moment became a tribute to Anna throughout the night ... with Christopher, his wife Shauntel and other relatives wearing blue butterflies -- Anna's favorite -- while Shauntel also created a senior table covered in photos of Anna and her friends over the years.

There won't be a seat saved for Anna Kepner's dad at her upcoming murder trial ... 'cause he says he'll only go if he's forced.

Christopher Kepner revealed he has no plans to attend the trial to watch his stepson, identified as "T.H.", tried for the murder of his daughter, 18-year-old Anna. Anna's 16-year-old stepbrother, T.H., is accused of sexually assaulting and then killing her while they were on a family cruise with Carnival back in November.

Christopher's wife, Shauntel Kepner -- the mother of T.H. -- will also not attend.

He told the Daily Mail ... "Unless they ask for me to be there, neither my wife or I will be attending." He says prosecutors have "everything they need" in terms of evidence and it'll be "too painful to relive it all again."

Anna Kepner’s accused killer isn’t showing up in court -- but he is showing his legal strategy ... pleading not guilty while staying out of sight.

The 16-year-old stepbrother -- identified in court docs only as T.H. -- waived his personal appearance at the arraignment Tuesday and entered a not guilty plea. He was originally expected to be in a Miami courtroom Wednesday morning.

The teen, who is now being prosecuted as an adult, is facing first-degree murder and aggravated sexual abuse charges tied to the death of his 18-year-old stepsister aboard a Carnival Cruise Line ship back in November 2025.

The prosecutors who charged Anna Kepner’s stepbrother with her murder have revealed the evidence they have collected in their investigation ... TMZ has learned.

According to court docs obtained by TMZ, the feds provided the defense team for Anna’s accused stepbro -- identified as "T.H." by prosecutors -- with FBI investigation docs, two videos from the FBI, Carnival Cruise documents, and Anna’s autopsy photo and X-rays.

The feds say they also handed over the full medical examiner report, body cam videos, and the “extraction of C.K.” cell phone. Anna’s father’s name is Christopher Kepner, but prosecutors do not identify who C.K. is in the docs.

Christopher Kepner -- the father of 18-year-old Anna Kepner, who was found dead on a Carnival Cruise ship last year -- is furious his stepson is still free ... considering he's been charged with raping and murdering Anna.

The 16-year-old suspect -- identified in court docs as "T.H., a minor" -- has been let out of jail and living with a relative despite the charges, which Christopher sees as a big problem.

He told the Daily Mail, "We're upset that he's still out. We're six months in and he should already have been arrested and yet he's free to do whatever he wants right now. That's our problem. He's been able to do whatever he wants and go where he wants but the family's been sitting here unable to do anything."

Anna Kepner’s stepbrother, T.H. -- who is accused of raping and murdering her on a Carnival cruise -- has been living with family while being monitored by the feds ... but now that he's charged as an adult, prosecutors have changed their tune and want him behind bars pending his trial ... TMZ has learned.

According to court docs obtained by TMZ, T.H. -- who was arrested in February and indicted by a federal grand jury for first-degree murder and aggravated sexual abuse as an adult this week -- has been staying at his uncle Devon Ziske’s home.

T.H. was ordered to stay at home and always be under the supervision of an adult. He was made to wear a GPS monitor and not allowed to be alone with anyone under the age of 18, unless supervised by an adult.

The stepbrother charged with raping and murdering 18-year-old Anna Kepner received a glimmer of good news amid all the bad news in his indictment ... prosecutors say there's no chance he'll be put to death, because it's unconstitutional.

Here's how it all breaks down ... the 16-year-old defendant, identified in court docs as "T.H., a minor," is charged with first-degree murder and aggravated sexual abuse, and he faces life in prison if convicted. In the charging docs, prosecutors indicated this is not a death penalty case.

In their new motion seeking to keep T.H. behind bars pending his trial, the feds says the death penalty is off the table under Supreme Court precedent that bars the imposition of capital punishment on juvenile offenders. T.H. was 16 at the time he allegedly killed Kepner ... though he was actually indicted as an adult by a federal grand jury.

Federal prosecutors are demanding Anna Kepner’s stepbrother be locked up after he was accused of raping and murdering his sister ... TMZ has learned. 

According to court docs, obtained by TMZ, prosecutors call Anna’s brother -- only identified as T.H. in paperwork -- a “danger to others” and argue he should not be released on bond. 

The prosecutors said that the evidence “demonstrated the offense conduct that [T.H.] engaged in involved the most serious, egregious, and violative crimes one person can inflict upon another.” 

Disturbing new twist in Anna Kepner's death aboard a Carnival Cruise ... the feds say her 16-year-old stepbrother raped her before murdering her on their family vacation.

Anna's stepbrother has been indicted as an adult by a federal grand jury and charged with first-degree murder and aggravated sexual abuse ... according to federal prosecutors in Florida.

The feds only identify Anna's stepbrother by his initials T.H., and say he's facing a maximum sentence of life in prison if convicted.

Teenager Anna Kepner was killed on a Carnival Cruise during a family vacation last November ... and now her 16-year-old stepbrother has been charged with her homicide, according to court documents.

An emergency filing on Friday obtained by TMZ says her stepbrother was charged with homicide as a minor in connection with Anna's asphyxiation death in her stateroom aboard the Carnival Horizon on November 7.

Anna was on a Caribbean cruise vacation with her dad, stepmom and three stepsiblings when she died. A housekeeper reportedly discovered Anna's body underneath her bed — and the ship returned to Miami, Florida, the next day, as the FBI launched an investigation. 

The stepbrother of Anna Kepner -- who was found asphyxiated during a family cruise vacation -- was arrested this week and appeared in a Florida courthouse Friday to face a judge, TMZ has confirmed.

According to a law enforcement source ... the 16-year-old stepbrother was led by U.S. Marshals into a Miami federal courtroom for an appearance ... but since he's a juvenile, the case was sealed. It's unclear if he has been charged in a federal complaint or indictment.

After his court appearance, the stepbrother was released to the custody of a guardian, according to ABC News.

On November 7, Kepner's body was reportedly discovered inside the cabin she shared with her stepbrother on the Carnival Horizon. She was allegedly asphyxiated after someone put her in a chokehold.

The stepbrother of Anna Kepner -- the teen girl who tragically died on the Carnival Horizon last month -- has been sent to live with relatives as the FBI investigates him in connection with Anna's death.

According to People, Anna's stepmother, Shauntel Kepner, who is the 16-year-old boy's biological mother, made the decision along with her husband -- Anna's biological father -- Christopher Kepner. The move was intended to remove any risk of danger to the other children in their home.

Shauntel reportedly revealed this information Friday during a custody hearing. The court appearance stemmed from Shantel's ex-husband, Thomas Hudson, reportedly filing an emergency custody motion requesting that a judge grant him custody of their youngest daughter, who lives with Shauntel and Christopher.

Thomas's motion was possibly out of concern the stepbrother might harm the daughter he shares with Shauntel.

Remember ... Anna was found in a room she was sharing with her stepbrother, asphyxiated from a choke hold. While the FBI is investigating the stepbrother, no charges have been filed and officials have not named a suspect.

Anna was reportedly found by a cabin steward on November 8 -- wrapped in a blanket and tucked under a bed -- during a Caribbean cruise with her family.

Anna Kepner's aunt says the family is in "turmoil" as they are left with more questions than answers regarding the 18-year-old's murder aboard a Carnival cruise ship earlier this month.

Her aunt, Krystal Wright, told Fox 35 Orlando this week the family is "just sitting here waiting" for an update from authorities and described their frustration that further action against her stepbrother -- who is allegedly under investigation regarding her death -- has not been taken.

She implored ... "We don’t understand why, if the boy is a suspect, why has he not been charged yet? What’s happening there?"

The mother of Anna Kepner -- the 18-year-old who was murdered on a Carnival Cruise ship -- is questioning the sleeping arrangements her daughter was placed in leading up to her tragic death.

Heather Wright told Fox News she's been villainized in the situation, but it's Anna's dad, Christopher Kepner, who could be partly to blame.

Anna was reportedly sharing a cabin with two other teenagers -- one of whom is her stepbrother, who's now suspected in her death. Anna's grandmother told ABC News the teenagers chose the arrangement themselves ... but Anna's biological mom seems to think an adult should have vetoed it.