Cheerleader Found Dead on Cruise; Stepbrother Charged

An 18-Year-Old on a Family Cruise Never Made It Home.

Anna Kepner had just turned 18 when she boarded the Carnival Horizon in November 2024. She was a cheerleader, traveling with family during what should have been a celebratory trip. She was found dead aboard the ship on November 7, 2024. The person charged with her murder was with her the entire time - her 16-year-old stepbrother, Timothy Hudson.

Hudson was charged as an adult with first-degree murder. The cause of death was determined to be mechanical asphyxiation.

What Investigators Found

According to law enforcement and court documents, Anna was found unresponsive in a cabin aboard the Carnival Horizon. Investigators determined she had been asphyxiated. Timothy Hudson, who was 16 at the time, was identified as the primary suspect.

The FBI took jurisdiction, as the crime occurred in international waters. Hudson was subsequently charged as an adult, a decision that has been the subject of ongoing legal arguments from his defense team.

The Stepbrother’s Defense

Hudson’s attorneys have argued that trying a 16-year-old as an adult is inappropriate and have sought to have the case moved to juvenile court. Those motions have been denied. His attorneys have also contested several elements of the prosecution’s timeline and evidence.

The case is scheduled for trial on September 8, 2026. Hudson has pleaded not guilty.

A Family Torn Apart

Anna’s family has spoken publicly about their loss and their desire for accountability. For them, the proceedings are an extension of a grief that began the moment they received news on that ship. The fact that the alleged perpetrator is a family member has compounded the pain in ways that are difficult to articulate publicly.

Anna was remembered by her school and cheer community as someone whose presence was felt immediately in every room she entered.

What Comes Next

The September trial will be closely watched. Prosecutors will need to prove premeditation in a case that unfolded aboard a vessel in international waters, presenting jurisdictional and forensic challenges that make it more complex than a typical homicide case.

The Carnival Horizon has continued operating. The cruise line cooperated with the FBI investigation and has not been named as a party in the criminal proceeding.

References: Anna Kepner Cruise Ship Death in Florida | Anna Kepner’s Stepbrother Charged Months After Cheerleader Was Found Dead on Cruise | Cheerleader Found Dead on Cruise Ship; Stepbrother Charged With Murder