A Florida teenager charged in the death of 18-year-oldAnna Kepnerwill not be jailed ahead of trial after a US federal judge ruled he can remain under family supervision while proceedings continue, according to a hearing in Miami on Wednesday.
CNBCexplained that the ruling means her stepbrother, Timothy Hudson will continue living with his uncle under strict monitoring conditions, despite prosecutors pushing for him to be detained. The judge's decision came as legal arguments intensified over whether he poses a continuing risk to the community while awaiting trial.
Hudson was initially arrested as a juvenile shortly after Kepner's death and allowed to stay with a relative due to his age. That position changed in April 2026, when a federal grand jury indicted him as an adult, raising the possibility of pre-trial detention.
During the hearing, US District Judge Edwin Torres said detention would normally be likely under similar circumstances but noted the specific situation required closer consideration. He pointed to the logistical strain detention would place on Hudson's family, who live several hundred miles away in Hernando County.
'If it were a 20-year-old under the exact circumstances I probably would have detained,' the judge said. 'The presumption would be we were just not going to take that chance.'
He added, 'This is a different animal.'
Hudson's legal status means he must remain under electronic monitoring and can only leave his home accompanied by his uncle or aunt. The court also indicated it may explore alternative detention arrangements closer to his family's residence before revisiting the question of custody.
Prosecutors strongly opposed his release, arguing he presents a danger to the public. One government attorney questioned how authorities could be expected to assess future risk, saying, 'What is needed to prove a danger? A second dead body?'
The defence countered that Hudson has complied with all release conditions for months and is not a flight risk, emphasising his age and lack of previous criminal history. Prosecutors responded that the delay in charging reflected the time needed to gather evidence rather than uncertainty over his involvement.
Anna Kepner died on 7 November 2025 aboard a Carnival cruise ship while travelling with her father, stepmother, and Timothy, her stepbrother. Investigators later alleged she was found under a bed in her cabin, wrapped in a blanket and concealed by life vests. A medical examiner ruled her death a homicide caused by mechanical asphyxiation.
Source: International Business Times UK
