Content material warning: This text contains descriptions of sexual assault that some readers might discover distressing.
Federal investigators have obtained a DNA pattern from a thriller juvenile male who allegedly had intercourse with 18-year-old Anna Kepner aboard a Carnival cruise ship shortly earlier than her dying.
This growth introduces a possible twist as federal prosecutors transfer ahead with their case towards Kepner’s stepbrother, Timothy Hudson, who faces costs for her alleged sexual assault and homicide.
The revelation is detailed in a not too long ago unsealed 145-page detention listening to transcript.
Hudson, beforehand recognized in juvenile court docket paperwork by his initials, T.H., is accused of killing Kepner inside their shared cabin aboard the Carnival Horizon in November 2025 because the ship sailed from Cozumel, Mexico, again to Miami.
If convicted, {the teenager} might face a most penalty of life in jail.
In response to the transcript, prosecutors disclosed that Kepner had sexual activity in the course of the cruise with an out-of-state minor, referred to in court docket as “minor witness two.”
Investigators confirmed this particular person will not be Hudson, who was 16 on the time of the killing.
The disclosure got here as prosecutors laid out DNA proof collected after Kepner’s physique was present in cabin 8343, which she shared with Hudson and her 13-year-old brother.
Prosecutors mentioned a rape package collected throughout Kepner’s post-mortem produced male DNA from two vaginal swabs, together with one which examined optimistic for sperm.
Primarily based on these preliminary outcomes, the FBI obtained a search warrant for Hudson’s DNA.
Investigators additionally collected DNA from the out-of-state minor who allegedly had intercourse with Kepner in the course of the cruise.
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Prosecutors mentioned the FBI lab in contrast DNA requirements from Hudson and “minor witness two” to the male DNA profile discovered within the vaginal swabs.
In response to the federal government, the opposite minor was excluded as a contributor.
Prosecutors mentioned the DNA as an alternative strongly supported Hudson because the male contributor.
The federal government mentioned that one swab was 120 sextillion instances extra prone to embody DNA from Kepner and Hudson than from Kepner and an unknown, unrelated particular person.
A second swab, which was damaging for sperm however optimistic for male DNA, was described as 1.2 septillion instances extra prone to embody Hudson than an unknown, unrelated particular person.
The protection, nevertheless, signaled that the opposite sexual encounter and the timeline might grow to be a part of its technique.
Throughout the listening to, Hudson’s lawyer argued prosecutors have been making assumptions concerning the proof, together with whether or not the sexual contact, alleged sexual assault and murder have been all a part of the identical occasion.
The protection pressed an FBI agent on whether or not the medical expert might decide how lengthy after intercourse Kepner died, or whether or not the particular person concerned within the intercourse was the identical one that killed her.
The agent responded that he didn’t “suppose they made that dedication.”
Prosecutors argued the proof pointed to Hudson, citing the DNA, CCTV footage, phone-location information and the cabin timeline.
They mentioned Kepner was final seen coming into the cabin at 7:38 p.m. on Nov. 6, 2025 and was not seen leaving once more.
Prosecutors additionally mentioned Hudson was within the cabin along with her for a key stretch of time and that her telephone later appeared to journey alongside the identical route as Hudson earlier than it was discovered destroyed in a trash bin.
The choose discovered possible trigger however mentioned he wouldn’t characterize the federal government’s case as sturdy, calling it “a a lot nearer name” and noting that “varied defenses” could possibly be raised.
Hudson’s case is predicted to go to trial in September. Fox Information Digital has reached out to Hudson’s attorneys for remark.
