Anna Kepner Brother Charged with Homicide in Stepsister’s Cruise Ship Death
Feb. 25, 2026 — Miami, Florida — A 16-year-old stepbrother of Anna Kepner was charged with homicide in the Southern District of Florida on February 3 in connection with the 18-year-old’s asphyxiation death aboard the Carnival Horizon cruise ship on November 7, 2025, court documents revealed this week.
Anna Kepner, a high school cheerleader from Titusville, Florida, was found dead under a bed in a cabin she shared with her stepbrother, wrapped in a blanket and covered with life vests. The FBI investigated due to the incident occurring in international waters, with law enforcement sources indicating strangulation during an altercation.
Charges and Court Proceedings
The case against the juvenile, identified as T.H. in filings, is sealed under federal law and overseen by U.S. District Judge Beth Bloom. He appeared in Miami federal court earlier this month for pretrial release processing.[2] The charges surfaced publicly through a February 20 emergency custody petition filed by the stepbrother’s father, Thomas Hudson, in Brevard County family court.
Hudson seeks sole custody of his 9-year-old daughter amid the case, stating it is “not in the best interests” of the child to live where her Anna Kepner brother has been accused of murder while he supports his son’s defense.
“According to social media from the Kepner family, on February 3, 2026, the Petitioner/Father’s son, TH, was charged by the United States Attorney in the Southern District of Florida for the [redacted] and homicide of Anna Kepner.”
Hudson’s attorney, Peter Molinelli, said:
“Thomas continues to love and support all of his children… Thomas is trying to protect and support all of his children during these incredibly complicated and tragic set of circumstances.”[1]
Witness Account from Anna Kepner Brother
Anna Kepner’s younger biological brother reported hearing yelling and chairs being thrown from the shared cabin. He described the Anna Kepner brother stepbrother shouting “shut the hell up” at her harmfully and slept feet from her body that night.
Her ex-boyfriend Joshua Tew relayed the account: “He heard [the stepbrother] yelling at her in a harmful way of like ‘shut the hell up’ and stuff like that and that’s when [the brother] knew there was something going on.”[5]
Aunt Krystal Wright noted Anna “fought for her life.”
Family and Social Media Tensions
The filings cite Anna Kepner brother related social media posts from the Kepner family calling for “nails in the coffin” and wanting the suspect “buried.” Hudson alleged minors were served alcohol on the cruise and supervision lapsed.
The stepbrother was expelled from the Kepner-Hudson household post-incident. The Kepner family has expressed grief over the tragedy.[3]
The medical examiner has not released autopsy results due to the ongoing probe.[6]
