A Florida judge confirmed at a Friday, December 5, 2025, hearing that murdered Florida 18-year-old Anna Kepner’s 16-year-old stepbrother is now officially regarded as a “suspect” in her death aboard the Carnival Horizon cruise ship in November 2025.
That revelation came during a family custody hearing, where the suspect’s biological father, Thomas Hudson, petitioned to remove his younger daughter, Anna’s half-sister, from the home shared with the stepbrother, his son, for safety. Hudson’s emergency request argued that the stepbrother’s presence in the household “put the 16-year-old’s future in jeopardy.”
He also claimed in court that he had been excluded from the children’s lives for over a year, and that his ex-wife had taken the children on the cruise “without his consent.” The judge ultimately denied the emergency motion.
Court filings and the family’s own statements confirmed that immediately after the cruise, the 16-year-old was hospitalized for psychiatric observation.
Kepner’s stepbrother’s current location
Since then, he has been removed from the parents’ home. The decision — made by his mother, Shauntel Kepner, and Anna’s father — was described as a protective measure intended to eliminate “any risk of danger” to the other children living under the same roof.
According to the legal documents, the teen is now residing with a relative of his mother, under the guardianship of a third-party who holds power of attorney over him. His exact location remains confidential.
Family members described the suspect — once hospitalized and now relocated — as an emotional wreck who claimed he did not remember what happened.
Previous court documents suggested Anna’s stepbrother, identified only as T.H., could be named a suspect, but the judge at the custody hearing provided official confirmation. As of now, the 16-year-old remains a suspect. Authorities have not officially filed charges.
“Three amigos” and “best friends”
At that hearing, Shauntel testified that Anna, the 16-year-old stepbrother, and their 14-year-old half-brother all requested to stay together in the same cabin on the cruise, and that a travel agent had advised the arrangement.
She described the teens as “like the three amigos” and “best friends.” She said Anna chose to stay in the room with the boys rather than share a room with her grandparents, who were also on the cruise during the family’s vacation.
In her court statements, Shauntel also said that on the night before Anna was found, she last saw her daughter around 6:30 p.m. and understood that the teens planned to return to their room together.
Shauntel’s depiction of a close, friendly relationship between her son and Anna was challenged outside court. Anna’s ex-boyfriend publicly stated that she had been uncomfortable around the stepbrother and that he witnessed an instance of attempted abuse between Anna and T.H.
Meanwhile, law enforcement and family disclosures, also shared during the hearing, indicate the stepbrother was the only person recorded on surveillance entering and exiting the cabin around the time of the homicide.
The medical examiner ruled Anna’s death a homicide by mechanical asphyxiation, likely via a “bar hold,” and indicated she had bruises on her neck. Investigators, including the FBI, are now reviewing the full case file as they determine whether the evidence supports criminal charges, which could ultimately fall under either state or federal jurisdiction.
Published: Dec 9, 2025 07:04 am