DNA Evidence Emerges in Carnival Cruise Murder Case Involving Teen Stepbrother

<p>Federal investigators have obtained a DNA sample from a juvenile male who allegedly had sexual intercourse with 18-year-old Anna Kepner aboard a Carnival cruise ship shortly before her death. This development is significant as federal prosecutors proceed with their case against Kepner's stepbrother, Timothy Hudson, who is charged with her sexual assault and murder.</p><p>The information is detailed in a recently unsealed 145-page detention hearing transcript. Hudson, referred to by his initials T.H. in juvenile court documents, is accused of killing Kepner inside their shared cabin aboard the Carnival Horizon in November 2025 while the ship was returning to Miami from Cozumel, Mexico. If convicted, he could face a maximum penalty of life in prison.</p><p>According to the transcript, prosecutors revealed that Kepner had sexual intercourse during the cruise with an out-of-state minor, referred to in court as "minor witness two." Investigators confirmed that this individual is not Hudson, who was 16 at the time of the incident.</p><p>The disclosure was made as prosecutors presented DNA evidence collected after Kepner's body was found in cabin 8343, which she shared with Hudson and her 13-year-old brother. A rape kit collected during Kepner's autopsy produced male DNA from two vaginal swabs, one of which tested positive for sperm.</p><p>Based on preliminary results, the FBI obtained a search warrant for Hudson's DNA. Investigators also collected DNA from the out-of-state minor who allegedly had sexual contact with Kepner during the cruise. Prosecutors stated that the FBI lab compared DNA standards from Hudson and the other minor to the male DNA profile found in the vaginal swabs. The other minor was excluded as a contributor, while the DNA evidence strongly supported Hudson as the male contributor.</p><p>One swab was found to be 120 sextillion times more likely to include DNA from Kepner and Hudson than from Kepner and an unknown, unrelated person. A second swab, which was negative for sperm but positive for male DNA, was described as 1.2 septillion times more likely to include Hudson than an unknown, unrelated person.</p><p>The defense indicated that the other sexual encounter and the timeline could be part of its strategy. During the hearing, Hudson's attorney argued that prosecutors were making assumptions about the evidence, including whether the sexual contact, alleged sexual assault, and homicide were part of the same event. The defense questioned an FBI agent about whether the medical examiner could determine the timing of Kepner's death in relation to the intercourse, to which the agent responded that he did not believe that determination had been made.</p><p>Prosecutors maintained that the evidence pointed to Hudson, citing DNA, CCTV footage, phone-location data, and the timeline of events in the cabin. They noted that Kepner was last seen entering the cabin at 7:38 p.m. on November 6, 2025, and was not seen leaving again. Hudson was reportedly in the cabin with her during a critical time, and her phone later appeared to travel along the same route as Hudson's before it was found destroyed in a trash bin.</p><p>The judge found probable cause but remarked that he would not characterize the government's case as strong, describing it as "a much closer call" and noting that various defenses could be raised. Hudson's case is expected to go to trial in September.</p>