Who Is Timothy Hudson? Stepfamily Teen Tied to Cruise Ship Incident Involving Anna Kepner

Timothy Hudson is the 16-year-old stepson of Shauntel Hudson (and stepsibling of Anna Kepner) who has emerged in legal documents as a suspect in the death of Anna, an 18-year-old high school senior from Florida.

Background

• Anna Kepner was traveling aboard the Carnival Horizon on a family vacation with her father, stepmother Shauntel, and her step-siblings, including Timothy

• On November 7 or 8 (according to various reports) Anna was discovered deceased in her cabin under a bed.

• Law enforcement (including the Federal Bureau of Investigation) is investigating her death because it occurred on a U.S.-based cruise ship in international waters.

What’s known so far

• Investigators have preliminarily indicated the cause of death as asphyxiation, possibly from a “bar-hold” (i.e., pressure on the neck).

• Anna’s body reportedly showed bruising on her neck, and no signs of alcohol or drugs were found in her system.

• In court documents related to a custody dispute involving Shauntel Hudson and her ex-husband, Timothy is identified only by initials (“T.H.”) and is said to be under FBI investigation in connection with Anna’s death.

• Neither the cruise line nor the FBI has publicly declared if criminal charges will be filed, or exactly what evidence is being evaluated.

Who is Timothy in the family context?

• Timothy is the stepson of Shauntel Hudson and therefore Anna’s step-brother (they shared the same cabin on the cruise).

• The family situation is described as blended: Anna’s father, Shauntel, and the children from previous relationships had been traveling together.

• In the custody dispute filings, it is stated that Timothy is temporarily living with a relative while the investigation continues.

Why the case is significant

• Deaths aboard cruise ships fall under federal and maritime jurisdiction, which adds complexity and public interest.

• The involvement of a minor stepsibling as a possible suspect raises many legal and familial questions.

• Anna was described by loved ones as bright, caring, and full of promise — her untimely passing has drawn attention to how such incidents are handled in travel settings.

What we don’t know yet

• No criminal charge has officially been filed against Timothy or anyone else in relation to the death.

• The full autopsy, toxicology, and forensic findings have not been released publicly.

• Investigators have not disclosed the full sequence of events, nor have they publicly specified whether it was homicide, accident, or other cause.

Key take-away

Timothy Hudson is a 16-year-old stepsibling of Anna Kepner who has surfaced in legal filings as a suspect in her death aboard a cruise ship. The investigation is ongoing, and while preliminary findings suggest asphyxiation was the cause of death, many details remain under investigation and have not been confirmed by public authorities.