Cruise Murder Case: Speedy Trial Update Revealed

Federal prosecutors have submitted a new update in the criminal case involving Timothy Hudson, who stands accused of the sexual assault and murder of 18-year-old Anna Kepner. The incident allegedly occurred aboard a Carnival cruise ship. According to the government's third Speedy Trial Report, filed on Tuesday, 21 non-excludable days have elapsed since Hudson's arraignment on April 22. A total of 48 days have been excluded from the speedy trial calculation due to court orders and continuances. Hudson has maintained his plea of not guilty to the charges of first-degree murder and aggravated sexual abuse. The body of Anna Kepner was discovered in November 2025, aboard the Carnival Horizon, as the ship was returning to Miami. The trial for Timothy Hudson is presently slated to begin on September 8, 2026, with the latest permissible start date under the Speedy Trial Act being October 27, 2026. This report is a required update on the case's status.