Father of Murdered Teen Absent from Trial

The father of a teenage girl, who was reportedly murdered by her stepbrother on a cruise, chose not to attend the trial in June. He expressed that he couldn’t “relive” the horrific experience of finding his daughter in the cabin. Christopher Kepner, 41, mentioned, “My wife and I won’t be there unless they ask us to be there,” in a statement to a news outlet.

Kepner shared that he has already seen the evidence and feels that the prosecution has all it needs. “It would be too painful to go back through it all again,” he added. His 16-year-old stepson, Timothy Hudson, is facing trial on charges of first-degree murder and aggravated sexual abuse related to the November 7 incident. Hudson has pleaded not guilty.

Kepner recounted that a family vacation quickly turned into a nightmare. “I checked her pulse. I pulled her out from under the bed. I knew my daughter was dead long before the medical examiner arrived. I don’t want to go back to that room,” he said, reflecting on the traumatic event.

Authorities have classified the cause of death as “mechanical asphyxiation,” stating that Anna was found wrapped in a blanket under a bed in their cabin, which she shared with Hudson.

Currently, the family is working to honor the memory of the 18-year-old cheerleader from Central Florida, lovingly remembered as “Anna Banana.” “We’re celebrating Anna by leaving everything behind her and doing what she loves,” Kepner remarked. “We want to remember how Anna lived, not how she died.”

If convicted, Hudson could face life in prison. Kepner expressed a wish to see justice served, stating, “I want to see him in an orange jumpsuit and handcuffed. He doesn’t need to be free.” The U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida remarked that though the situation is tragic, the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.