A federal judge has ordered the teenage stepbrother accused of raping and killing Anna Kepner during a family cruise to be jailed, expressing alarms about the “levels of depravity and insanity.” Judge Edwin G. Torres also mentioned concerns that the suspect could be “arrested at any time.”
Timothy Hudson, who is 16, had been living under supervised release with his family since his arrest in February. However, the judge determined that it was too risky for him to remain at home around children and that he could pose a threat to himself.
“The strength of the evidence here strongly supports detention. Focusing solely on the sexual assault charge, the government’s case for forcible rape is very clear and convincing,” Torres commented in a court filing on June 10.
He also highlighted the suspect’s apparent lack of remorse, suggesting a risk of sudden outbursts: “Certainly this suggests a level of psychopathy, which raises serious concerns that the defendant could lose his temper at any time, despite the well-intentioned efforts of his caretakers.”
Torres ruled that Hudson must be confined as he is now being tried as an adult, having initially been charged as a juvenile.
Here’s the latest on Anna Kepner, the cheerleader found dead on a Carnival cruise.
“If the defendant had only been charged with that serious crime at 18 or older, he likely would have been detained for that reason alone,” the judge noted.
He added that the brutality of the crime would likely be inescapable for most legal experts. Hudson has been booked into the Citrus County Jail in Florida, where he will complete a mental health evaluation.
While in jail, he will remain in the juvenile section and will still have the ability to visit with and use the internet to communicate with family, as stated in court documents.
The attorney representing Hudson did not respond immediately to requests for comments. He has pleaded not guilty, with his trial set to begin in September.
