Shocking new information has emerged in the death of 18-year-old Florida cheerleader Anna Kepner, revealing that her 14-year-old brother slept in the same cruise cabin where her body had been hidden—unaware she was already dead only feet away. The revelation comes as federal authorities continue investigating the circumstances surrounding her death aboard the Carnival Horizon earlier this month. According to a source familiar with the case, Anna had been sharing the cabin with her younger brother and her 16-year-old stepbrother, Timothy “Tim” Hudson, who has now been named a suspect.
Newly filed court documents and statements from family members are adding troubling details to the unfolding investigation. According to the filings, Anna left dinner early on November 6 after telling relatives she did not feel well. She returned to her cabin alone, and her brothers came back later that night. Her younger brother briefly left again to take photos around the ship, and when he returned, he noticed Anna was not in her bed. Believing she had gone elsewhere with their parents, he went to sleep, unaware that Anna had already been concealed beneath the cabin bed.
Investigators have since confirmed through surveillance footage that Anna returned to her cabin that night and was never seen leaving again. By the next morning, family members grew alarmed when they realized Anna was still missing. Her father, 41-year-old Christopher Kepner, began searching frantically throughout the vessel with help from ship staff. During the search, passengers heard announcements regarding a medical emergency, heightening concern among those on board.
The horrifying discovery came when a member of the cleaning staff located Anna’s body hidden under a cabin bed. According to an investigative source, she was wrapped in a blanket and partially covered with life jackets. This spot was directly next to the bunk beds where her brothers had slept, unaware of her presence below them. The gruesome circumstances echoed allegations made in a viral online post by a man identifying himself as Anna’s uncle, Martin Donohue, who claimed she had been beaten and hidden under the bed while her stepbrother slept nearby.
Court filings released this week confirm that 16-year-old Timothy Hudson has been identified as a suspect and may face criminal charges. He is currently staying with a maternal relative as the investigation continues. Authorities report that Anna was officially declared dead on November 8, two days after she was last seen alive. The Miami-Dade Medical Examiner’s Office has not yet determined her cause or manner of death, leaving many unanswered questions.
In a related development, Anna’s stepmother, Shauntel Hudson, has requested a delay in a scheduled custody hearing, citing that one of her minor children may face criminal charges linked to Anna’s death. Federal authorities, including the FBI, are handling the investigation due to the incident occurring in international waters. More information is expected as investigators review evidence and determine what led to the tragic loss of Anna Kepner.
