Teen accused of murdering stepsister on cruise gets criminal defense help from dad: Filing

The 16-year-old stepbrother of Anna Kepner is getting help from his father in his “criminal defense” of allegations he murdered his stepsister on a Carnival cruise in November, according to a legal filing by the boy’s father in a family court matter.

Both father and son appeared in a locked federal courtroom earlier this month after a sealed criminal case was brought by federal prosecutors and then walked in and, more than an hour later, out of a probation office where defendants are typically processed for pretrial release.

Federal criminal cases against juveniles are sealed from the public, unless the government charges them as an adult. NBC6 is not revealing the boy’s identity as he has not been charged as an adult.

In an emergency petition seeking sole time sharing and parental responsibility for the boy’s nine-year-old sister, Thomas Hudson said he is “continuing to support (his son) in his criminal defense” against allegations the boy murdered Kepner on the cruise.

Kepner was found dead, asphyxiated, on Nov. 7 under the bed in a cabin the siblings shared on the Carnival Horizon cruise ship while on vacation with Kepner’s family, including Thomas Hudson’s ex-wife, who had married Kepner’s father, according to family court filings.

In his filing Friday in Brevard County, Florida, family court, Hudson cites social media from the Kepner family stating is son, identified by the initials T.H., “was charged by the United States Attorney in the Southern District of Florida for the [redacted] and homicide of Anna Kepner.”

The petition states “in is not in the best interests” of T.H.’s nine-year-old sister “to be living with her stepfather where her brothers has been accused of [redacted] and murdering the daughter of her stepfather, all while [Hudson] is supporting his son, T.H., in his criminal defense of those allegations.”

In a statement to NBC6, Hudson’s attorney, Peter Molinelli, said, “Thomas continues to love and support all three of his children in the best possible way that he can. As any parent would understand, there is an immeasurable amount of grief and anger by the Kepner family over the tragic death of Anna. Thomas is trying to protect and support all of his children during these incredibly complicated and tragic set of circumstances.”

Molinelli would not comment on the federal case or reveal “whatever the charges under seal may be.”

According to the new court filing, T.H. was “expelled” from the stepfather’s household immediately after the cruise.

A high school cheerleader from Florida’s Space Coast who was set to graduate this year, Kepner had been traveling on the Carnival Horizon ship with her father, grandparents, stepmother and her stepmother’s two children, including the 16-year-old boy. They also have an adult sibling.

In seeking return of his daughter, Thomas Hudson said he has information that “will potentially call into question the judgment and parenting” by his ex-wife, Shauntel Hudson and her new husband, Anna’s father Chris Kepner. Those issues “may include” alcohol being served to TH and other minors and improper medication management for TH, the petition states.

Shauntel Hudson has not yet filed a response to the emergency petition and no court date for a hearing appears on the court docket. NBC6 reached out to her attorney by voicemail and email and was awaiting a response.