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The federal high-seas murder case against a teenager accused of sexually assaulting and strangling his own stepsister aboard a cruise ship has reached a pivotal juncture. Court filings reveal the defense has requested more time to consider reaching a plea deal.

Timothy Hudson, who was 16 at the time, is accused of the sexual assault and strangling death of Anna Kepner, 18, aboard the Carnival Horizon on Nov. 7, 2025. He is being charged as an adult in the federal case in Florida.

The plea deadline was originally Friday, Oct. 23, but that has now been extended to January to give the defense team more time. A judge granted this extension earlier this month.

Timothy Hudson enters Miami Federal Court with a public defender on Wednesday, May 27, 2026. He was charged in connection with the death of his stepsister, Anna Kepner, on a Carnival cruise in November 2025.…