Teen Charged in Cruise‑Ship Death Amid Family Custody Battle

A 16‑year‑old boy is now facing a homicide charge in the death of an 18‑year‑old girl who was found dead on a Carnival cruise ship. The case is tangled in a custody dispute between the boy’s father, Thomas Hudson, and Anna Kepner’s parents. The charges were announced in a court filing on February 20, 2026, and the boy is currently being watched by a federal judge in Miami. The FBI and U. S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida are handling the investigation, but they have not released any public statements. Because the defendant is a minor, the case remains sealed and media are barred from the courtroom. Experts say that federal charges against juveniles usually stay hidden until the person turns 18.Anna Kepner was on a Caribbean trip with her father, stepmother and three stepsiblings aboard the Carnival Horizon. She was last seen saying she felt ill on November 6, and her body was discovered under a bed in her cabin the next day. Police think she may have been strangled during an argument, and that alcohol might have played a role. Hudson’s court documents claim the boy is suspected of killing Anna, while the same claim was made by Hudson’s ex‑husband in an earlier filing. The FBI has not named anyone publicly, but it is clear that the suspect’s identity is being protected until a formal indictment can be released. Carnival Cruise Line says it is cooperating with federal authorities. The investigation falls under U. S. jurisdiction because Anna was a citizen and the incident happened in international waters.