Thomas Hudson, the father of the accused teen, is assisting with the teen’s criminal defense while seeking sole custody of the boy’s younger sister, according to a recent family court filing.
Hudson detailed his support for his son, identified by the initials T.H., in an emergency petition filed on February 20 in Brevard County, Florida, seeking full parental responsibility and time-sharing for the 9-year-old daughter he shares with ex-wife, Shauntel Hudson.
The document cites the Kepner family’s social media, stating that T.H. “was charged by the United States Attorney in the Southern District of Florida for the [redacted] and homicide of Anna Kepner” on February 3.
It argues it “is not in the best interests” of the younger 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,” NBC 6 Miami reported.
Hudson also noted that T.H. was “expelled” from the stepfather’s home right after the cruise and claimed he has details that “will potentially call into question the judgment and parenting” of Shauntel Hudson and her husband, Chris Kepner, possibly involving alcohol served to minors, including T.H., and mishandled medication for the boy.
In a statement, Hudson’s attorney, Peter Molinelli, said, per NBC 6, that “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 declined to discuss the sealed federal case or any charges.
Anna Kepner, an 18-year-old high school cheerleader from Florida’s Space Coast slated to graduate this year, died on November 7 while vacationing with her father, grandparents, stepmother Shauntel Hudson, and Hudson’s two children, plus an adult sibling, on the Carnival Horizon. The ship docked in PortMiami the next day.
Kepner had reported feeling unwell the previous night and returned to her cabin, which she shared with the siblings. She missed breakfast, sparking a search, and a housekeeper found her asphyxiated body under a bed.
Law enforcement sources indicated investigators suspect strangulation during an altercation, with the suspect possibly under the influence of alcohol.
The FBI, holding jurisdiction because Kepner was a U.S. citizen and the incident occurred in international waters, has been probing T.H.’s potential role but has not publicly named suspects. The agency said it avoids operational updates except in rare cases.
Carnival Cruise Line stated it is cooperating with the investigation.
Federal prosecutors brought a sealed case against the minor, who appeared with his father in a closed Miami courtroom on February 6 before U.S. District Judge Beth Bloom, followed by a visit to a probation office for pretrial processing.
Juvenile federal cases remain sealed unless the defendant is charged as an adult, explained former Palm Beach state attorney Dave Aronberg.
“If it’s a juvenile you won’t know until he’s charged as an adult,” Aronberg said, CBS News reported.
A November court filing by Shauntel Hudson in the custody dispute referenced an “open investigation regarding [Kepner’s] death … and T.H. [a stepbrother] is a suspect regarding this death which occurred recently on a cruise ship.”
That was in response to a prior filing by Thomas Hudson, which also labeled T.H. as a suspect.
Shauntel Hudson has not responded to the latest petition, and no hearing date is scheduled.
