Anna Kepner’s heartbroken father is furious that the 16-year-old relative accused of sexually assaulting and murdering her on a cruise has been let out of jail — calling his stepson a “danger” who needs to be in an “orange jumpsuit and handcuffs.”
Christopher Kepner told the Daily Mail that he is outraged that the accused murderer — his wife’s son, Timothy Hudson — is still allowed to live with a relative despite being hit with serious federal charges as an adult that could see him sentenced to life behind bars.
“We’re upset that he’s still out. We’re six months in, and he should already have been arrested, and yet he’s free to do whatever he wants right now,” Christopher Kepner told the outlet.
“That’s our problem. He’s been able to do whatever he wants and go where he wants, but the family’s been sitting here unable to do anything,” he continued.
“I want to see him in an orange jumpsuit and handcuffs. He does not need to be free. He does not need to be in the general public, around any kids or women in general,” Kepner said.
“He’s a danger to himself and a danger to others.”
Hudson has remained free under the care of a paternal uncle since his arrest in February, court records confirm.
A judge ruled that Hudson can stay with the relative — who has young children in his home — as long as he remains hooked up to an electronic monitoring device.
Prosecutors on Monday filed a motion to review that order and revoke his bail because he is now being charged as an adult.
Hudson’s defense attorneys have one week to respond.
Hudson “committed these crimes against a victim with whom he had no apparent relational strife, and whom he was being raised to view as a sibling,” assistant US attorney Alejandra López said in a court filing.
“Furthermore, he carried out these crimes without any warning he could commit such atrocious acts, and despite an apparent supportive family environment.”
Kepner said Hudson has shown “no remorse” for allegedly sexually assaulting and then strangling Anna in the room they shared on board a Carnival Cruise ship on Nov. 6.
“He’s still saying that he can’t remember, and that’s about it. He hasn’t apologized. He hasn’t shown any remorse for anything,” Kepner told the Daily Mail.
The teen is facing possible life in prison after the records were unsealed on Monday, which revealed federal authorities are charging him as an adult with first-degree murder and aggravated sexual assault, the Department of Justice announced.
Her body was found the morning of Nov. 7, wrapped in a blanket, covered in life jackets, and shoved under a bed by a maid who was cleaning the cabin while on a six-day Caribbean cruise.
Hudson was first charged in February as a juvenile for killing his stepsister before the upgraded charges were announced this week.
