Crime
Anna Kepner Died by Asphyxiation From Choke Hold By Stepbrother Timothy Hudson on Carnival Cruise
Investigators have released new findings in the death of 18-year-old Florida cheerleader Anna Kepner, who was found deceased aboard the Carnival Horizon cruise ship earlier this month.
According to a source close to the case, preliminary findings indicate that Anna died from asphyxiation consistent with a “bar hold” choke, involving force applied to the neck by another person’s arm.
The source stated that FBI investigators identified two distinct bruises on the side of Anna’s neck, aligning with the reported mechanism of injury.
Early toxicology and forensic results showed no evidence of drugs, alcohol, or sexual assault, though the Miami-Dade County Medical Examiner’s Office has not yet issued a final cause or manner of death.
Kepner was found on November 8 by a cabin steward, reportedly wrapped in a blanket and concealed under a bed, partially covered by life vests.
She had been traveling on a six-day Caribbean cruise with her father, Christopher Kepner, her stepmother Shauntel Hudson, and members of her blended family.
Investigators confirmed that Anna was last seen alive returning to her cabin alone after telling family members she felt unwell. Surveillance later showed she never exited the room again.
New allegations have surfaced regarding the behavior of Anna’s 16-year-old stepbrother, Timothy Hudson, who has been identified in recently filed court documents as a suspected party in the investigation.
In an interview, Anna’s former boyfriend, Joshua Tew, claimed Hudson exhibited behavior he believed was “obsessive and inappropriate.” Tew stated that during a FaceTime call months earlier, he witnessed Hudson enter Anna’s room and allegedly climb on top of her while she slept.
According to Tew, Anna had previously confided that Hudson made her uncomfortable and that she believed he carried a knife regularly.
These statements remain unverified by law enforcement.
In a separate legal filing unrelated to the FBI investigation, Anna’s stepmother wrote that a “criminal case may be initiated against one of the minor children” in connection with Anna’s death.
Anna’s funeral was held in Orlando last week.
Multiple attendees reported significant visible tension among family members, and some relatives were reportedly informed they could not attend due to the ongoing criminal investigation.
Anna’s biological mother, Heather Wright, addressed mourners during the service. Wright previously stated she learned of her daughter’s death through an online news search after being unable to reach family members — not through official notification.
Based on statements and reports, the known sequence of events is as follows:
- November 6: Anna left dinner early, saying she felt sick, and returned alone to the cabin.
- Her two brothers entered the cabin later. One left briefly to take photos and returned, assuming Anna was elsewhere.
- Surveillance confirms Anna returned to the cabin, but no footage shows her leaving.
- November 7 (morning): Anna was reported missing after she could not be located.
- A short time later, crew members discovered her body during a welfare check.
Her remains were found near the bunk assigned to her brothers.
The FBI is leading the investigation, as the incident occurred in international waters aboard a U.S.-flagged vessel. No arrests have been made, and officials have not named a suspect publicly.
This marks one of the most closely watched cruise-related death investigations in recent years, drawing national attention as forensic findings and family allegations continue to unfold.
As the medical examiner finalizes their report and the FBI continues interviews and forensic analysis, the case remains open and active. Friends, classmates, and community members who knew Anna through cheerleading, school activities, and church are mourning her loss while waiting for clarity in the circumstances surrounding her death.
Authorities are expected to release additional information in the coming weeks.
Crime
Attorneys Argue Jacob Bard Actions in Deadly Kentucky State University Shooting Were Legally Justified
Attorneys representing Jacob Bard, the man accused in a deadly shooting at Kentucky State University, contend that his actions were legally justified and undertaken in defense of his family amid what they describe as a violent and uncontrolled situation on campus.
In a press release issued Monday afternoon, Bard’s legal team from the Indiana-based law firm Danks & Danks asserted that Bard “was completely justified under the law in his use of deadly force.”
Bard is accused of fatally shooting one Kentucky State University student and wounding another during an incident at a campus dormitory.
According to the attorneys’ statement, Bard traveled to Kentucky State University after his younger son reported being attacked on multiple occasions.
The release alleges that on Monday, December 8, a group of approximately 20 to 30 individuals gathered outside the son’s dormitory, some allegedly armed, and began beating on the door. Campus police were reportedly called to respond to the disturbance.
The following morning, Bard and his wife met with Kentucky State University police. While the attorneys stated that officers appeared sincere in their efforts, they claimed it was evident to the family that campus police were “ill-prepared to deal with the out-of-control and violent environment.”
The legal team further alleges that both the university and its police department failed to adequately address what they described as multiple armed and violent felonies against Bard’s sons, ages 18 and 19, as well as other students in the days preceding the shooting.
Those alleged incidents included burglaries and armed assaults.
Later that morning, the family attended a meeting at Young Hall with campus police and a university dean.
According to the release, the meeting left the family convinced that the university would not be able to maintain a safe environment, prompting them to begin removing the son’s belongings from the dormitory.
When the family returned to the residence hall, the attorneys claim that individuals previously involved in the alleged assaults were present, despite assurances they would not be allowed inside.
The statement further alleges that those individuals photographed the family and made verbal threats.
The attorneys contend that, even with two armed Kentucky State University police officers present, a group of 20 to 30 individuals gathered in the dormitory lobby and “violently and viciously attacked” Bard’s son and family members.
According to the release, Bard’s son was slammed into the concrete floor and beaten by multiple people, and the officer on scene allegedly lost control of the situation.
“In the chaos,” the attorneys wrote, Bard attempted to pull attackers off his son but was struck himself. Believing his son to be in imminent danger of death or serious physical injury, Bard then drew his firearm and shot two individuals whom the attorneys say were actively assaulting his son.
The legal team also stated that no charges have been filed against others allegedly involved in the confrontation and claimed the Bard family has continued to receive death threats.
The release further alleges that the mother of the deceased student has publicly called for retaliation against Bard’s son and sought assistance from criminal groups—claims that have not been independently verified by authorities.
The case against Bard was presented to a grand jury on December 16.
During a previous court hearing, a detective testified that at least one video reviewed by investigators did not show the shooting victims assaulting Bard’s son.
The investigation remains ongoing, and authorities have not issued a final determination regarding the circumstances surrounding the shooting.