New court filings reveal that the smashed cellphone of 18-year-old Anna Kepner played a central role in identifying her 16-year-old stepbrother, Timothy Hudson, as the suspect in her sexual assault and murder aboard a Carnival Cruise Line ship.

Kepner was killed on November 6-7, 2025, while traveling with family members, including Hudson, on the Carnival Horizon. Her body was later found wrapped in a blanket and hidden under a bed in the family cabin. The medical examiner ruled her death a homicide by mechanical asphyxiation.

According to unsealed court documents and FBI testimony, Kepner’s phone was discovered damaged in a trash can on the opposite side of the ship and turned in to lost and found. A staff member described it as “seriously damaged, as if it had been smashed,” with a broken screen.

The FBI was able to extract data from the device. Location tracking and movement data reportedly showed the phone’s path from Kepner’s cabin to where it was ultimately discarded, directly implicating Hudson in the disposal of evidence. Prosecutors allege he took the phone after the killing, carried it around the ship, and later destroyed and dumped it.

Additional evidence includes surveillance footage and witness accounts. Hudson allegedly blocked family members from entering the cabin shortly after midnight and was seen roaming the ship afterward. He has been charged as an adult with murder and aggravated sexual abuse.

The case has drawn significant attention due to the family cruise setting and the young ages of those involved. Hudson has appeared in court, and proceedings continue as more details emerge from the investigation.

This tragic incident highlights the critical role digital evidence can play in maritime crimes, where jurisdiction falls to federal authorities.