Anna Kepner's 16-year-old stepbrother is seen arriving in federal court today where he faces multiple charges in her mystery cruise ship death.
In the nearly three months since 18-year-old Anna was allegedly killed by asphyxiation aboard the Carnival Horizon, the baby-faced teen has been considered the sole suspect.
Exclusive Daily Mail images show him arriving at Miami's James Lawrence King Federal Justice Centre Friday morning flanked by his dad Thomas Hudson, 37.
The scrawny youngster, wearing a cap, sneakers, black pants and a camouflage hoodie, stared ahead and said nothing as the pair headed inside for a closed-door hearing with a federal judge.
Well-placed sources say he faces at least two charges over bubbly Anna's November 7 death. The judge will also decide at today's hearing whether the boy will remain in custody or be released into the care of a relative.
'This is an important first step for everyone. The sooner we learn his fate, the sooner everyone can move on and begin the healing process,' the source said. 'You wouldn't wish any of this on your worst enemy.'
Anna of Titusville, Florida, was pronounced dead at 11.17am on November 7 while the 133,000-ton Horizon was en route from Mexico to Florida.
The Daily Mail was the first outlet to report that her body was found stuffed under a bed in the cabin she was sharing with her stepbrother and 14-year-old half-brother.
Anna died by asphyxiation aboard the Carnival Horizon and her stepbrother has been considered the sole suspect.
She had been wrapped in a blanket and covered with life preservers, according to our sources.
Anna had gone to bed early the night before, telling her family during dinner that she was feeling unwell.
While her half-brother wandered around the ship taking photos, she was left alone with her stepbrother who takes medication for ADHD and insomnia.
When the younger boy returned, he didn't see Anna but assumed she was staying up late with her father Christopher Kepner, stepmom Shauntel Hudson or his grandparents Jeffrey and Barbara Kepner.
He climbed into his bunk and went to sleep - unaware, sources say, that his sister’s body was hidden just feet away.
It wasn't until the next morning when the two boys headed to breakfast that the family realized Anna was missing.
A medical emergency was announced over the ship's public address system, prompting Christopher, 41, to rush to her Deck 8 cabin where a cleaning crew had just discovered the body.
A law enforcement source later told ABC that Anna died from asphyxiation caused by a bar hold, suggesting an arm was pressed across her neck.
Exclusive Daily Mail images show him arriving at Miami's James Lawrence King Federal Justice Centre Friday morning flanked by his dad Thomas Hudson, 37.
Anna, 18, was on the cruise with her 16-year-old stepbrother (pictured) and other family members at the time of her death.
Anna's father Christopher split with his ex-wife Tabitha in 2023, but he soon found love with Shauntel, who moved in with her children, Anna's stepsiblings.
FBI agents swarmed the ship, interviewed the family and scoured CCTV cameras when the Horizon returned to Miami on November 8.
Her stepbrother insisted he could not remember what took place in the cabin, according to sources.
Prior to today's charges, authorities had not named a suspect or even person of interest in Anna's slaying.
But the stepbrother's alleged involvement leaked out in court filings in a custody dispute between his mom Shauntel, 36, and her ex-husband Thomas Hudson, 37.
They both referred to their son as a 'suspect' in court documents - with one filing describing bubbly Anna's death as a 'suspected murder.'
Thomas had sought emergency custody of their young daughter, claiming Shauntel took the kids on the ill-fated cruise without his permission - and even let the older children drink alcohol, an accusation she denied.
The high school senior, from Titusville, Florida, was on a six-day Carnival cruise to the Caribbean with her family when she was found dead onboard between Mexico and Florida on November 7.
Anna Kepner's 16-year-old stepbrother has been considered the sole suspect in the nearly three months since 18-year-old Anna was allegedly killed by asphyxiation aboard the Carnival Horizon.
A maid aboard the Carnival cruise was the one to find Anna's body wrapped in a blanket, covered over with life jackets and stuffed under a bed, according to our sources who spoke under condition of anonymity.
A Brevard County judge ruled that the girl was not in any danger and could remain with Shauntel and Christopher so long as the stepbrother was living elsewhere.
The couple had already removed him from their blended household in Titusville and placed him with a relative while the FBI investigation played out.
His location was redacted in court documents but when the Daily Mail traced the skinny, blond-haired teen to a relative's rural Florida home he would only say: 'I'd rather not talk.'
High school senior Anna had chronicled her love of travel on TikTok and been on several cruises.
'Anna was pure energy: bubbly, funny, outgoing, and completely herself,' her family wrote in an obituary.
She planned on entering the US Navy or becoming a K9 handler in the Titusville Police Department.
When crane operator Christopher spoke exclusively to the Daily Mail on November 11, he dismissed any suggestion that his stepson was considered a suspect.
The grief-stricken dad reversed course two weeks later, telling People: 'He was the only one that was in the room.'
'I can't say he is responsible - but I can't rule it out. I want him to face the consequences.'
Christopher said this week he was 'unable to confirm or deny' that his stepson was facing murder and rape charges.
Peter Molinelli, an attorney representing Thomas Hudson, said: 'Nothing I can comment on right now.'
The FBI declined to comment and the Department of Justice did not respond.