Overview
- Court records published Wednesday show the federal jury trial is now set for Sept. 8, 2026, in Miami after an earlier June start.
- The 16-year-old defendant, identified in filings as T.H. and by FOX 35 as Timothy Hudson, has been indicted as an adult on first-degree murder and aggravated sexual abuse and has pleaded not guilty.
- He remains on pretrial release with GPS monitoring, lives with an uncle, cannot be alone with anyone under 18, and may work during the day under his father’s supervision.
- Prosecutors have asked the court to revoke that release, with a custody motion hearing scheduled for May 22 at 1:30 p.m.
- Federal authorities are leading the case because the alleged crimes occurred in international waters, and evidence cited in court includes a medical finding of mechanical asphyxia and the discovery of Kepner’s body under a cabin bed.