The stepgrandmother of a teenager accused of killing his stepsister on a cruise ship is demanding justice and accountability from the victim's parents.
Stepgrandmother Speaks Out
Sonya Ziske, the stepgrandmother of 16-year-old Timothy Hudson, is calling for accountability from Chris and Shauntel Kepner, the parents of Anna Kepner. Anna, 18, was found dead in her cabin during a family cruise last November. Hudson has been charged as an adult with first-degree murder and sexual assault.
Ziske believes the parents failed to supervise the teenagers properly. She described the situation as a "recipe for disaster," noting that three teens—two boys and a girl—were placed in a room together despite not being raised together.
Ziske told CBS News that she and her husband, Shauntel Kepner's biological father, attempted to reach out after learning about the incident online, but Shauntel refused to discuss it, simply saying, "Whatever you do, just don't talk to the media."
Suspect from the Beginning
Hudson has been a suspect from the start. He told his family he does not remember anything from the night of the killing. Ziske suspects alcohol was involved and that her stepgrandson blacked out. "He truly does not remember," she said. "Timothy has said that they were drinking. I believe 100% those kids were drinking on the ship."
However, during a November custody hearing, Chris and Shauntel denied through their lawyer that the teens had been drinking. Attorney Millicent Athanason stated that ship videotapes confirmed there was no drinking.
Key Evidence: Anna's Cellphone
Anna's cellphone led investigators to her stepbrother. The phone was recovered from the Carnival cruise ship's lost and found after a crew member found it in a trash can. Surveillance video allegedly showed Hudson disposing of the "smashed" device.
Hudson is currently in the custody of his maternal uncle but has spent time with Ziske and other family members, including young cousins in the Tampa area. He is not being detained while awaiting trial, scheduled for September 8, 2026.
Ziske emphasized that Hudson's life is effectively over regardless of the outcome. "Everybody's out there saying how he's walking free. He is not free. His life is over, whether he is innocent or guilty."
She also criticized the Kepners, suggesting they are unfit to have custody of remaining children. "She kept them isolated from everybody over here. From their dad, from their grandparents. From all of us," Ziske said.
