There is a shocking twist in the case of murdered cheerleader Anna Kepner.
As we previously reported, the 18-year-old had been on a cruise in November with her blended family, including father Christopher Kepner, stepmother Shauntel Hudson, grandparents, and two younger step-siblings. Horrifically, however, the vacation ended in tragedy. Anna was found dead in the cabin she shared with her step-siblings — and she hadn’t suffered an accident. No, someone killed her by mechanical asphyxiation. And the person police quickly suspected had been her 16-year-old step-brother, since identified as Timothy Hudson.
In February, he was charged as an adult with first-degree murder and aggravated sexual abuse. The Department of Justice claimed Hudson “sexually assaulted and intentionally killed” Anna aboard the cruise. He has pleaded not guilty, and now newly unsealed evidence may help the defense’s case!
According to a 145-page detention hearing transcript obtained by Fox News this week, prosecutors claimed that Anna had sex during the cruise with an out-of-state minor, referred to as only “minor witness two” in court, shortly before she died. Law enforcement confirmed the second individual is not Hudson! Whoa!
Prosecutors said a rape kit from Anna’s autopsy produced male DNA from two vaginal swabs, including one that tested positive for sperm. Due to those findings, the FBI obtained a search warrant for Hudson’s DNA, as well as the second minor’s DNA. And after comparing both samples from Hudson and “minor witness two” to the male DNA found in the vaginal swabs, prosecutors concluded that her step-brother is most likely the male contributor instead of the second juvenile.
The lab results determined the first swab is 120 sextillion times more likely to include DNA from Anna and Hudson than from Anna and the unknown, unrelated person. Meanwhile, the second swab, which tested negative for sperm but positive for male DNA, was 1.2 septillion times more likely to include Hudson than the unknown, unrelated person.
Despite that, however, the defense hinted that Anna’s second sexual encounter, along with the timeline, could be used to their benefit. Hudson’s attorney argued in the hearing that prosecutors are assuming the sexual contact, alleged sexual assault, and homicide were all part of the same event with not enough evidence.
His legal team questioned an FBI agent about whether the medical examiner could figure out how long after sex Anna died, or whether the person involved in the intercourse was who killed her. And the agent’s response? He said he didn’t “think they made that determination.” When asked whether any DNA had been collected from the “marks and bruises” on her neck to determine “who may have strangled her,” the agent said:
“I’m not sure. Of that I’m not sure, no.”
The defense is clearly trying to establish reasonable doubt that Hudson murdered Anna — despite allegedly raping her. However, prosecutors argue all the evidence still points to the teen killing her, including the DNA, CCTV footage, phone-location data, and timeline. They claimed Anna was last seen entering the room at 7:38 p.m. on November 6, and she never left again. Hudson allegedly had been in the cabin with her for a good chunk at that time. Her phone also later appeared to follow the same route as the teenager before it was discovered destroyed in the trash. The judge ultimately found probable cause, BUT he would not say the prosecutor’s case is strong, as it could be “a much closer call” than expected and noted that “various defenses” may be raised.
Hudson goes to trial in September. We’ll see how much of this new DNA evidence twist factors into the case then. Thoughts, Perezcious readers? Let us know in the comments.
If you or someone you know has experienced sexual violence and would like to learn more about resources, consider checking out https://www.rainn.org/resources.
[Image via Anna Kepner/Instagram]
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