The family of Anna Kepner watched in horror on Wednesday as the boy accused of sexually assaulting and murdering her walked out of a Florida courthouse a free man, at least for now.
The federal judge refused to immediately jail Timothy Hudson, 16, charged as an adult in the aggravated sexual abuse and first-degree murder of his 18-year-old stepsister, allowing Hudson to be released to the custody of a relative pending the judge’s decision regarding detention.
Prosecutors had argued that he should be jailed. The internet has not taken it well.
Hudson was originally arrested and indicted as a juvenile. Per CBS News, U.S. Magistrate Judge Edwin Torres ruled in February that the 16-year-old could reside with his uncle and be electronically monitored.
Once he was transferred to adult court, however, the prosecution sought to hold Hudson until the trial concluded. Wednesday’s hearing was intended to determine whether Hudson should remain in custody. It was postponed when the judge terminated the morning’s proceedings without reaching a final determination.
The judge reportedly said he wished to consult with the U.S. Marshals Service on the logistics of detaining Hudson in central Florida as opposed to south Florida, where he would be closer to relatives, as well as the location of the trial.
For now, Hudson left the courthouse rather than being taken into custody. He has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder and aggravated s*xual abuse.
Internet Reacts To Florida Teen Timothy Hudson Walking Free After Anna Kepner Hearing
The response online was swift and almost uniformly furious, with viewers directing anger at the judge, the system, and the broader message they believe the ruling sends.
Many framed the outcome as a systemic failure for women. One user wrote: “Classic example of how little women are protected in society when a man can literally take your life and have all the evidence against him, but he can still ‘walk free.’” Another was blunter: “Again, the victim doesn’t get justice even in death!”
Several commenters turned their attention to the practical consequences of Hudson remaining free. “So where is he going to go? Do the parents have to allow him to live under their roof?” one person asked. Another raised the question of public safety directly: “Let him out for what?! So he can do it again to someone else’s daughter?! These clown judges need to be held accountable for their stupidity.”
Others zoomed out to the bigger picture. “It’s almost like these judges are trying to collapse society,” one commenter wrote, while another warned of long-term consequences: “Being soft on these kid killers is just going to make for more kid killers.”
Kepner’s body was discovered under her bed, covered by a blanket, and bruised. Her death was ruled a homicide caused by mechanical asphyxiation, according to the Miami-Dade medical examiner. According to an autopsy report, Kepner died by mechanical asphyxiation as a result of an apparent three-to-five-minute-long chokehold “likely” administered by Hudson.
