The step grandmother of the teenager charged with killing his stepsister aboard a Carnival cruise ship is now pointing the finger at the victim's father and stepmother. Her comments add a new and contentious layer to a case that has drawn wide attention in South Florida.
Sixteen year old Timothy Hudson faces first degree murder and aggravated sexual abuse charges in the death of his stepsister, Anna Kepner. The charges relate to what happened during a family trip on the ship, and the case is moving through the courts.
Speaking out about the case, Hudson's step grandmother, Sonya Ziske, accuses Anna Kepner's father and stepmother of providing alcohol during the trip. In her view, that alleged decision means the couple should also face charges in connection with the death.
Anna's father and stepmother, Chris and Shauntel Kepner, have firmly denied the claim. According to the account, they reject the assertion that they provided alcohol to anyone on the ship, leaving the two sides of the family openly at odds over what happened.
Ziske also says that Hudson has been consistent in his account, maintaining that he does not remember anything about that night. She has framed his lack of memory as central to understanding the events rather than as an attempt to avoid responsibility.
In making her argument, Ziske pointed to a combination of missed medication and alcohol. She said that missing a dose of medicine on a given day does not make it safe to drink, because the medication remains in a person's system, and stated that she fully believes alcohol and missed medication had everything to do with what occurred.
The accusations remain allegations, and no additional charges against the parents have been reported. The Kepners' attorney did not respond to requests for comment, leaving the family's formal legal position on the latest claims unaddressed for now.