A Texas man has been charged with murder after his wife was found dead aboard the MSC Seascape, a cruise ship that returned to Galveston after the death was reported.
Jason Leon Watford, 48, of Tyler, appeared in federal court in Galveston on Tuesday, November 10. His court-appointed attorney waived a detention hearing, and he remains in custody, according to KHOU. He did not enter a plea. A further court appearance is scheduled for next week.
What are the allegations?
The FBI identified the victim as Susan Watford, Jason’s wife, according to the Associated Press. The ship had left Galveston on Sunday for a seven-day cruise, and the couple boarded that day.
According to an FBI affidavit cited by the AP, Watford told agents the couple argued during dinner at one of the ship’s restaurants. He said the argument caused him to “snap,” and that he struck her and then choked her in their cabin. A ship housekeeper who knocked on the cabin door later discovered her.
Investigators said Watford didn’t contact ship security or medical staff, according to NBC. Surveillance video showed him entering the room at 7:46 PM and his wife following about 25 minutes later, the AP reports. These details come from a criminal complaint, and Watford hasn’t been convicted of any crime.
The FBI said a child was present in the cabin and was unharmed and safe when agents arrived, the Houston Chronicle reports.
What happened to the ship?
After the death was reported, the ship was ordered to return to the Port of Galveston, where it docked on Monday, November 9. The FBI’s Houston office said it was coordinating its investigation with the U.S. Coast Guard, the Port of Galveston Police Department, Customs and Border Protection, and the cruise line. The cruise later resumed its itinerary.
An MSC Cruises spokesperson said the company was “cooperating fully with the investigation and providing support to those impacted.”
According to ABC 13, passengers were told the ship was returning to port because of a “medical situation.” Passenger Lynn Stack told the station that it was “a big surprise” and that she didn’t know whether the vacation was over.
Had Watford been in trouble before?
Court records show that Watford was arrested in September 2024 in Smith County, Texas, after his wife told an officer he had grabbed her wrist during an argument over money, the AP reports. He was charged with assault causing bodily injury to a family member. A public defender was assigned to represent him but didn’t respond to the AP’s request for comment.
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