Jason Leon Watford, 48, was taken into custody by the Galveston County Sheriff’s Office and is held on a federal hold related to an alleged homicide aboard the MSC Seascape cruise ship, authorities confirmed on November 9, 2026. The FBI Houston identified itself as the primary federal agency investigating the incident.
FBI Leads Federal Investigation Coordinated with Local Agencies
The FBI Houston announced its role as the lead federal agency authorized to investigate crimes occurring on the high seas. An FBI Maritime Liaison Agent from the Texas City Resident Agency is coordinating the investigation alongside the U.S. Coast Guard, the Port of Galveston Police Department, and Customs and
Border Protection. The MSC Seascape was ordered to return prematurely to the Port of Galveston, Texas, following the reported incident.
MSC Cruises Cooperates; Ship Resumes Scheduled Voyage
MSC Cruises issued a statement confirming that after reporting a guest incident aboard the ship, authorities instructed it to return to Galveston. The cruise line said it is cooperating fully with the investigation and supporting those affected. Following the investigation and clearance, MSC Seascape departed again and resumed its planned itinerary through the western Caribbean.
Cruise Itinerary and Ship Specifications
The MSC Seascape embarked on a seven-night round-trip cruise from Galveston on November 8, 2026, departing at 4 p.m. Scheduled stops include Costa Maya, Mexico,
from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on November 11; Roatán, Honduras, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on November 12; and Cozumel, Mexico, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on November 13. The return to Galveston was planned for 6:30 a.m. on November 15. The ship measures 1,112 feet in length, weighs approximately 169,400 gross tons, has 20 decks with 15 accessible to guests, 2,270 cabins, and carries up to 5,877 passengers and about 1,648 crew members.
Victim Treatment and Autopsy Plans
The Galveston Medical Examiner’s Office is handling the death of the passenger, treating it as a possible homicide and having received the victim’s
body. An autopsy is scheduled for November 10, 2026. Authorities have not disclosed the identity of the victim or detailed circumstances of the incident beyond reporting a verbal argument and physical altercation as noted in FBI affidavits.
Context of Recent Cruise Ship Incidents
This investigation follows heightened scrutiny on cruise ship incidents after an 18-year-old passenger died aboard the Carnival Horizon in November 2025, with a homicide ruling and FBI inquiry after the ship returned to Miami. Additionally, an MSC vessel, the MSC Poesia, was detained by the U.S. Coast Guard at the Port of Miami in early November 2026 due to system deficiencies, resulting in
sailing cancellations until remedial measures were completed.
