A suspected homicide occurred aboard the MSC Seascape cruise ship on November 8, 2026, off the Texas coast. The suspect, 48-year-old Jason Watford from Tyler, Texas, is accused of striking and strangling his wife, Susan Watford, during the voyage. Following the incident, the ship returned early to Port of Galveston on November 9, and Watford was taken into custody on a federal murder charge.
Incident Details and Suspect’s Account
The fatal attack reportedly began with an argument between Jason and Susan Watford during dinner. The suspect admitted to authorities that he “snapped,” subsequently repeatedly striking and choking the victim in their cabin. Watford told investigators
he applied pressure to his wife’s neck for approximately four to five minutes until exhaustion, after which she remained motionless for ten minutes before a housekeeper alerted crew members.
A housekeeper discovered what she described as “what she believed to be blood on Subject’s hands and pants as well as a motionless female lying face down on the floor” while delivering towels to the couple’s cabin. Surveillance footage confirmed the timeline, showing Watford entering the room prior to the victim’s return.
Suspect’s Prior Legal History
Jason Watford was previously arrested in September 2024 for assault causing bodily injury to his wife. Court records from
Smith County, Texas, indicate he was sentenced in November 2024 to 15 months probation and 30 hours of community service for that offense. He remains held on a federal hold at the Galveston County Jail pending a magistrate judge hearing scheduled for 1 p.m. on the Tuesday following his arrest.
Investigation and Agency Response
The FBI Houston Field Office is leading the investigation, coordinating with the U.S. Coast Guard, Port of Galveston Police Department, Customs and Border Protection, and MSC Cruises. The Galveston County Medical Examiner’s Office determined the victim’s cause of death to be blunt force trauma. The Texas Department of Family and
Protective Services confirmed a child involved in the situation is currently safe and placed in foster care, though the child’s presence during the incident is undetermined.
Official Statements and Ship Operations
MSC Cruises confirmed it complied with authorities’ directive to return the MSC Seascape early to the Port of Galveston following the report of a guest incident. A company spokesperson said, “We are cooperating fully with the investigation and providing support to those impacted. On reporting a guest incident aboard our ship, we were instructed by the authorities to return to the Port of Galveston.” The ship resumed its planned itinerary after departing Galveston port
Monday afternoon.
A passenger aboard the MSC Seascape, De’Andre Anderson, said the ship issued announcements about a “medical emergency” and observed medical personnel on board wearing protective gloves during the incident.
Industry Context and Authority Jurisdiction
MSC Cruises, the world’s third-largest cruise line founded in 1988 and operating 23 ships as of 2026, owns the MSC Seascape. The ship, flagged in Malta, has a passenger capacity of over 5,800 with approximately 1,600 crew members. The FBI has jurisdiction to investigate serious crimes such as murder occurring aboard cruise vessels in U.S. territorial waters, as demonstrated in this case.
