A Texas man is facing a federal murder charge after allegedly beating and fatally strangling his wife inside their cabin aboard the MSC Seascape following an argument on the ship.
Jason Leon Watford, 48, of Tyler, Texas, was arrested on Monday, November 9, after the cruise ship docked in Galveston, Texas, according to the FBI. The alleged killing happened the night before, on Sunday, November 8, in international waters — and a child who was in the cabin at the time was found unharmed.
The woman killed was later confirmed by the FBI to be Watford’s wife, Susan Watford, per reports.
Jason Watford’s Alleged Attack on Susan Watford
Jason and Susan boarded the MSC Seascape earlier on Sunday before getting into an argument at a restaurant on the ship that evening, he later told FBI agents, per an affidavit written by an FBI task force officer. After the argument, Jason left the restaurant and went back to their room.
Susan followed about 25 minutes later, according to the FBI.
Within the hour, a housekeeper went to the room to deliver towels and knocked on the door.
When Jason answered, the housekeeper allegedly noticed what appeared to be blood on his hands and clothes — and then saw Susan lying motionless, face down on the floor, the affidavit states.
“Security camera footage further showed the MSC employees calling ship security due to observing a motionless female lying face down on the floor,” the FBI task force officer wrote in the affidavit.
Jason was detained by ship security personnel until the FBI responded after the MSC Seascape docked in Galveston.
In his interview with the FBI, Jason allegedly admitted that he and Susan had “continued to engage in an escalating verbal dispute that caused him to ‘snap,’ and he struck [her] multiple times causing blood to emit from her mouth and onto his shirt, pants, and hands,” the affidavit states.
He then allegedly choked Susan with his hands and also wrapped his arm around her neck while she was lying down, strangling her from behind for about four to five minutes until she became motionless, per the filing. FBI personnel reportedly recovered his blood-stained clothes inside the room.
A cruise ship investigator first alerted the FBI to the suspected homicide after Susan was found dead in the cabin “with multiple facial injuries,” according to the affidavit viewed by Us.
The MSC Seascape continued its planned itinerary after Jason was taken into custody, per CBS News Texas.
“We are cooperating fully with the investigation and providing support to those impacted. The ship has left the port and resumed its planned itinerary,” MSC Cruises said in a statement to the outlet. “As this is an active investigation, we cannot provide more details. Our thoughts are with the guest’s family and friends at this difficult time.”
Jason’s court-appointed public defender, Alex Omar Rosa-Ambert, declined to comment on the case when reached by Us via email on Wednesday, November 11.
A Child Was Found Unharmed in the Watfords’ Cabin
A child who was inside the cabin where Jason and Susan were staying at the time of the incident was found uninjured, per NBC affiliate KPRC-TV.
“A child was involved in the situation and was found uninjured by the FBI and law enforcement partners,” FBI spokesperson Connor Hagan said in a statement to NBC 5 DFW, noting the unidentified child was “part of the family.”
The child is now in foster care, the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services confirmed to the outlet.
Susan Watford Remembered by Foster Sister Breana Chappell
Susan’s foster sister, Breana Chappell, paid tribute to Susan in an interview with Fox 26 Houston, describing her as a devoted mother to several children.
Susan “was a beautiful soul who genuinely brought smiles to everyone she met,” Chappell told the outlet.
“I grew up alongside her, watched her grow into the woman she became, and had the privilege of watching her become a mother,” Chappell said. “And let me tell you, she absolutely rocked motherhood. Her children were her world.”
Chappell added that Susan’s children were “robbed of a lifetime of memories with their mother, and she was robbed of watching her babies become the people she dreamed they would be.”
Jason Watford’s Prior Assault Conviction Involving Susan Watford
Jason had a prior arrest in 2024 on a charge of assault causing bodily injury to a family member, according to jail records cited by NBC News. A judge sentenced him to 15 months of probation and 30 hours of community service in connection with that case.
Court records viewed by NBC 5 DFW indicate that the 2024 assault involved Susan, and that Jason pleaded guilty in connection with the incident.
If Jason is convicted of murder in the federal case, he would face up to life in federal prison and a potential fine of up to $250,000.
This story was compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 for confidential support.
