A man has been arrested and charged with murder in connection with the death of his wife aboard MSC Cruises’ MSC Seascape. The man, Jason Watford, 48, was taken into custody after reportedly strangling his wife, Susan Watford, 31, in their cabin, according to a statement from the Department of Justice (DOJ).
The couple’s child was reportedly in their cabin when the alleged murder took place.
The MSC Seascape had departed Galveston on Sunday, November 8, for a Western Caribbean voyage when the incident took place that evening in international waters. The ship was directed back to Texas after MSC Cruises reported the homicide. Ship tracking data shows the ship changing course at around 11:00 p.m. local time that night.
The ship returned to Galveston at approximately 5:30 a.m. on Monday, November 9, where FBI agents boarded the vessel to investigate the homicide. Watford was escorted off the ship and arrested.
Watford admitted to the police that he beat and choked his wife, according to an affidavit filed by the FBI.
According to the affidavit, Watford and his wife argued during dinner before he returned to their cabin. His wife joined him approximately 20-25 minutes later. Security camera footage did not show her leave the cabin after this.
Watford allegedly told police that after his wife joined him in the cabin, their argument escalated and he “snapped,” beating her until blood came out of her mouth and spilled onto his clothes, investigators wrote in the affidavit.
Watford added that he “applied pressure to [her] neck for approximately four to five minutes and released his hold only after becoming exhausted,” according to the affidavit.
The Port of Galveston subsequently confirmed that federal authorities had taken Watford into custody with assistance from port police.
MSC Cruises released a statement about the incident.
“On reporting a guest incident aboard our ship, we were instructed by the authorities to return to the Port of Galveston. We are cooperating fully with the investigation and providing support to those impacted. The ship has left the port and resumed its planned itinerary. 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.”
Watford had a history of domestic abuse against his wife. In September 2024, Watford was arrested after Susan reported that he grabbed her wrist during an argument over money. He pleaded guilty to assault causing bodily injury to a family member and was sentenced in November 2024 to 15 months of probation and 30 hours of community service.
Watford faces up to life in prison if he is found guilty.
The incident comes approximately one year after the death of 18-year-old Anna Kepner aboard Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Horizon in November 2025. The FBI investigated her death, and her stepbrother was subsequently indicted on federal murder and aggravated sexual abuse charges in April 2026.
Only one homicide was reported by the Department of Transportation (DOT) on a cruise ship in 2025, most likely the case of Anna Kepner, although the DOT does not give details about the crimes reported. There have been zero reported homicides on cruise ships in the first two quarters of this year.
Image credit: Jason Watford / MSC Seascape – FOX 2 Detroit / New York Post; Susan Watford – Rose/901 Lulu.
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