The MSC Seascape departed Galveston, Texas for a seven-night Caribbean cruise. The next morning he was back in the same port. On board, an employee found Susan Watford on the floor in her cabin, with injuries to her face. The husband, Jason Leon Watford, 48, was arrested when the ship returned and appeared before a federal judge on murder charges. On board with them was the couple’s one-year-old daughter. The little girl was found unharmed by the agents, as reported by the FBI to the local press.
The fight at the restaurant and the discovery in the cabin
The man allegedly told the officers that the argument with his wife had started at dinner in one of the ship’s restaurants and continued in the cabin. The 48-year-old allegedly said he hit the woman several times and squeezed her neck until he strangled her. According to investigators, after the attack he did not call security or the medical staff on board.
The alarm was raised by an employee who had knocked to deliver towels. According to federal records, Watford opened the door for her with blood on her hands and clothing. The employee saw the woman motionless on the floor and alerted ship security. The cameras, according to the investigators, then filmed the man as he left the cabin with more clothes and sat down in the corridor to look at the phone.
The precedent for domestic violence
From judicial documents consulted by Associated Press it appears that the 48-year-old had already been arrested in September 2024 in Smith County, Texas. On that occasion, Susan told an officer that her husband had grabbed her wrist during an argument over money. The woman had recorded audio of the argument. Watford had pleaded guilty to causing bodily harm and was placed under 15 months of judicial supervision.
The change of plans, with the cancellation of the cruise, took many by surprise. Many passengers told the Sun that they only noticed the return when they woke up, when they saw that the ship was back in Galveston. The MSC Seascape resumed its voyage on Monday. In a statement, MSC Cruises said it was cooperating with the authorities and offering assistance to those involved.