Texas woman murdered on cruise ship identified after husband 'snapped' in dinner fightHannah Broughton Wed, November 11, 2026 at 4:11 PM UTC
Susan Watford was allegedly choked and beaten to death by her husband (Image: LinkedIn)
A Texas woman who was killed on a cruise ship has now been identified as Susan Watford - the wife of the accused Jason Leon Watford, 48, who allegedly beat and strangled her to death.
Watford faces murder charges following the death of his wife aboard the ship, after a dispute between the couple over dinner. The pair were aboard the Caribbean-bound MSC Seascape vessel and had embarked together in Galveston, Texas, on Sunday prior to the 4 pm departure time.
However, just hours later, tragedy unfolded. At approximately 11 pm, the cruise returned to Texas, where Watson was taken into custody and removed from the ship. He has now been charged with murder. It comes as a man is charged after his wife was found dead in a room aboard a cruise ship hours after departing Texas.
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Susan Watford's name was confirmed by FBI spokesman Connor Hagan on Tuesday, November 10, according to the . Police also found a child unharmed in the cabin when law enforcement responded to the tragedy.
A child was also found in the cabin, unharmed (Image: ABC News)
Watford informed FBI investigators he and his wife had a dispute while dining aboard the cruise ship, according to court documents.
He said told police the argument escalated after his wife returned to their cabin shortly after him, which caused him to "snap" and hit her several times. He hit her so hard that blood came out of her mouth and onto his shirt, pants, and hands, according to the affidavit.
The accused then started to choke Susan out with both hands and also wrapped his right arm around her neck while she was lying down, the filing said. He allegedly told police that he choked his wife for "approximately four to five minutes and released his hold only after becoming exhausted."
At approximately 9 pm, a housekeeper attempted to deliver towels to Watford's room. She found Watford with what appeared to be blood on his hands and pants.
Jason Leon Watford allegedly told police he hit his wife so hard that blood came out of her mouth (Image: Galveston County Sheriff's Office)
She then noticed the woman lying on the floor. According to court documents, Watford was browsing on his phone when the female passenger's body was found.
Watford failed to alert ship security or medical staff despite the victim lying on the floor. He also switched his clothing and was observed sitting in the hallway browsing on his phone just moments after the housekeeper discovered the body.
The vessel returned to Galveston, with the captain describing the incident to other passengers as a "medical emergency". However, passengers recorded the moment Watford was led off the 19-deck vessel in handcuffs.
On Tuesday, Watford appeared in federal court in Galveston, which is where the MSC Seascape had departed over the weekend for a cruise to Mexico and Honduras. He said he understood the allegations against him and waived his right to a detention hearing during his initial appearance, according to CBS 19.
The accused will remain in custody and is scheduled to return to court on Monday, November 16, for a probable cause hearing.
It comes as haunting images of the Learjet crash nanny with the children before the plane nosedived in Florida were shared by family.
Source: Crime
