Susan Watford’s mother feared something terrible could happen when her daughter told her about an upcoming cruise with her husband, Jason Watford. Dorothy Mast urged Susan not to board the ship.
Susan nevertheless believed the weeklong trip to Mexico and Honduras could give the couple a chance to decide whether their marriage could be repaired, KPRC reported.
Federal prosecutors now allege that only hours after the voyage began, Jason beat and strangled Susan inside their cabin.
The mother of three is being remembered by her family, who hope the circumstances of her death will encourage other victims of domestic violence to seek help.
“It’s too late for her,” Dorothy Mast said, “but it’s not too late for somebody else.”
Here’s what is known about the case:
Who Was Susan Watford?
Susan was raised in an Amish community but left the group when she was 15.
Dorothy later adopted her. She remembered Susan as a curious woman who was always eager to experience something new.
“She was a great daughter,” Dorothy told KPRC, “and she liked to learn.”
Jason Watford’s Criminal Record and Domestic Violence Case
Susan married Jason, an Illinois ex-convict, in Tyler, Texas, in 2021, according to Smith County clerk records obtained by Fox 26.
Court records reviewed by NBC 5 Chicago show that Watford had an extensive criminal history. In Illinois, he served 10 years in prison after being convicted of attempted first-degree murder, aggravated battery with a firearm and drug offenses.
About three years into the marriage, Jason was arrested by the Texas’ Smith County Sheriff’s Office after a domestic disturbance at the couple’s home.
According to an arrest affidavit obtained by the outlet, Susan told deputies that an argument over money escalated when Jason pursued her into the living room and grabbed her wrist, leaving a visible mark. She used a Taser on him before running away to call 911.
Jason pleaded guilty in November 2024 to assault causing bodily injury to a family member, according to court records reviewed by Oxygen.
Susan Watford’s Mother Urged Her to Skip the Cruise
The confrontation deeply unsettled Susan. However, she told her mother, according to KPRC, that Jason was working to change, including through anger-management classes and counseling.
Dorothy remained concerned when she learned the couple planned to take a weeklong cruise together.
“I had asked her not to go,” she told the outlet.
Susan decided to make the trip anyway, believing the time away might help them determine what would happen to their relationship.
What Happened to Susan Watford?
The couple boarded the MSC Seascape on Nov. 8.
That evening, federal prosecutors said, Jason and Susan argued during dinner, according to a statement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas. Jason returned to the cabin, and Susan followed roughly 25 minutes later.
At about 9 p.m., a ship housekeeper knocked on the cabin door and encountered Jason, who prosecutors said had “blood on his hands and clothing.” The employee also saw Susan “lying face down and motionless on the floor,” according to the statement.
Prosecutors allege that Jason hit Susan “several times before strangling her with his hands and arms.”
Jason later told investigators that the argument caused him to “snap,” according to court documents obtained by The New York Post.
Authorities said he allegedly admitted to placing his right arm around Susan’s neck and squeezing for “approximately four to five minutes.” He reportedly stopped only after becoming exhausted.
Several media reports have said that a child was inside the cabin when the alleged attack occurred.
“A child was involved in the situation but was found unharmed by responding law enforcement and FBI personnel,” the FBI confirmed to Oxygen, declining to say where the child was during the killing. “We are not sharing any additional details about the child.”
Prosecutors declined to provide Oxygen with further court records, saying the case had been sealed.
Oxygen also contacted Jason’s federal public defender, Javier Martinez, for comment on the allegations. He did not immediately respond.
After Susan’s death, Jason was taken into custody and the ship returned to Galveston, Texas, its home port.
“On reporting a guest incident aboard our ship, we were instructed by the authorities to return to the Port of Galveston,” the cruise line said in a statement to Oxygen, declining to comment further. “We are cooperating fully with the investigation and providing support to those impacted.”
Susan Watford Remembered for the “Love, Guidance, and Presence” She Gave Her Children
Susan’s death has left Dorothy grieving while she works to ensure that her daughter’s children receive the care and support they need.
“No mother should ever have to experience the heartbreak of losing her child, especially under such tragic and unexpected circumstances,” Dorothy wrote in an online fundraiser. “I am left trying to process a loss that words cannot adequately describe while also trying to figure out how to navigate the days ahead.”
She said Susan’s children would now face life without their mother’s “love, guidance, and presence.”
“Right now, I am facing the overwhelming task of making arrangements to bring my daughter home,” Dorothy wrote, “covering funeral and memorial expenses, and making sure her children have the care, stability, and support they need moving forward.”
It remains unclear whether Jason has entered a plea to the charges filed against him.
