The Texas woman who was killed aboard a cruise ship after her husband allegedly “snapped” has been identified. Authorities also revealed that a child was found unharmed in the couple’s cabin after the fatal incident.
Jason Leon Watford, 48, is accused of beating and strangling his wife, Susan Watford, inside their cabin on Sunday.
FBI spokesman Connor Hagan confirmed Susan Watford’s identity on Tuesday, the Associated Press reported. A child was also discovered unharmed inside the cabin when law enforcement arrived.
During an interview with FBI agents on Monday, Watford allegedly said he and his wife began arguing while dining at a restaurant aboard the MSC Seascape, according to an affidavit filed that day in the US District Court for the Southern District of Texas.
He returned to the couple’s cabin on deck 10 at about 7.46pm. His wife followed at approximately 8.11pm, and the argument continued to intensify, the court document stated.
Watford allegedly told investigators that he “snapped” and struck Susan several times. The blows caused blood to come from her mouth and stain his shirt, pants and hands, according to the affidavit.
He then allegedly choked Susan with both hands before wrapping his right arm around her neck as she lay on the floor, the filing said.
Watford allegedly told authorities that he applied pressure to Susan’s neck for “approximately four to five minutes” and stopped only after he became exhausted.
The FBI identified Susan Watford on Tuesday and confirmed that a child was found unharmed inside the couple’s cabin
Jason Leon Watford, 48, allegedly killed his wife inside their cruise ship cabin after an argument
Watford allegedly told FBI agents that he used both hands to choke his wife and held pressure on her neck for about four to five minutes
Watford appeared in federal court in Galveston on Tuesday. The MSC Seascape had left the Texas port over the weekend for a weeklong voyage to Mexico and Honduras.
At his initial appearance, Watford told the judge he understood the allegations and waived his right to a detention hearing, CBS 19 reported.
He will remain in custody and is due back in court next Monday morning for a probable cause hearing.
According to the affidavit, Watford opened the cabin door to briefly speak with a housekeeper. She reportedly noticed what appeared to be blood on his clothing and saw a “motionless female lying face down on the floor.”
Watford left the cabin at about 9.15pm wearing a different shirt and pair of pants from those he had been wearing when he spoke with the housekeeper, the affidavit stated.
He was later allegedly seen sitting on the hallway floor outside the cabin while looking at his smartphone.
The affidavit said Watford did not alert the ship’s security team or medical staff about his wife at any point during the incident.
Watford also allegedly told investigators that he placed his right arm around Susan’s neck while she was lying down
Watford allegedly told the FBI on Monday that the couple began arguing while dining at a restaurant aboard the MSC Seascape
Passengers said an alert referring to “Mike Echo at level 10” was broadcast throughout the ship at around 10pm Sunday. The FBI was notified about an hour later.
Ship security detained Watford, and the vessel turned back, arriving at the Port of Galveston at about 5am Monday.
Videos recorded by passengers showed police and federal agents escorting Watford from the cruise ship in handcuffs.
He was booked into the Galveston County Jail on a federal hold and charged with murder.
If convicted, Watford could face up to life in prison.
MSC Cruises said it had been “instructed by the authorities to return to the Port of Galveston” following a “guest incident aboard our ship.”
The cruise operator said it was “cooperating fully with the investigation and providing support to those impacted.”
Watford was taken from the ship in handcuffs, booked into the Galveston County Jail and charged with murder
A passenger’s photograph captured the moment authorities escorted Watford from the cruise ship
Watford had previously been arrested in September 2024 on suspicion of assault causing bodily injury to a family member.
Court records cited by the AP said Susan told an officer that her husband grabbed her wrist during an argument about money in Smith County, about 100 miles east of Dallas.
Susan allegedly recorded audio of the incident, in which her husband could be heard becoming increasingly agitated as she shouted at him to move away.
She fled and used a stun gun to defend herself, according to the court records reported by the AP.
Watford later pleaded guilty to assault causing bodily injury to a family member and received 15 months of community supervision.
Our News Outlet has contacted Javier Martinez, the public defender appointed to represent Watford, for comment.
