The Texas woman who authorities say was killed aboard a cruise ship by her husband has been identified, while investigators have also confirmed that a child was inside the cabin but was not hurt.
Jason Leon Watford, 48, is accused of beating and strangling his wife, Susan Watford, inside their cabin on Sunday.
FBI spokesperson Connor Hagan confirmed Susan Watford’s identity Tuesday, according to the Associated Press. Authorities found a child unharmed in the cabin when they arrived.
During an interview with FBI agents on Monday, Watford allegedly said he and Susan began arguing while dining at a restaurant aboard the MSC Seascape. The details were outlined in an affidavit filed in the US District Court for the Southern District of Texas.
According to the filing, Watford went back to the couple’s deck 10 cabin at about 7:46 p.m. Susan followed at approximately 8:11 p.m., and the confrontation reportedly continued inside the room.
Watford allegedly told investigators that he then “snapped” and struck his wife repeatedly, leaving blood on her mouth as well as on his shirt, pants and hands, the affidavit states.
He is accused of using both hands to choke Susan before placing his right arm around her neck while she was on the floor, according to court documents.
The affidavit says Watford told authorities he held her neck for “approximately four to five minutes” and stopped only when he became exhausted.
The FBI identified Susan Watford on Tuesday and said a child was found unharmed inside the couple’s cabin
Jason Leon Watford, 48, is accused of killing his wife after an argument inside their cruise ship cabin
Watford allegedly told FBI agents that he pressed both hands against his wife’s neck for roughly four to five minutes
Watford appeared in federal court Tuesday in Galveston, the Texas port where the MSC Seascape had begun its weeklong voyage to Mexico and Honduras.
At his initial hearing, he told the judge that he understood the accusations and waived his right to a detention hearing, CBS 19 reported.
He will remain jailed and is expected back in court next Monday morning for a probable cause hearing.
The affidavit states that Watford opened the cabin door to speak briefly with a housekeeper. The employee allegedly noticed what appeared to be blood on his clothing and saw a “motionless female lying face down on the floor.”
Watford reportedly left the cabin at around 9:15 p.m. wearing different pants and a different shirt from those he had been wearing when the housekeeper saw him, according to the filing.
He was later allegedly observed sitting on the hallway floor outside the cabin while looking at his smartphone.
The affidavit alleges that he did not alert the ship’s security team or medical staff about his wife at any point.
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Watford also allegedly said he placed his right arm around Susan’s neck while she was lying on the floor
According to the FBI affidavit, Watford and his wife began arguing during a meal aboard the MSC Seascape
Passengers said an alert identified as “Mike Echo at level 10” was broadcast throughout the ship at about 10 p.m. Sunday. The FBI was notified approximately an hour later.
Security detained Watford, and the vessel turned back toward Galveston, arriving at the port around 5 a.m. Monday.
Video recorded by passengers appeared to show police and federal agents escorting Watford from the ship in handcuffs.
He was booked into the Galveston County Jail on a federal hold and charged with murder.
A conviction could result in a sentence of 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 added that 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 showed authorities escorting Watford away 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 say Susan told an officer that Watford grabbed her wrist during an argument about money in Smith County, about 100 miles east of Dallas.
Susan allegedly made an audio recording of the encounter, in which her husband could reportedly be heard becoming increasingly angry as she urged him to move away.
She fled and used a stun gun to protect herself, according to the court records.
Watford later pleaded guilty to assault causing bodily injury to a family member and received 15 months of community supervision.
The Daily Mail has contacted Javier Martinez, the public defender appointed to represent Watford, for comment.
