A 48-year-old passenger from Tyler, Texas has been charged with murder following the death of a woman found in a cruise ship cabin on November 8, 2026.
Jason Leon Watford was taken into custody after the body was discovered aboard the MSC Seascape. Federal prosecutors filed the charge on November 10.
Court documents indicate that Watford and the woman, whose identity has not been released, became involved in a dispute while eating together on the vessel. Video surveillance captured Watford entering the cabin near 7:45 p.m., followed by the woman roughly 25 minutes later.
Shortly before 9 p.m., a crew member arrived at the door with fresh towels. The housekeeper observed what seemed to be blood on Watford's hands and shirt. When staff members checked the cabin, they found the woman lying prone and unresponsive, bearing multiple facial injuries.
Security footage reviewed by investigators showed the pair arriving separately at the cabin. No evidence emerged that anyone else had entered or left during that timeframe.
In statements to federal agents, Watford reportedly acknowledged that the disagreement resumed once they were inside the cabin. He admitted to striking the woman multiple times and to pressing his hands and arm against her neck, according to the federal affidavit.
The ship departed Galveston on November 8 bound for a seven-night Western Caribbean itinerary. The next day, it turned back toward port. Federal investigators boarded at Galveston on November 9 and arrested Watford. The vessel was subsequently permitted to continue its voyage.
Watford faces a potential life sentence if convicted. The woman's relationship to Watford and additional circumstances surrounding her death remain unclear. He is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
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