A Caribbean cruise turned into a suspected murder investigation after a woman was found dead aboard a massive passenger ship, forcing the vessel to make an unexpected return to Texas as FBI agents moved in.
Jason Leon Watford, 48, was taken into custody Monday, November 9, after the MSC Seascape returned to Galveston just one day into its weeklong voyage. Video captured by passengers showed a man being escorted off the ship in handcuffs by law enforcement officers.
The FBI confirmed it was investigating a suspected homicide aboard the luxury cruise liner, which can accommodate nearly 5,900 passengers.
Watford, a resident of Tyler, Texas, was booked into the Galveston County Jail on a federal hold in connection with the murder investigation, according to local authorities. Federal officials have not publicly announced formal charges against him.
The victim, whose name and age have not been released, was confirmed to be a woman by the Galveston County Medical Examiner’s Office. An autopsy was scheduled for Tuesday to help determine how she died.
Passengers described a disturbing scene aboard the ship, with reports of investigators examining a cabin on the 10th deck.
According to passenger accounts cited by the Daily Mail, the woman may have been killed following an argument with her partner. However, investigators have not confirmed those allegations, the nature of the relationship, or the circumstances surrounding her death.
Some travelers reported being awakened by repeated announcements during the early morning hours. Others described seeing a gurney and forensic investigators near a cabin before guests in surrounding rooms were reportedly relocated.
Photographs circulating online appeared to show investigators collecting evidence, while videos captured the dramatic moment a handcuffed passenger was escorted from the vessel.
Watford was previously arrested in September 2024 on an allegation of assault causing bodily injury to a family member, according to the Smith County Sheriff’s Office. The outcome of that earlier case was not immediately clear.
The MSC Seascape had departed Galveston on Sunday, November 8, for a seven-night Caribbean vacation with scheduled stops in Mexico and Honduras. But the trip was abruptly interrupted when authorities instructed the captain to return to port.
“On reporting a guest incident aboard our ship, we were instructed by the authorities to return to the Port of Galveston,” MSC Cruises said in a statement.
The company said it was cooperating with investigators and assisting those affected by the incident.
Federal agents worked alongside the U.S. Coast Guard, Port of Galveston Police Department, and Customs and Border Protection as the investigation unfolded.
After authorities completed their initial work aboard the ship, the vessel was cleared to resume its voyage Monday afternoon, leaving passengers to continue their Caribbean vacation following the unexpected tragedy.
The FBI has declined to release further details, citing the ongoing investigation. Authorities have not disclosed a suspected motive or established publicly exactly when the woman died.
For now, investigators are working to determine what happened aboard a cruise ship where thousands of vacationers had expected a relaxing week at sea.