A 48-year-old Texas man has been charged with murder after a female passenger was found dead inside a cabin aboard the MSC Seascape cruise ship while it was sailing in international waters, federal prosecutors announced.
Jason Watford, of Tyler, Texas, is accused of repeatedly striking the woman before strangling her following an argument inside their room on Nov. 8, according to the Department of Justice (DOJ). He was taken into custody and is scheduled to make his initial court appearance.
The complaint alleges that Watford and the woman had been dining at a restaurant aboard the ship when they became involved in an argument. Watford allegedly left the restaurant and returned to their cabin, with the woman following approximately 25 minutes later.
Less than an hour after she entered the room, a cruise ship housekeeper knocked on the door and briefly spoke with Watford. The housekeeper allegedly noticed blood on his hands and clothing and saw the woman lying motionless on the floor.
Crew members subsequently found the woman dead with multiple injuries to her face, according to prosecutors. The complaint also states that no one else was seen entering or leaving the cabin during the period in question.
The FBI’s Texas City Resident Agency is leading the investigation with assistance from the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), the Port of Galveston Police Department, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and MSC Cruises.
If convicted, Watford faces up to life in federal prison and a maximum fine of $250,000. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anh-Khoa Tran is prosecuting the case.