Texas man charged with murdering wife aboard cruise ship
A Texas man has been charged with murder after strangling her wife in a cruise ship cabin in international waters, federal prosecutors said.
The murder happened Sunday aboard the MSC Seascape after it departed Galveston, Texas. KHOU identified the victim as Susan Watford and the suspect as Jason Watford, 48, of Tyler, Texas.
The couple began arguing over dinner at a restaurant aboard the ship, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas. The suspect left for their cabin, and his wife followed about 25 minutes later.
Prosecutors allege Watford struck his wife several times and strangled her after the dispute continued in the cabin. According to the complaint, he did not call for help.
At about 9 p.m., less than an hour after the victim entered the cabin, a housekeeper knocked on the door and spoke briefly with the suspect. She noticed blood on his hands and clothes, saw the woman lying face down and motionless on the floor, and alerted other crew members.
The crew found the victim dead with multiple facial injuries. The complaint says no one else was seen entering or leaving the cabin during that period. The Galveston County medical examiner ruled her death a homicide after an autopsy Tuesday.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) told KHOU that a child was involved and was unharmed. The agency did not specify whether the child was in the cabin during the alleged attack. The child was placed in foster care, according to the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services.
The ship returned to Pier 16 at the Port of Galveston at about 5:30 a.m. Monday. It later departed again and resumed its seven-night cruise, which was scheduled to stop in Mexico and Honduras.
The suspect faces up to life in federal prison and a possible $250,000 fine if convicted.
