Posted November 1o, 2026
By cruise ship attorney, Joel Barnett
NBC News is reporting a man was charged with murder while traveling on the MSC Seascape.
What happened:
Jason Leon Watford is accused of killing a woman Sunday evening aboard the MSC Seascape while the ship was in international waters, according to a federal criminal complaint filed in the Southern District of Texas. He is 48 and has been charged with murder. He is from Tyler, Texas. Authorities have not identified the victim, who the Washington Times describes as the woman he boarded the ship with.
The allegations:
Watford told investigators the two boarded the cruise Sunday and began arguing while eating at a restaurant on the ship that evening. According to court documents, the fight continued in their cabin, where Watford said he “snapped,” hit the woman several times and choked her for nearly five minutes. Later that evening, a housekeeper delivering towels reportedly saw what looked like blood on his hands and pants, and the woman lying face down and motionless on the floor. The charging documents say he did not contact ship security or medical staff.
Ship’s return:
The ship returned to the Port of Galveston at about 5:30 a.m. Monday, and FBI personnel boarded to investigate. MSC Cruises said it is cooperating fully, and the ship has since left Galveston and resumed its itinerary.
Background and next steps:
The Smith County Sheriff confirmed Watford was arrested there in September 2024 for assault causing bodily injury to a family member, and was sentenced that November to 15 months of probation and 30 hours of community service. He is being held at the Galveston County Jail on a federal hold and is scheduled to appear in court Tuesday.
Sources:
– Washington Times
– ABC13 Houston
– KPRC Click2Houston
– CW39
– KTBS
– MyFMToday