Federal authorities are investigating a suspected homicide
that occurred aboard the MSC Seascape, a cruise ship that returned to the Port of Galveston on Monday after departing for a weeklong voyage to Mexico and Honduras.
Authorities have not yet disclosed the specific charges against him, though the arrest is tied to the investigation into the death of a woman aboard the vessel.
The Galveston County Sheriff’s Office reported that Jason Leon Watford was brought to the jail by Port Police for an on-view murder investigation. Viewer video obtained by local media showed Watford being escorted by law enforcement off the boat prior to his booking at the jail.
Jason Leon Watford (48), of Tyler, Texas, has been identified as the man taken into custody in connection with the suspected homicide aboard the MSC Seascape. The female victim has not yet been publicly identified. Booking photo: Galveston County Sheriff’s Office. pic.twitter.com/V7pNT0vnIV
The FBI, which maintains primary jurisdiction over potential crimes on the high seas, is coordinating the investigation with the U.S. Coast Guard, the Port of Galveston Police Department, and Customs and Border Protection. The FBI has stated that the individual’s identity is being withheld pending notification of the victim’s family.
The MSC Seascape, which entered service in 2022, is a massive vessel measuring 1,112 feet long. It is approximately 169,400 gross tons and includes 20 decks, 15 of which are accessible to guests. The ship houses 2,270 cabins and employs more than 1,600 crew members, with a capacity to host nearly 5,900 guests. The ship switched its homeport from Miami to Galveston last November.
The ship had departed Galveston at 4 p.m. on Sunday, November 8, 2026, for a seven-night Western Caribbean cruise. However, the vessel unexpectedly made a U-turn around 12:20 a.m. Monday, heading back to the Port of Galveston after officials directed the vessel to reverse course due to an incident involving a guest.
Tracking data showed the ship arrived back in Galveston early Monday morning, where it remained docked for several hours. On Monday afternoon, the vessel was cleared to sail again and departed, traveling through the Gulf of Mexico toward Costa Maya at approximately 18.3 knots.
On reporting a guest incident aboard our ship, we were instructed by the authorities to return to the Port of Galveston. We are cooperating fully with the investigation and providing support to those impacted. The ship has left the port and resumed its planned itinerary.
Natasha Fernandez, spokesperson for MSC Cruises
While the ship has continued its excursion, the itinerary includes scheduled stops in Costa Maya, Mexico; Roatán, Honduras; and Cozumel, Mexico. The ship was originally scheduled to return to Galveston on November 15.
The Galveston Medical Examiner’s office reported that it took in a passenger from the vessel whose death was being handled as a potential homicide, though it could not offer further details. Officials have not released the name, age, or nationality of the deceased, nor have they provided details regarding the specific circumstances of the death or the exact location aboard the vessel where the incident occurred.
As is customary with crimes aboard a cruise ship, an FBI Maritime Liaison Agent based out of the Texas City Resident Agency is coordinating with the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), the Port of Galveston Police Department, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the cruise line.
FBI Houston, via official statement
The FBI has emphasized that homicide investigations on cruise ships remain uncommon. A 2020 study from Bowling Green State University, which analyzed mortality data on 78 ocean and river cruise ships between 2000 and 2019, found that murders are rare on cruise ships.
