A Texas man is in custody on a murder charge after he allegedly struck and strangled his wife while on a cruise, according to federal authorities.
The suspect, 48-year-old Jason Watford of Tyler, allegedly told authorities that an argument with the victim during dinner caused him to "snap," repeatedly striking and then choking the victim in their room, according to a criminal complaint.
The incident occurred on board an MSC Seascape cruise ship late Sunday, the day the couple boarded the ship, according to an affidavit in support of a criminal complaint for murder. The ship returned to Galveston, docking Monday, according to the FBI's Houston field office.
Shocking new details revealed by the FBI after a woman was murdered
on board a cruise ship headed for the Western Caribbean,
forcing that ship to suddenly return to the U.S.
That victim now identified as Susan Watford, and her husband,
48-year-old Jason Watford, is charged with murdering her.
The FBI confirming to ABC's Houston station KTRK there
was a child in the room at the time of the alleged assault.
The child was not hurt.
Watford appeared in a Galveston, Texas,
federal courtroom on Tuesday.
According to court documents,
Watford told authorities that a verbal dispute
with his wife caused him to snap.
The complaint also says just minutes later,
a housekeeper knocked on the door to deliver towels
and noticed what she believed to be blood
on Watford's hands and pants,
and a woman lying face down on the floor.
Today, the Galveston County Medical Examiner's Office
releasing the cause of death, blunt force trauma,
the incident concerning passengers on board.
Conflicted.
You know, going about our vacations while something like this happened.
The ship, called the MSC Seascape,
had departed Texas for a seven-day voyage to the Western Caribbean.
These images show the inside of that ship,
including the suspect's room door.
Watford had a history of domestic violence against
his wife and was arrested in 2024.
He was sentenced to 15 months probation
and 30 hours of community service.
A source telling ABC News that the child is part of the family.
The child is safe and in foster care,
according to the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services.
Jacqueline Lee, ABC News, Los Angeles.
