A cruise ship passenger accused of killing a woman aboard the MSC Seascape told FBI investigators he "snap[ped]" during an argument before beating and choking her for up to five minutes, according to newly filed federal court documents.
uncertain
he → accuse → documents
A criminal complaint filed in the Southern District of Texas shows that Jason Leon Watford, 48, has been charged with murder in connection with the woman's death aboard the cruise ship while it was sailing in international waters on Sunday.
asserted
it → file → Sunday
The woman has not been publicly identified.
asserted
woman → identify → ?
Surveillance footage showed Watford entering the cabin at about 7:46 p.m., followed by the woman about 25 minutes later, investigators said.
asserted
investigators → show → p.m.
No one else was seen entering or leaving the cabin before she was discovered.
asserted
she → see → cabin
Watford told investigators the two had been arguing while eating at a restaurant aboard the ship before returning to the cabin, where the argument continued, according to the affidavit.
uncertain
argument → tell → affidavit
Investigators said Watford admitted that he "snap[ped]" and struck the woman multiple times, causing blood to come from her mouth and land on his shirt, pants and hands.
asserted
blood → say → shirt
His blood-stained clothing was later found on the cabin floor.
asserted
clothing → stain → floor
Watford allegedly admitted to choking the woman with both hands before wrapping his right arm around her neck from behind as she was lying down.
uncertain
she → admit → behind
He told investigators he applied pressure to her neck for about four to five minutes, releasing her only after becoming exhausted.
asserted
he → tell → her
The woman remained motionless on the floor for about 10 minutes, but Watford did not contact ship security or medical personnel, investigators said.
At about 9:02 p.m., a housekeeper arrived at the cabin to deliver towels and knocked on the door.
asserted
housekeeper → remain → door
Watford answered and briefly spoke with the housekeeper, who reported seeing what she believed was blood on his hands and pants and the woman lying face down and motionless on the floor, the affidavit says.
asserted
affidavit → answer → floor
The housekeeper then contacted other MSC employees.
asserted
housekeeper → contact → employees
About 13 minutes after the housekeeper first knocked, surveillance footage captured Watford leaving the cabin wearing a different shirt and pants.
asserted
Watford → knock → shirt
He then sat on the hallway floor outside the cabin and scrolled on his smartphone, investigators said.
asserted
investigators → sit → smartphone
MSC security detained Watford as a suspect, and the cruise line contacted the FBI's Texas City Resident Agency at about 11 p.m. to report a suspected homicide aboard the ship.
asserted
line → detain → ship
The Seascape returned to the Port of Galveston early Monday, where FBI personnel boarded the vessel and began investigating.
asserted
personnel → return → vessel
Watford had previously been prosecuted in Texas for assaulting a family member, Smith County court records show.
asserted
records → prosecute → member
He was arrested in September 2024 on a charge of assault causing bodily injury to a family member and was sentenced that November to 15 months of probation and 30 hours of community service.
asserted
He → arrest → service
MSC Cruises previously told Fox News Digital that authorities instructed the ship to return to Galveston after the cruise line reported an incident involving a guest.
asserted
line → tell → guest
"We are cooperating fully with the investigation and providing support to those impacted.
asserted
We → cooperate → those
The ship has left the port and resumed its planned itinerary," an MSC Cruises spokesperson said.
asserted
spokesperson → leave → itinerary
"As this is an active investigation, we cannot provide more details," the spokesperson added.
asserted
spokesperson → provide → details
An FBI task force officer said the evidence supporting the murder charge includes surveillance video, Watford's statements to investigators, accounts from MSC employees and an examination of the woman's body.
asserted
evidence → say → body
The Aporia
