Federal authorities have accused a man of killing the woman he boarded an MSC Cruise vessel with that returned to Galveston, Texas.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas charged Jason Watford, 48, with murder after he allegedly killed the victim Sunday following an argument at a restaurant on the MSC Seascape.
Court documents said the couple continued to fight after returning to their room, at which point Mr. Watford said he “snapped” and struck the woman several times and choked her for almost 5 minutes.
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When a housekeeper knocked on the door to deliver towels, the maid told investigators she noticed blood on Mr. Watford’s hands and pants, and also saw the victim lying motionless on the floor.
The suspect is being held at the Galveston County Jail on a federal hold. He is scheduled to appear in court Tuesday.
Authorities have not identified the victim. An autopsy is scheduled for Tuesday.
The ship departed Sunday — the same day as the killing — and officials were forced to return to the dock after the woman’s body was discovered inside one of the cabins.
“On reporting a guest incident aboard our ship, we were instructed by the authorities to return to the Port of Galveston,” MSC Cruises said in a statement. It added that it was cooperating with authorities and providing support to those affected.
The company said the vessel left Galveston by Monday afternoon and resumed its voyage. The company runs five- to seven-night trips to the Caribbean out of Galveston.
• This story is based in part on wire service reports
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