Man charged with murder after death aboard Galveston cruise ship

Jason Leon Watford, 48, of Tyler, Texas, has been charged with murder after a woman was found dead aboard the MSC Seascape, which returned to Galveston on November 9 and later resumed its Caribbean voyage. The federal charge follows an investigation by the FBI and other agencies. The woman has not been publicly identified.

A federal criminal complaint alleges Watford told FBI agents that he and the woman argued over dinner aboard the ship and continued their dispute in their cabin. According to the complaint, he said he struck her several times and applied pressure to her neck for about four to five minutes. The allegations have not been tested in court, and Watford is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

The complaint says a housekeeper delivering towels knocked on the cabin door and saw the woman motionless on the floor and what appeared to be blood on Watford’s hands and pants. The housekeeper alerted ship security, which contacted federal authorities. Investigators also reviewed surveillance footage, according to the complaint. It reportedly showed Watford entering the room at 7:46 p.m., the woman entering about 25 minutes later, and Watford leaving at 9:15 p.m. wearing...