Editor’s note: A previous version of this story incorrectly stated that the child involved was in the room at the time of the assault. This was an FBI statement, which was later retracted, according to ABC.
GALVESTON, Texas (KLTV) – A Tyler man accused of beating and strangling a woman aboard a cruise ship in international waters appeared in a Galveston County courtroom Tuesday, according to reports.
According to a later update given to ABC by an FBI source, the victim is believed to be the suspect’s wife. This same source indicated that “there was a child involved in this situation”.
Jason Leon Watford, 48, is being held in federal prison without bond in the Galveston County Jail, according to jail records. His wife, Susan Watford, 31, of Tyler, is the name given to ABC by the FBI. The Bureau confirmed that she and Jason Watford were married.
Federal prosecutors requested that he be held until his trial and he was appointed as Houston’s public defender, according to KTRK’s Nick Natario.
Jason Watford did not enter a plea during the 15-minute hearing, in which he appeared in a Nike T-shirt and sweatpants before U.S. Magistrate Judge Andrew Edison, according to Natario.
He waived a detention hearing and Edison scheduled a probable cause hearing for 10 a.m. Monday in Galveston, Natario reported.
Affidavit claims housekeeper saw Watford’s body with bloody clothes
An affidavit supporting Jason Watford’s arrest claims he beat a female passenger, later identified as Susan Watford, on Sunday before strangling her with his hands and arm following an argument on the MSC Seascape. The following affidavit does not identify Susan Watford as the victim and therefore retains references to “the woman”.
An FBI agent claims Watford and the woman began arguing while dining at a restaurant aboard the ship after it left Galveston, according to the affidavit.
Security footage showed Watford entering his room around 7:46 p.m., followed by the woman about 25 minutes later, with no one entering or leaving until a housekeeper knocked on the door and spoke to Watford, according to the affidavit.
The housekeeper allegedly saw blood on Watford’s hands and clothing as well as a motionless woman lying face down before alerting ship personnel, according to the affidavit.
Along with the FBI’s subsequent update identifying Susan Watford, came reports that a child was “involved in the situation.” The FBI said the child was not injured, adding that he was either in CPS custody or with his family. KTRK says the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services said the child was safe and in foster care. The FBI has not confirmed whether the child is Jason and Susan Watford’s.
After reviewing security camera footage, FBI agents interviewed Watford, who said the couple’s escalating argument led him to “snap” and hit her several times, according to the affidavit.
Watford admitted to strangling the woman for four to five minutes until she was exhausted and said the woman lay motionless on the floor for 10 minutes before the housekeeper arrived, according to the affidavit.
Security footage showed Watford leaving the room wearing a different shirt and pants than the bloodied ones he was wearing when he opened the door for the housekeeper, according to the affidavit.
He was then seen sitting on the hallway floor outside the room and scrolling on a smartphone, according to an affidavit.
Charged with murder, Watford faces life in prison as well as a maximum fine of $250,000 if convicted.
2024 arrest of Jason Watford
According to an arrest affidavit from the Smith County Sheriff’s Office, Jason Watford was arrested in Tyler on September 1, 2024, for assault causing bodily injury.
The affidavit says Jason and Susan Watford were arguing about money when Susan Watford claimed he accused her by grabbing her wrist. Susan Watford used a Taser to get away from Jason Watford and left their residence to call 911.
The responding officer saw an audio recording of the incident and could hear Jason Watford getting upset and running, as well as the sound of a Taser being deployed, according to the affidavit.
“Due to her history of violence, the redness of her wrist, and the pain she expressed after being grabbed, I have reason to believe that Jason Watford committed the offense,” the affidavit states.
Jason Watford was sentenced to probation for the assault and released in February, according to Smith County court records.
Related:
Tyler man arrested in connection with cruise ship homicide
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