FBI: Tyler man accused of killing wife on cruise
Editor’s note: A previous version of this story incorrectly said the involved child was in the room at the time of the assault. This was a statement given by the FBI, which was later retracted, according to ABC.
GALVESTON, Texas (KLTV) - A Tyler man accused in the beating, strangling death of 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 reported to have been the suspect’s wife. That same source said “there was a child involved in the situation.”
Jason Leon Watford, 48, is being held on a federal hold 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 she and Jason Watford were married.
Federal prosecutors asked him to be detained until trial, and he was appointed a public defender from Houston, according to KTRK’s Nick Natario.
Jason Watford did not make a plea during the 15-minute court hearing, where he appeared in a Nike t-shirt and sweatpants before U.S. Magistrate Judge Andrew Edison, according to Natario.
He waived a detainment hearing, and Edison set a probable cause hearing for 10 a.m. Monday in Galveston, Natario reported.
Affidavit claims housekeeper saw body, Watford in bloody clothes
An affidavit supporting Jason Watford’s arrest claims that he beat a female passenger, later identified as Susan Watford, Sunday before strangling her with his hands and arm following a dispute on MSC Seascape. The following affidavit information did 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 had departed from Galveston, according to the affidavit.
Security footage showed Watford enter his room around 7:46 p.m., followed by the woman around 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 reportedly saw blood on Watford’s hands and clothes and a motionless female lying face down on the floor before alerting ship personnel, according to the affidavit.
Along with the later FBI update identifying Susan Watford came the information that a child was “involved in the situation.” The FBI said the child was not hurt, adding that they were either in CPS custody or with family. KTRK claims that the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services have said the child is safe and in foster care. The FBI did not confirm whether the child was that of Jason and Susan Watford.
After reviewing the security camera footage, FBI agents interviewed Watford, who said the couple’s escalating argument caused him to “snap” and hit her multiple times, according to the affidavit.
Watford admitted to strangling the woman for four to five minutes until exhaustion and said the woman was 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 bloody clothes he wore when he answered the door for the housekeeper, according to the affidavit.
He was later seen sitting on the hallway floor outside of the room and scrolling on a smartphone, according to an affidavit.
Charged with murder, Watford faces up to life in prison as well as a possible $250,000 maximum fine 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 Sept. 1, 2024, on a charge of assault causing bodily injury.
The affidavit states that Jason and Susan Watford were arguing about money when Susan Watford claimed that he charged her, grabbing her wrist. Susan Watford used a taser to get away from Jason Watford and left their residence to call 911.
The responding officer was shown an audio recording of the incident and could hear Jason Watford become aggravated and running, as well as the sound of a Taser being deployed, according to the affidavit.
“Due to the history of violence, the redness of her wrist, and her expressing pain as a result of being grabbed, I have reason to believe that Jason Watford committed the offense,” the affidavit said.
According to Smith County judicial records, Jason Watford was sentenced to probation for the assault and was released in February.
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