Woman Killed on Board MSC Cruise Ship Based in Galveston; Tyler Man Charged with Her Murder A woman believed to be in her 30s was killed on the Galveston home-ported cruise ship MSC Seascape, in what the FBI says is a suspected homicide. The ship, which departed Sunday, returned to Terminal 16 in Galveston on Monday (11/9/2026). A Tyler man is in federal custody and faces charges in what officials suspect was a domestic assault that resulted in the woman’s death, multiple sources confirmed to i45NOW. Jason Leon Watford, 48, faces federal murder charges, i45NOW was able to confirm through multiple law enforcement sources. It was unconfirmed Watford relationship with the woman who was killed. FBI agents spent much of the day Monday interviewing Watson. The US Attorney filed federal murder charges. Watford was transported to the Galveston County Jail Monday afternoon around 3:15 PM. The woman, who was not identified by authorities, appears to have been beaten to death. Her body was taken to the Galveston County Medical Examiner’s Office and an autopsy to confirm the cause of death is scheduled for Tuesday (11/10/20206), Lead Investigator John Florence said. Because the death occurred while the ship was at sea, the FBI has jurisdiction in the investigation. A Maritime Liaison Agent from the FBI’s Texas City office is leading the investigation, the FBI’s Connor Hagan said. The agency limited its comments to a brief statement confirming the homicide investigation, with support from the US Coast Guard, Customs and Border Enforcement, the Port of Galveston Police Department, and the cruise line. An MSC media representative declined comment other than a brief statement in which she confirmed that the ship was told to come back to Galveston after the death was reported. “Our thoughts are with the guest’s family and friends at this difficult time,” the MSC media representative wrote in a statement. “We are cooperating fully with the investigation and providing support to those impacted.” Watford was detained on the ship before being turned over to the Port of Galveston Police Department and detained by Customs and Border Protection officials until FBI agents arrived. After the suspect was detained and the dead woman’s body was taken by the Galveston County Medical Examiner’s Office for an autopsy. This developing story will be updated as more confirmed information becomes available.

Posted by i45NOW TJ Aulds at 2026-11-09 18:40:07 UTC