A Galveston-bound cruise ship turned back to port Monday after a woman was found dead onboard, and federal agents arrested a passenger in connection with the death as the vessel docked, according to video filmed by travelers and reported by Fox26.
The man, identified as Jason Leon Watford of East Texas, was led down the ship’s ramp in handcuffs, wearing a black shirt and joggers, with two law enforcement officers walking behind him. He was taken to the Galveston County Jail on an FBI hold.
“Since this is an ongoing investigation, no additional details will be provided,” an FBI spokesperson told KHOU.
The vessel, MSC Seascape, is a Maltese-flagged ship that had left Galveston at 4 p.m. Sunday bound for a seven-day Caribbean cruise. It abruptly changed course around 11 p.m. that night, and passengers woke to find themselves back at the Texas port.
Galveston County medical examiners confirmed to ABC News that the victim was a woman. Her relationship to Watford has not been disclosed, the circumstances of her death remain unclear, and it is not known when she died. An autopsy was expected Tuesday. The FBI has jurisdiction over deaths and violent crimes at sea and on cruise ships departing U.S. ports.
Jail records reviewed by CBS19 show Watford was previously arrested in September 2024 for assaulting a family member and was sentenced to 15 months of probation that November. It is not known whether the family member involved in that case is the woman found dead aboard the ship.
Passengers describe confusion onboard
A passenger identified only as Jonah told Fox26 he woke around 8 a.m. Monday to find the ship back in Galveston, with the captain working to avoid causing alarm.
“That’s when I heard the captain stating there was an incident that happened. We all noticed that we were back at Galveston. He was basically just stating there was something that happened. They were saying it was like a medical emergency [and] we needed to go back to the port. They pretty much told us to remain calm and just stay and enjoy the ship. That was pretty much it. We were just waiting to hear more information.”
Another passenger, De’Andre Anderson, told ABC13 the intercom announcements referenced a “medical emergency.”
“I kind of look out of my room, and I seen there were medical staff on board, you know, with gloves on and everything. I wasn’t you know too worried because it doesn’t directly affect me. I was just worried for the people that were involved.”
Victor Williams, traveling with his wife, Sarah Williams, said he saw investigators on deck 10 wearing rubber gloves and hazmat suits.
After Watford’s arrest, the ship departed Galveston and continued on toward Costa Maya, Mexico. The 19-deck vessel, which can carry up to 5,877 passengers, is scheduled to stop at Roatán Island, Honduras, and Cozumel, Mexico, before returning to Galveston on Nov. 15 at approximately 6:30 a.m.
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